Founders

Drew Hornbeck, BA

Drew Hornbeck, BA
Co-Founder

Drew Hornbeck, Co-founder of NVW was born and raised in Wisconsin.  After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Drew launched a 20-year career in adventure and wilderness therapy. Drew has worked in a variety of academic and therapeutic settings across the U.S.  In addition to overseeing all aspects of NVW, Drew currently serves as the Membership Committee Chair for the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council (OBH), as well serves on the Oregon Outdoor Youth Program (OYP) Advisory Council.  Drew has spoken at national conferences on topics ranging from wilderness risk management to mental health.  Drew champions the strong culture at NVW, with a focus on empathy, leadership, and best in class services and practices.  Drew is proud to collaborate with such an amazing team of professionals at NVW and considers it a privilege to serve children and families.  When not at work, Drew enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters.

Steve Sawyer, LCSW CSAC

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Clinical Director/Co-Founder

Steve Sawyer is a licensed psychotherapist filled with passion and knowledge surrounding the intervention and change process. His experience comes from over a decade of intervention with tough-to-reach client populations in therapy settings ranging from residential, community-based, outpatient and wilderness therapy. Steve currently serves on the board of The National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping (NATWC).

Steve is trained in several unique therapeutic models including somatic trigger release, multiple levels of brainspotting, traumatic memory reprocessing, and HeartMath. Through his experience he has authored two books, co-founded Wisconsins only wilderness therapy program, New Vision Wilderness, and works as a core therapeutic training development staff with the Institute of HeartMath. He was an author in the innovative and comprehensive HeartMath Interventions Establishing a New Baseline for Sustained Behavioral Change therapist training Module that revolutionizes modern therapy interventions through an emotional physiology approach.

Steves largest project has been the development of NVWs Trauma Informed Care model in the wilderness setting that has challenged the entire wilderness therapy industry on making healthier interventions with their students. Steve’s trainings are recognized nationwide for cutting-edge therapeutic techniques and inspiration.