https://www.therubengroup.com/matt daily 0.75 2025-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954239165-7O2GN5RALG8OFI50V0R0/unnamed.jpeg Matt Jimenez, CMHC - Matthew Jimenez, CMHC Matt is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 12 years of mental health experience. Matt gained his undergraduate degree at Westminster Liberal Arts College with a major in Clinical Psychology, and a minor in Environmental Studies. Matt Obtained his graduate degree in Denver, Colorado gaining his Master’s in Counseling. Matt incorporates a multitude of modalities, but always maintains person centered and mindfulness based practices. He works with both the mind and the body, focusing on somatic psychology. Previously Matt has worked in multiple residential treatment facilities, and prior to joining our team worked at Children’s Hospital in the Psychology Emergency Department. Matt has vast experience with high intensity crisis situations, and working with a wide array of mental illnesses, social-emotional struggles, and especially neurodiverse students. Matt grew up in Utah enjoying hiking, skiing, fishing and the overall great outdoors he takes students fishing and hiking as part of therapy. He was also a college athlete and as such joins in with the boys to play basketball and adventure with them. The students love being with him, he has a huge heart for all the people he works with. We are grateful to have him on our team and we know you be grateful to have him with your son. https://www.therubengroup.com/the-book daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954240972-4DQ8LXTU1KCH8QNSGNFY/Screen+Shot+2021-01-13+at+12.55.21+PM.png The Book https://www.therubengroup.com/home daily 1.0 2025-05-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/workshop daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/kimberly daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954243448-YDLEU3KX1NNEOX28POGQ/01.jpg Kimberly Bush, MC - Kimberly Bush, MC, EdS I have a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s in Counseling and Specialist in Education from Seton Hall University and am a certified Executive Function coach. I have been fortunate enough to work with clients for over 15 years. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Neuropsychology. My career as a therapist began in private practice. I worked with the family system in varied settings, including a residential treatment program and two private practices. I have worked with all ages, specializing in behavioral interventions, adult and adolescent mental health, substance abuse, ADHD, executive function and interpersonal skills and communication. After private practice I have spent several years coaching within a concierge behavioral consulting firm specializing in the struggling individual and family system as a whole. That position focused on long term, intense, and very hands-on work with clients over a period of a year or more. This position naturally led me down a path of focused individual coaching, and I have happily been with The Ruben Group for over 4 years. I work with clients to help them find their intrinsic motivation, joy and passion and extensively with clients needing some assistance in their executive function I love to travel, and am happy to meet with families wherever they live. While much of our work is done virtually, I feel that sitting with a family in their home and sharing a meal, some laughter, and some tears, can effect change in a unique way. My husband of 15 years, Scott, and I moved to the Nashville area about 9 years ago and we love it! He is a record producer and we have an awesome 11 year old daughter named Madeline. I believe each client that I work with has the capacity to grow and become their ideal selves; sometimes we just need a helper and a friend along the way. I can be reached by call or text at 615.660.7046 https://www.therubengroup.com/lisa daily 0.75 2025-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954244171-T55IEYYCJR2LS515N2RE/020.jpg Lisa Jackson, LMFT - Lisa Jackson, LMFT I have loved partnering with clients as a family coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past fifteen years. In an earlier career path, I acquired an MBA and worked for decades in the finance arena. I held several positions as Controller with small companies, and finished out that era in my life as president of a federal credit union. While my earlier career path was successful and fulfilling in some ways, I longed to work in a direct way to impact people’s lives. After returning back home to upstate New York to care for my elderly parents, the space was provided for me to reevaluate my future. It did not take long to realize what that new future would look like. I returned to the path I originally started in my early college years, becoming a helping professional, which had been interrupted by life events. I applied right away for a Master’s in Counseling degree program in my late forties. Post masters degree, I interned with a private boutique therapy practice, immersed in working with the whole family, rather than just the individual who may be struggling at the time. After seeing first-hand the dramatic positive change which occurred when treating the entire family system, family coaching was the only path forward for me. I have also held positions in both residential and intensive outpatient programs, run a variety of client groups, and worked with couples. After completing my internship and becoming licensed, I started a concierge private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. I partnered exclusively with parents of adolescent or adult children who were having difficulties or leading a crisis-driven life, often related to substance abuse, mental illness, or inability to individuate. I have presented my model to mental wellness agencies and residential treatment center staff, serving as an advocate for parents and their needs during treatment of a loved one. Through the work with my clients, it became increasingly clear how helpful it is for families to have someone “walk the path” with them through the struggles, and for them to have flexibility rather than a weekly therapy session in a designated time slot. We formed a bond, celebrated the victories and strengths of their adult children, and managed our way through the difficult weeks. I am still in touch with many of those families, and honored to remain a part of their lives. Subsequently, I spent several years working with a small behavioral health care coaching team. We worked with entire families in a long term and intensive manner. The focus was on the other members of the family moving along with their own work, in order to heal the family system and not just one person. It is with great pride that I work now alongside Ruben. I believe in the core concepts of his model, which he developed after decades of working with families in their living rooms and out in nature. Ruben and I have been friends for about fifteen years, and have often looked for an opening to work together. The last time we discussed collaborating was duringthe beginnings of Covid. It turned out to be opportune timing for both of us. Ruben holds the highest level of ethics and integrity personally, and runs his business aligned with his values. On a personal note, I love my work. I meet amazing families who are strong, resilient, and open to change. And I get to be part of their world in a time when they can use a little bit of extra support, and share in their growth as they work through difficult issues and come out the other side as more loving and authentic people. It is often helpful that I have been in that place myself as a parent. It was a time that was incredibly painful and some days things seemed hopeless. There did not seem to be a resolution as I had been able to find for most issues I had tackled in my life. I did not have the strength or awareness to reach out for help from professionals, and I greatly admire any parent that does take that step. For me, my own work, or parallel process, came years after my daughter had done so much of her own hard work. But that investment in self exploration has given me a relationship with my family that was well worth it all. That is my hope for every person when I first talk with them on the phone. I live in the beautiful town of Nashville, TN, and am the grateful mom to two incredible children, a son-in-law who makes me laugh a lot, and a granddaughter who fills my heart with joy. I am an author and country songwriter, and love being outdoors. Because most of my work with families is virtual, I have the privilege of traveling a good deal, and doing my sessions from wherever I am. I try to stay in the present for as many moments as I am able, to enjoy the richness of each day. Much of my early mornings is spent on my own meditative and spiritual practices. And I am a work in progress, while being happy with who I am today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/b2c2f3b9-fef8-46f8-b0db-f02e7cce2a0c/Certificate.jpg Lisa Jackson, LMFT - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.therubengroup.com/intervention daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/adults daily 0.75 2025-04-07 https://www.therubengroup.com/ruben daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954245705-WIXCDG1KR3S853L0CZXP/014.jpg Ruben Jimenez, LCSW - Ruben Jimenez As an author, speaker, coach, counselor, and licensed therapist (LCSW), I help families navigate through difficult transition periods. Usually, these are times when parents are considering therapeutic treatment for their child’s emotional and behavioral problems; when a teen or young adult is coming home from a treatment program; or when a young adult is experiencing failure to launch from the nest. My team and I work directly with both parents and their children, drawing on over fifteen years of experience ‘on the ground’—in living rooms and at kitchen tables, in the wilderness, on the road, over the phone, wherever and however I’m needed. My first book, The Road Home, is a guide for parents of kids coming home from a therapeutic treatment program. This is often a stressful time, filled with anxiety, fear, guilt, and a cauldron of other emotions, and my book answers your questions and concerns in a no-BS, easy-to-read way. For parents looking to work with me directly, I offer personalized Coaching based on the material in my book along with topics that will be covered in future books. I also offer Expedition Workshops for parents, kids, and families who need to get away from the stresses and distractions of home life and spend some healing time in the great outdoors. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and dig into the nitty gritty of life. I am gentle and supportive, but I also speak the truth bluntly when it needs to be heard. In all my writings, talks, and direct work with families, I focus on uncovering the love, repairing and strengthening relationships, and bringing families closer together for the benefit of both you as an individual and your family as a whole. Here’s a little more about the path that brought me to this work…. My Childhood and Early Life I was born and raised in the shadows of the Wasatch mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. My family encouraged my grounding in the beautiful natural surroundings. I spent my childhood in the mountains fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, snowboarding, and hunting pretty much every weekend aside from doing my household chores every week. The youngest of five, I attended Catholic schools and have my catholic school stories to tell. Ironically, I ended up teaching for several years at the high school I attended. By my mid-twenties, I had spent years working in the outdoors as a commercial fisherman, river guide, and ski patroller. I made a permanent move to Alaska and became self-employed in a town called Girdwood for the next six years. It was here I learned how much I love working for myself. Towards my late twenties, I did much soul searching and spiritual work, and realized I needed a sabbatical. Thus, I closed down my entrepreneurial activities and floated the Grand Canyon in the dead of winter for 30 days, and left soon after for a year of rest in Moab, Utah. In that year, I realized the road ahead. My Professional Development I made my way to San Diego and spent three years full time in grad school. I specialized in Clinical Social Work and Pastoral Counseling. As a licensed psychotherapist who understood how spirituality can help or hinder growth, I developed a private practice taking all my clients outside to the natural wonders to do our counseling sessions. Once clients went outside they never wanted back in the office. I decided to sharpen my skills in the field of Wilderness Therapy, as I thought that field had a lot to teach me. It did. Now that I have spent years working as a wilderness therapist, I have embraced my entrepreneurial spirit again and am providing services to those families who are experiencing significant problems and need professional assistance. Many of my families are on the verge of needing a wilderness intervention, are in the middle of a wilderness program, or have just left the wilderness experience. I also work with families that have no wilderness program experience at all. In a lot of ways, the “wilderness” is just a metaphor for the unpredictable, mysterious, and awesomely beautiful nature of life. I work with families and individuals to help navigate the “wilderness road” of life. Books, Workshops and More In my latest incarnation, I’ve become a writer and speaker. Having worked with hundreds of families over the years, I realized I might have a little wisdom to share and I should try to reach more people. I sincerely hope the information you’ll find here is helpful to you and your family. https://www.therubengroup.com/coming-home-planning daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/intensives daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/autism daily 0.75 2025-04-07 https://www.therubengroup.com/substanceabuse daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/adolescents daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/executive-function-coaching-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/parentingcourse daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://www.therubengroup.com/dave daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f2a13ed997e8462ef34ee4/1743954248216-MLM2JW765NFZ7KG71BVG/004.jpg Dave Schuster - Dave Schuster There were several refrains throughout my childhood and adolescence; “He can’t wait to be called on in class.” “He would have had an A if he turned in any homework.” And my favorite, “He has so much potential, if only he would apply himself.” Any kid growing up with undiagnosed ADHD could name a dozen others that sting somewhere deep. I had the double-edged sword of intellectual abilities that both allowed me to compensate and fall through the cracks. To be clear, my parents were loving, caring people that truly wanted the best for me. The unfortunate truth was that they were not prepared to help me in the ways that I needed, despite both being teachers who were deeply connected to my outward facing life. That they understood little of what was going on internally became clear sometime in Junior High. That created walls between us that lasted years. By the time I reached college I had developed a number of coping strategies, based on the understanding that my brain did not work the way my peers’ brains did. Some of these were healthy, others were not. I was lucky, I did not end up down as dark a path as some around me. After four years of college, completing a degree in Chemistry I understood that I was more interested in how others’ brains worked so that I could learn more about how my own did. Shortly after joining the Cognitive Science program, I was diagnosed with ADHD, as well as issues that made writing by hand challenging. (I am of an age where a laptop in the classroom was a novel occurrence.) This knowledge, along with my studies began my lifelong journey to understand how to work with my gifts and challenges. A couple of years after college, some friends of mine came home for a holiday break. We went for a hike a short distance from my parents’ house, in a spot that was and is very dear to me. I was in my hometown without much direction. I was working, but some of my less than healthy coping skills were steering my life direction more than anything else. They were happy, healthy, and excited about what they were doing. It was then that I learned about Wilderness Therapy. A month later, most of my worldly possessions packed into my station wagon, I was on my way to North Georgia. During my training, on more than one occasion, I asked myself, “What am I getting myself into?” This would be the theme of the summer as I was continually challenged both in developing the skills to work with the kids spending their time out there with us, as well as confronting my own shadow. At the end of that first summer, I knew I was hooked. This was the first time a job fit me, rather than the struggle of me trying to fit the job. I worked for nearly five years straight in the field between the first two wilderness programs. It was at the second that I met Ruben… Ruben and I quickly realized that we were closely aligned in how we approached the process of working with families to find their healing. While neither of us suffer from lack of self-confidence, neither of our egos could be fooled into thinking that we were there to do more than walk with kids, their parents, and the family as a whole as they found their path. We could provide guidance on the journey, but the final outcome was not ours, it was theirs. Neither of us were ever afraid of the process looking and being messy, more likely we reveled in it. In the mess change happened. Growth happened. Like all good things, that partnership came to an end. Like all things in life, it wasn’t permanent. I left to explore possibilities in Alaska, where I ended up working at, and then running a therapeutic preschool (yep that’s a thing). Found my way back to Utah to work in the field at another wilderness program. To Colorado, where I first was introduced to post-treatment coaching. On to Montana, where I ran the residential department of a therapeutic boarding school for girls. Back to Utah, where I did one last run in the wilderness. I estimate I spent 1400 days sleeping on the ground, making fires, and teaching boys and girls how to engage in life on their terms, as their best selves. And now, once again partnering with Ruben to help families chart their own paths, I coach kids, young adults, and parents, help families with the transition back home, as well as the transition into wilderness. I bring a deep understanding of the journey that families find themselves on, lending context and perspective as we all try to navigate the changing world together from within our bubbles. Things have changed. Become more complicated. And that is okay, none of our journeys were going to be a straight line anyway. https://www.therubengroup.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-05-13 https://www.therubengroup.com/concierge-coaching daily 0.75 2025-04-06