Kayleigh Higginbottom

LCSW, Therapist

Kayleigh grew up in western Connecticut, where they played ice hockey in high school and enjoyed outdoor activities such as kayaking, snowboarding, and being out on the lake. Their first real big experience outdoors was when they embarked on a sea kayaking and backpacking trip in Alaska the summer after their high school graduation. This trip helped inspire them to major in Adventure Education while attending Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire.

During their first year at PSU, Kayleigh attended a senior student’s internship presentation on a Wilderness Therapy program in Utah. The presentation spearheaded their interest in Wilderness Therapy. The following year, Kayleigh took steps toward the field of Wilderness Therapy by adding a minor in Social Work to their major in Adventure Education, and they even took an elective course in Wilderness Therapy offered by Will White (Summit Co-founder). In addition, Kayleigh built their outdoor, leadership, and teaching skills while working at a ropes course, teaching snowboarding, and attending a three-week sea kayaking trip in Patagonia.

After graduating from Plymouth State University, Kayleigh traveled around the United States and worked in various outdoor settings, including an outdoor education program, summer camp, and sea kayak service. After traveling, Kayleigh started their Wilderness Therapy field guide career as a field guide for a program in Wisconsin, later moving with the company to their location in Oregon. After a year and a half of guiding, Kayleigh moved up to a supervisory position as a Field Specialist. From there, they decided on continuing their education by returning back east to enroll in the University of New Hampshire’s dual degree program in Social Work and Outdoor Education where they earned their MSW and MS. Kayleigh’s post-graduate experience has included working as a family and youth therapist at a community mental health center as well as working as a school social worker at a charter school in Colorado. Wanting to return to their passion of Wilderness Therapy and working with youth, Kayleigh has made their way back to the Northeast to join the Summit Achievement team.