Shayne Gallagher
Shayne Gallagher

Founder/Executive Director


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For more than 22 years, Shayne Gallagher has provided healing wilderness experiences for adolescents, young adults, and families. With his deep understanding of the innate therapeutic effects of a wilderness experience on the healing of young people, Shayne has become a recognized leader in teen and young adult treatment.

"...Shayne is one of the most intuitive and compassionate leaders you will ever meet. He lives what he teaches..."

In 1986, Shayne designed a program to foster principle-centered leadership, improved self-esteem, and a positive peer culture. The success of this program and his passion for the outdoors led him to the next phase of his career—working as a field instructor at a wilderness therapy program.

Since his start in the field of wilderness therapy, Shayne has worked as a trainer, program developer, field director, and program director. In his role as founder and executive director of WinGate Wilderness Therapy, Shayne continues to be one of the most sought-after consultants and presenters in the wilderness-therapy industry. With over 1400 days in the field working directly with adolescents and young adults, Shayne’s passion for and confidence in wilderness therapy only continues to grow.

Shayne is a popular speaker at national conferences including NATSAP, NATWC, and Naropa. His professional talks include: Ethics in Counseling, Intervention without Coercion, Mentorship in Wilderness Settings, Making Primitive Musical Instruments, The Use of Metaphor in Wilderness Therapy, and Inviting Inquiry.

Shayne is dedicated to helping students and families find hope for the future. As one student eloquently put it, “Shayne found a way to impact my life more than any other person I encountered on the trail. He is truly gifted at reaching inside a student’s soul and bringing to light its innate greatness.”