About Us

Emily Mack MSW, LCSW/LICSW

Director and Founder

What has been the best part of starting Highlands?

The best part of starting Highlands has been the ability to love people and to love people well. My goal has always been to show the love of Jesus to everyone, especially those that are hurting. Sometimes that means housing people, providing for people, and sitting with people. But sometimes that also means having hard conversations, setting boundaries, and working collaboratively with someone’s entire support team. Love calls us to higher, and sometimes that means growing through difficult things. At Highlands it’s not uncommon for someone’s past hurts/traumas to collide with stability/hope for a better future and that's my favorite place to be!

What does your average week at Highlands look like?

I spend most of my week with people! Every Monday I participate in our house meetings, and facilitate mental health groups Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. When I’m not in group I can be found doing therapy sessions in my office with people of all ages and backgrounds, doing paperwork (the bane of my existence), or networking. I love connecting with people so this is always fun for me. In my free time I volunteer once a week to facilitate a mental health group in our local jail.

What are some fun facts about you?

• I LOVE to travel. I have been to 34 states and 6 countries.
• My favorite hobbies include walking the beach (I love rock and sea glass hunting) or being outside hiking.
• My favorite weather is rainy weather.

Catrina R. Women's House Manager

Tell us about your recovery journey.

In 2023 I decided to make a big life change to be with my daughter, her husband, their children, and my grandchildren. This means I made a geographical move from California to Wisconsin. While I was making the trip to Wisconsin I ended up catching a drug case. That is when I acquired 7 months clean. After going through the court process for about 7 months they sentenced me to 5 years in prison. Due to good time I had to only serve 8 months, which led to me now having 16 months clean and sober. Once I was released from prison I had the opportunity to reside here at Highland Restoration and Wellness. After participating in the program as a client I was offered the opportunity to become a recovery residence house manager.

What do you do as a house manager?

As a house manager I have multiple responsibilities. My number one priority is to stay clean and sober, and encourage other women to stay sober. Other things I do is help make sure the ladies are up for the day, that their rooms are cleaned, their beds are made, and assign daily chores. I enjoy helping find resources to keep residents on track and sober which helps them become self-sufficient. I also facilitate weekly house meetings, which are mandatory for program participants.

What are some fun facts about you?

• Some fun facts about myself are that I have 5 granddaughters. Grandmother of Girls over here!!
• I love to do arts and crafts and yard work.
• My favorite food dish is BBQ'd red meat.
• I love shoes!

Brandie G. Women's House Manager

Tell us about your recovery journey.

I completed residential treatment in Minnesota from February to March 2024. I maintained sobriety from February through May 2024 before experiencing a relapse. Since then, I’ve recommitted with a clean date of May 28, 2024. I graduated from outpatient treatment in June 2025 and currently attend therapy and weekly treatment sessions. I also actively participate in multiple support groups and meetings throughout the week. Recovery is an ongoing process for me, and I am deeply committed to growing and helping others on their own journeys.

What do you do as a house manager?

As the house manager, I live on-site to provide consistent support and guidance to the residents. My role involves facilitating weekly house meetings, coordinating resident responsibilities and chores, and fostering a safe, welcoming environment that encourages sobriety and mutual respect. My goal is to help create a space where everyone feels supported in their recovery while maintaining accountability and structure.

What are some fun facts about you?

• My favorite title is “Auntie”... I have two nieces who mean the world to me.
• I’m a big fan of mystery, thriller, and horror stories - whether it’s a TV series, movie, or book.
• Thanks to a 13-year softball career, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to 13 different states across the US.

Casey Campbell Men's House Manager

Tell us about your recovery journey.
I grew up knowing the Lord, and gave my life to Him as a teenager. As I got older and started getting caught up in the cares of this world, I started drinking and using marijuana. I had my son when I was 22 years old, and shortly after confessed to his mother that I was gay and left her. My actions caused her a lot of grief and pain. After coming out, I openly lived a gay lifestyle. Eventually, my relationships and use led to meth. Within 3 months, I started using the needle, and my addiction reached its peak. I put myself and my loved ones in dangerous situations. My use caused me to be estranged from my son and family. At my rock bottom, I tried a couple of treatments and was unsuccessful in completing them.

Exhausting my other options, I desired to try treatment again in the Duluth area so I could be near my son. My family wanted me to go to Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, but I refused to go there, as it did not line up with my lifestyle or beliefs. When I found out MNTC had a 90-day program where the faith-based portion was optional, I decided I would try it.

The first week I was there, I wanted to leave, but decided to stay for 30 days until I could transfer to a different program. Then, I started to plan on using after getting out of the program. I snapped out of it and realized I almost died from using. So I reasoned, maybe someone needs to go to treatment for a year in order to get clean. I decided I would do the whole 13-month program at Teen Challenge, without a faith reason. I just wanted to get sober. Within 3 months, I started reading the Bible, and that’s when everything started to change. God quickly renewed my mind, and I started to trust His word was true, and believed I could have a wife, a hope, and a future. I decided to walk away from the gay lifestyle, and re-surrendered my life to Jesus.

I could only get sober for six months on my own. Now, by the grace of God, I have been sober for 4 and a half years. I have a restored relationship with my son and family. Also, I am blessed and honored to serve at the Teen Challenge center in Duluth, where God saved my life. Recently, God presented me with another opportunity to live at Highlands Restoration and Wellness. I used to think it would be restricting to follow the Lord and be a Christian, but it has been freeing and fulfilling. I want to share the love of Jesus with others and bring His message of hope, freedom, and salvation.

What do you do as a house manager?
I am a live in house manager at Highlands Wellness and Recovery. My responsibilities include checking their apartments and rooms to ensure residents are maintaining a healthy living environment, curfew checks, drug testing, facilitating house meetings, responding to emergencies, and best of all, building relationships with the men. I have brought some along with me to church services and look forward to helping connect them with positive supports.

What are some fun facts about you?

• I grew up on a farm in Cook, Mn.
• The first time I was arrested was in a Casey’s gas station parking lot.. ironic.
• I love basketball, volleyball, snowboarding, and gardening.
• I recently graduated from college with a degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling.
  

Lynn E. Peer Support Specialist

Tell us about your recovery journey.

My recovery journey started in the summer of 2023 when I went to an inpatient treatment facility for two months. Upon returning home I continued with intensive outpatient treatment for the following 8 months. I continue with chemical dependency counseling on a regular basis and attend many support meetings throughout the week. I have a tremendous network of supportive and sober friends and family. I love being a member of and working in the recovery community.

What do you do as a peer support specialist?

As a peer support specialist I connect individuals in recovery to local resources, work collaboratively with their support team, and provide coaching and emotional support for clients. 

What are some fun facts about yourself?

• I can’t turn down a game of cribbage.
• I love spending time outside in nature at the beach or in the woods.
• I look forward to keeping honey bees again in the near future!

Carina Barker MSW, LICSW/LCSW

Youth AODA Clinician

Tell us a bit about your professional background.

I have been a clinical social worker for over 20 years. I am so grateful for the work that I have chosen. I have been trained in various trauma interventions; worked with lots of different populations over my career and keep finding ways to increase my knowledge so I can best support clients. I am also an instructor at the University of Minnesota Duluth in social work. I am passionate about supporting new therapists in the field.

What made you interested in providing substance use therapy?

Managing our mental health is challenging and sometimes we try to find ways to cope; even if they are not the healthiest ways to cope. I strive to increase my clients mental health toolbox so they can manage difficult emotions and challenges without chemicals. Being present, experiencing the full range of emotions and not having the rollercoaster of substance use (emotional crashes and increased depression) is such an empowering way to live. I want to support clients to find that peace and that sense of strength.

What is one fun fact about yourself?

• I love to sing Karaoke. I don't know if others want to hear my singing, but I have so much fun singing. (Fun fact, Carina is also the owner of the Encouragement Clinic!)

Daisy White MSW, LGSW, APSW

Hello! 

My name is Daisy and I am a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in Minnesota and an Advanced Practice Social Worker (APSW) in Wisconsin. I earned my Masters of Social Work degree from the College of St. Scholastica. I provide psychotherapy to individuals ages 12 and older, with a focus on adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. My clinical experience includes working with clients experiencing a range of challenges, including depression and mood disorders, anxiety, substance use, suicidal ideation, family and relationship difficulties, and behavioral concerns.

I have professional experience working with children of all ages in school-based settings, and my background includes both school social work and outpatient mental health services. I have chosen to focus my work on teens and young adults, driven by a  passion for helping youth navigate the challenges of adolescence and early adulthood.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, and an integrative framework that allows me to individualize treatment for each client.

I'm so excited to begin building meaningful connections with new clients and working with them to reach their goals!

Foster

Therapy dog