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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.


To learn more about Highlands recovery residences or clinical services please reach out to:

Phone: 218-409-6731

Email: emilymack.highlands@proton.me

Smiling person in a pink and white striped shirt seated indoors against an orange wall.

Brianna Pearson, Intake Coordinator

Tell us about your professional background.

I have worked as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for a few years, serving individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. My background includes working with treatment court participants, diversion and deflection programs, facilitating peer support groups, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, and advocating for disability rights. I also recently earned my Associate in Applied Science degree in Human Services, which has strengthened the knowledge and skills I bring to this work.


Tell us about your recovery journey.

My recovery journey has shaped both who I am as a person and how I approach the work I do every day. I lived in active addiction for nearly 20 years and made many attempts to get sober along the way. During that time, I experienced some of the hardest moments of my life, including losing my children to foster care three different times. Those experiences could have defined my future, but instead they became part of what motivated me to keep trying. In 2022, I truly grabbed hold of my recovery, and haven't let go since. I leaned into my support system, embraced my recovery community, and accepted the help that was available to me. Since then, I have maintained long-term sobriety. My lived experience gives me a deep understanding of the challenges, setbacks, and victories that can come with recovery. It reminds me every day that change is possible, that people are more than the hardest chapters of their lives, and that hope can grow even in difficult circumstances.


What do you do as an Intake Coordinator?

As an Intake Coordinator, I'm often one of the first people individuals meet when they reach out for services. I help guide them through the intake process, gather important information, answer questions, connect them with appropriate programs and resources, and work to ensure they feel welcomed, respected, and supported from the very beginning. My goal is to make what can be an overwhelming process feel as comfortable and encouraging as possible.


What are some fun facts about yourself?

1. I love to go hiking, and I'm always up for a challenge.

2. I love being spontaneous, I think some of life's best memories come from plans you never expected to make.

3. I collect all things peacock, from tattoos to decor.

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.

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!

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