For the past six years, they led a well trusted therapeutic boarding school in New Hampshire, one that Adam founded in 2002, and later a short-term residential treatment center for adolescents, one that Mik played a critical role in opening. Their shared experience across adolescent residential treatment unveiled a critical gap in mental health care – adolescents often entered residential treatment programs without exhausting less intensive and valuable outpatient options. Further, adolescents returning home from residential treatment were often left without proper transitional support.
The journey of Aerie Healthcare began when Adam Rainer and Mik Oyler embarked on a mission together in 2018.
In 2023, fueled by their insights, Adam and Mik identified Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHPs and IOPs) as the vital "missing link" in the continuum of care for struggling adolescents. Their vision crystallized around the belief that these programs, if made accessible, could offer the necessary scaffolding to keep young individuals at home or facilitate a smoother and more successful return.
Thus, Aerie Healthcare took flight, inspired by the symbolism of an Aerie – a fortress-like raptor nest perched on a cliff. Aerie Healthcare aspires to be more than just a program; it aims to be a safe and nurturing "nest" where young people find support that elevates and empowers them, enabling them to chart a new and promising flight towards their futures.
Mik Oyler, M.Ed.
Mik Oyler has been a healthcare and education leader and administrator for over 15 years, serving in leadership roles in a variety of adolescent behavioral healthcare programs in the northeast, including a premier wilderness treatment program, a renowned therapeutic summer camp, an innovative therapeutic boarding school, as well as opening a short-term residential treatment center.
Mik has always been client/student focused and loves spending time with young people, whether just talking, or participating in fun activities together. A secondary passion in his work is developing organizational systems and structures that support the development of strong cohesive staff teams in order to ensure the best possible care of and outcomes for program participants.
Mik double majored in Sports and Fitness Management and Business Administration and was a three sport athlete at UNE. He then attended Springfield College where he received his Masters of Education in Psychology with a concentration in counseling athletes.
Co-CEO & Founder
Mik and his family live in North Conway, where they enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, and in general all adventuring in the White Mountains together. Mik is an avid birder, considering it a way of life and form of personal meditation, is a Mountain Birdwatch volunteer researcher, and works as an instructor every summer at the Hog Island Audubon Teen Camp. Mik also serves on the Board of Directors of Mount Washington Valley Adaptive Sports, helping individuals of all abilities and disabilities to access recreational opportunities in the Mt. Washington Valley.
Adam Rainer's dedication to adolescent development spans his entire career, marked by the establishment of an innovative therapeutic boarding school in 2002. Known for his innovation, progressiveness, and collaboration with esteemed academics, including developmental scientists and psychologists, he helped shape the direction of residential therapeutic schools and programs in the private pay industry. Unyielding in his commitment to defy the status quo, Adam's influence extends through numerous success stories of teenagers positively impacted by his therapeutic programs.
Driven by a passion for pushing boundaries, Adam now looks to make a positive impact in the area of day treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. As a proven innovator, he envisions reshaping the landscape of adolescent mental health services, ensuring a brighter future for those in need.
Co-CEO & Founder
Adam Rainer, MBA
Jessalyn Hobson, LICSW
Jessalyn, also known as Jessa, is a seasoned professional in the mental health field, serving as the Clinical Director for Aerie Healthcare. With a robust background and over a decade of experience working with adolescents and their families, Jessa brings a wealth of knowledge and a compassionate approach to her leadership role at Aerie.
Jessa holds an M.S.W and an M.S. in Outdoor Education from the University of New Hampshire. Her educational journey reflects a commitment to holistic well-being, combining the elements of physical activity and outdoor experiences with the principles of social work. Most recently she worked as the Clinical Program Director at a therapeutic boarding school, and focused on partnering with staff and students to create and maintain a strong, supportive and fun community because she believes that milieu health directly correlates with client outcomes and treatment experience.
Clinical Director
As an individual and family therapist, Jessa specializes in working with teens and complex family systems, and utilizes an approach rooted in attachment and connection to foster a sense of collaboration, alliance and emotional safety. Her direct and confident approach focuses on developing skills, personal insight and healing to help clients navigate crises and regain their footing. Jessa is experienced working with neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ youth and their families, in addition to survivors of complex trauma. She strongly believes in the transformative power of clients participating in treatment, seeing them as catalysts for positive change within their families, and maintains that family engagement in their child’s process supports the transference and maintenance of therapeutic growth at home.
Outside of work, Jessa is an avid adventurer and traveler. Having grown up in Saudi Arabia and worked as an adventure guide in Oman, she has a deep appreciation for exploration and stretching her comfort zone. In her free time, you can find her rock climbing, as well as mountain biking and hiking with her dog, Ashunti, who is also a familiar face at Aerie.
Kay Patch is an experienced Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specializing in psychiatric and mental healthcare. Kay's diverse background and extensive career includes operating a private practice, working in community and privately owned group practices, teaching as a visiting professor at the graduate and undergraduate university level, and serving in Medical Director and Clinical Director roles for adolescent mental health programs. Kay holds a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Nursing from Rivier College and is ANCC board certified as an adult and a child/adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.
As a dedicated professional, Kay has consistently demonstrated expertise in psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapeutic interventions. With a passion for positive youth development, she actively engages in research, presentations, and affiliations with prominent organizations in the field. Kay's commitment to excellence is reflected in her certifications, licenses, affiliations, and significant contributions to the field of mental health, particularly for adolescents, making her a valuable asset to Aerie Healthcare and its participants.
Kay Patch MSN, PMHCNS-BC, APRN
Medical Director
As Medical Director, Kay plays a pivotal role in shaping the medical and clinical direction of Aerie Healthcare programs, ensuring the highest standard of care, and fostering a collaborative environment among the multidisciplinary team as well as with the participants. In her spare time, Kay enjoys spending time with her family, including her two grandchildren, early morning sunrises along the seacoast, and snowshoeing in the North Country.
Julie Sichelstiel, LICSW
Julie is an experienced therapist who has been working in the field for over a decade, primarily with adolescents and their families. Julie understands that life’s challenges can often impact our daily lives and create unforeseen difficulties. She has a strong commitment to supporting individuals on their journey to mental well-being and creates a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings.
Julie holds an MSW from the University of New Hampshire. She believes in a client-centered and trauma-informed approach to the therapeutic relationship that includes compassion, directness, and humor. Julie most recently worked at a therapeutic boarding school which allowed her to use her experience to integrate therapy work into the milieu to do organic “in the moment work” that supported growth and active participation in one’s own healing.
Julie specializes in working with adolescents, teenagers, and complex family systems who struggle with depression anxiety, impacts of trauma, or those who just need help getting back on track. Her goal is to partner with teenagers, young adults, and families to create lasting, positive change. Julie is formally trained in Brainspotting Level 1 and is skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Therapist
In her free time, Julie is often exploring the Seacoast of New Hampshire and spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Shelby (who you might see from time to time at Aerie!). She also enjoys skiing, camping, hiking with her pup, and boxing.
Shannon Lamb is a NH Certified Special Education Teacher who has been an inclusive teacher, administrator and leader for over 25 years. After graduating with her Masters in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, her work settings have ranged from Public Schools in Brooklyn and Harlem, NYC to an independent school serving rural students from Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as remote consultation and education for schools in China and across the United States.
During this work, Shannon has found passion in creating systems and advocacy opportunities for youth to find and articulate their strengths, communicate their needs and get excited about academic, social and emotional growth. She has a particular talent for working with children and adults to develop their executive functioning skills so that they can be in charge of their own academic, personal and professional lives and feel confident doing so. Shannon loves collaborating with the team of the student, family, therapist and other providers in order to facilitate the most positive and productive outcomes for the student.
Learning Specialist
Shannon Lamb, MAT
A recent transplant to the New Hampshire Seacoast area, Shannon lives with her twin daughters and husband in Dover. They enjoy hiking, reading, traveling and visiting museums, libraries and cafes together. Shannon also serves as the Board Chair of the Garland School, a Waldorf Inspired Preschool in Southern Vermont, supporting the school in developing efficient systems and inclusive practices for students, staff and families.
Ian Gollihur
Ian is a student at the University of New Hampshire where he is currently finishing his degree in Social Work. He has several years of experience working with youth, including in residential treatment and in a public school setting. Ian has also worked as an advocate at a university program supporting survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence. He is interested in social emotional learning (SEL) and its application in school settings and loves working with groups. Ian is passionate about building positive relationships with clients and empowering them to get where they want to be through collaboration and a strengths-based perspective.
Outside of work, Ian loves to spend as much time being active and outdoors as possible (and loves to bring that into his work when possible!) Running, hiking, surfing, and climbing are all favorite activities, but he is always excited to try new things and learn from others about their interests and passions.
Support Specialist
Coleman McKaig is a Support Specialist from Dover, NH who holds a degree in Outdoor Education and Leadership from the University of New Hampshire. He enjoys working through tough problems with teens and utilizing experiential education as a means to help them find their way during a time in which they are coming into their own. Coleman spent over two years passionately caring for students at a therapeutic boarding school prior to Aerie. When not working at Aerie, you can find him playing outside with his friends; skiing, swimming, climbing, and hiking (amongst a myriad of other activities) and is a proud finisher of the forty-eight 4000 foot high peaks in the state of New Hampshire.
Support Specialist