Christian boarding schools and other therapeutic boarding school options and residential programs for troubled teens, boys and girls, with teen counseling.

Counseling Staff

Tony Michael Tony Michael, MA, LPC, Director of Counseling, is from Marietta, Georgia. He attended Georgia State University where he earned his Bachelors degree in Social Work, and later attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he received his Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. Before working at Heartlight, Tony was on staff with Young Life ministries and worked at an adolescent residential treatment center/therapeutic foster care program in the Atlanta area. While living in Dallas, Tony did his practicum at a private practice and also interned at a church in Plano as a youth minister where he received his ordination. Tony’s hobbies include art, music, traveling and playing sports. Tony’s desire to point residents to the Lord and his fun-loving personality make him well-suited to his job as a counselor on our staff.
Kristin Newton Kristine Newton, LPC-Intern, Supervised by Phyllis Daniel, LPC-S. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Kristine did her undergrad at Miami University of Ohio where she majored in Finance and Marketing. She then obtained a Masters Degree in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary and prior to coming to Heartlight spent time working at a community mental health clinic in Dallas. Kristine has spent a great deal of time working with students as a swim coach and youth group leader and loves the opportunity to impact their lives in a positive way. She brings a genuine, sweet spirit to the counseling staff and desires to give and grow as she forms relationships here at Heartlight.
Justin Arnold Justin Arnold, M.A., Counselor. Justin originally hails from Jackson, Mississippi. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry from Leavell College, and then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling. Justin has a wide range of experience in the counseling setting, and has also been highly involved in ministries ranging from Campus Crusade for Christ at Mississippi State University to student pastor at First Baptist Church in Carthage, MS. When asked what drives his desire to work with kids, Justin says “I love their energy and desire to become more independent. This desire for more independence and the physiological changes that take place make being an adolescent difficult, yet very moldable.” Justin has a genuinely caring heart and a fun-loving personality that allows him to quickly connect with the kids. He and his wife, Lauren, were blessed with a little baby boy in December 2010. When he is not busy learning how to be a dad, Justin enjoys disc golf, soccer, baseball, traveling, and doing almost anything outside.
Rachel Olshine Rachel Olshine, M.A., Counselor. Rachel is no stranger to Heartlight; she first came several years ago and served as a house staff for quite some time. Rachel had attended college at Columbia International University in South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science in Communications, but realized that she wanted to have an opportunity to work with teens, thus bringing her here. After living here as a house staff, Rachel realized that she wanted to pursue her desire to help teens further by becoming a counselor. Rachel left Heartlight to attend graduate school at Clemson University in South Carolina. There, she received her Master of Education in Counselor Education under the field of Clinical Mental Health, and returned to Heartlight afterward. We are so excited to have Rachel back with us; she brings a great sense of fun and humor, an honest and outgoing spirit, and a true passion for working with teens and for the program at Heartlight. Rachel’s hobbies include being out in the water, traveling, attending concerts, and shopping.
Ashley Micheael Ashley Michael, MA. Ashley completed her MA in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2007. Ashley and her husband Tony (also a Heartlight counselor) came to Heartlight to pursue their passion and love for guiding teenagers as they plunge head first into everyday life situations. She is originally from Stafford, VA and earned her Bachelor’s degree in English at James Madison University. Ashley’s personality comes across soft and quiet until, after getting to know her, her outgoing and humorous side begins to surface. She enjoys spending time writing, traveling, singing and playing the guitar. Ashley is involved with ministry simply because of the realness she sees in the teenagers and her desire to walk with them through the tough times.
Melissa LeCraw Melissa LeCraw, M.Ed. As a former school counselor in the public school system in Atlanta and former youth director at a church, Melissa brings a wealth of experience to Heartlight. Her outgoing personality and sense of humor enable people to connect easily with her, and her compassion for struggling teens is a real asset for her. When she wasn’t busy completing degrees from the University of Georgia (BA in Sociology) and the University of West Georgia (M.Ed in School Counseling), Melissa enjoyed sports, outdoor activities, and random road trips.


Christian residential schools and behavioral therapy for troubled teens with teen counseling to improve behavior problems of teenagers struggling with anger, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention deficit, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, depression, reactive attachment disorder (RAD), intermittent explosive disorder (IED), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, self-harm, or rebellion.

THERAPEUTIC BOARDING SCHOOLS AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR TROUBLED TEENS, BOYS OR GIRLS.

Heartlight's therapeutic schools provide troubled teens with the help and counseling troubled teens need. It gives time for the whole family to heal. Everyone can then look past the anger and teenage rebellion to focus on the troubled teenager's healing. Our Christian residential schools serve Texas, California, Oregon and Washington on the West Coast and Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Nevada in the Southwest, from Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois in the Central States, from Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Idaho in the north, and from Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey along the east coast. Teens come to Heartlight from throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Heartlight is a Christian boarding school with loving and relational behavioral
therapy for troubled teens; a therapeutic boarding school for
girls and therapeutic boarding school for boys.