Quest Staff
Jodie Knott, Ph.D., camp director, assures a high degree of professionalism and effectiveness through daily supervision.  Additional staff therapists run groups and facilitate intervention under the supervision of Dr. Knott.  Critical to quality care is a quality staff. Each summer, teachers, graduate students and upper division college students are trained in Quest therapeutic techniques.  Since all have experience working with children, these special skills add to their effectiveness.  All references and backgrounds are carefully reviewed.

Jodie Knott, Ph.D., Director
Dr. Jodie Knott is a licensed clinical psychologist whose specialties include psychological assessments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, mood disorders as well as child and family therapy.  She utilizes her experience facilitating therapeutic, experiential learning interventions because she has led groups of this nature for over 10 years. Dr. Knott is committed to providing culturally sensitive services that are collaborative in nature.  She utilizes a variety of treatment methods that have been found to be effective. Dr. Knott’s professional training includes a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and both a Masters in Counseling Family Human Services, and a Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of Oregon.  She has provided services to children and adults of all ages, in addition to having worked in a variety of settings including university counseling centers (providing services to students, adults, and children and their families), hospital services (inpatient and outpatient), county services (juvenile justice, foster care and day treatment), and private practice.

Tessa Brown, M.A., Assistant Director, is a bilingual teacher who has experience working with children of all ages.  Miss Brown brings enthusiasm into all her projects including her current high school teaching position for History, psychology and sociology. She has taught history and language arts at the middle school level, in addition to becoming the Department Chair of a History Department, and teaching advisor for yearbook and ASB. Miss Brown has spent four months as a head facilitator of a high ropes course and led canoe trips for children through the YMCA Outdoor School.  Miss Brown has been YASA certified through the YMCA in water safety.  Prior to joining Quest, Miss Brown gained experience facilitating and coordinating services for a local summer camp for three summers in which she provided services to children of low-income families.  Miss Brown received her B.A. from Willamette University in history and Spanish, and has an M.A. in teaching from Chapman University.

Jamie Pence, M.S., O.T.R./L., Head of Occupational Therapy Services, is an experienced occupational therapist who combines a holistic and nurturing approach to help children achieve optimal independent functioning in their school, home and community environments. She has advanced training in treating sensory processing and sensory integration disorders, including the areas of self-regulation, attention and organization of behavior. She utilizes a child centered approach, selecting activities designed to give each child the ‘just-right’ challenge to facilitate developmental and/or behavioral change and promote positive self-esteem while also developing motor skills and bilateral coordination. Jamie received her B.S. in Human Development from the University of California, Davis and her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. She has experience providing treatment in a variety of settings including the public school system, sensory integration clinics, and the home with children ages 0-18 years. Jamie provides consultation as needed and trains staff in sensory and skill building activities for our campers to participate in.