Caryn Wangsgaard

Caryn Wangsgaard serves as Program Staff at Chateau Health & Wellness, bringing a lifetime of service, empathy, and steady presence into the recovery environment. 

She is a proud U.S. Navy veteran and comes from a family deeply rooted in military and first responder service. Her path began early as a Junior Firefighter in her teenage years and continued through wartime military service.

Over the years, Caryn has experienced the profound loss of friends and colleagues across the fire service, law enforcement, and the armed forces whose lives were impacted by PTSD and other mental health challenges. 

These experiences are not abstract for her, they are personal, and they continue to shape her mission to support veterans, active duty service members, and first responders as they work through the invisible wounds of service.

Daily Support, Structure, and Accountability

In her role at Chateau, Caryn provides compassionate, consistent support to clients as they navigate treatment. 

She strives to be a steady and grounding presence, often serving as a supportive bridge between clinical appointments. She guides clients through their phase work curriculum while helping them feel safe, welcomed, and at home within the Chateau community.

Alongside emotional support, Caryn is responsible for maintaining program structure and accountability. 

A Veteran’s Perspective and Calm Under Pressure

As a military veteran who served during wartime scenarios, Caryn brings a rare and deeply valuable perspective to her work with first responders. 

She understands the internal landscape of combat stress, hypervigilance, and emotional suppression that many clients carry into treatment.

Caryn is highly empathetic while also remaining grounded and composed in high stress situations. 

She has a natural ability to de escalate tension, calm anxious energy, and create a sense of safety for those around her. 

This balance of compassion and firmness allows clients to feel both supported and held accountable, an essential combination in recovery settings.

Therapeutic Support and Wellness Practices

Caryn incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles, mindfulness and stress reduction techniques, and meditation into her daily interactions with clients. 

Her approach emphasizes presence, emotional regulation, and self awareness, helping clients reconnect with themselves in meaningful and restorative ways.

She believes that seeking help is not a weakness, but an act of courage. In her words and actions, she reminds clients that true strength lies in knowing when to step back, allow support, and give oneself permission to heal.

Life Beyond the Program

Outside of work, Caryn feels most alive in the natural landscapes of Utah. She loves spending time in the mountains, forests, and deserts, hiking and searching for rocks, crystals, fossils, and native plants. Wildlife observation is one of her favorite pastimes.

She also has a strong passion for animal rescue, particularly dog rescue on the Navajo and Ute reservations. 

Caryn is a certified canine behaviorist and trainer who specializes in working with reactive and aggressive dogs, further reflecting her ability to support beings who need patience, structure, and understanding.

A Steady and Meaningful Presence

Caryn’s presence at Chateau is defined by service, integrity, and heart. Her lived experience, calm strength, and unwavering commitment to others make her a trusted and stabilizing figure within the program. 

For many clients, she represents proof that healing is possible and that asking for help is one of the strongest decisions a person can make.