Ken: Today on the Voice of Hope, we're honored to welcome Tony Mosier, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Telos, a nationally recognized residential treatment center known for its compassionate, outcomes-driven care for teens and families. With over 20 years of leadership in behavioral health care, Tony has shaped Telos into a model of trauma-informed, relationship-centered treatment.
A licensed marriage and family therapist with degrees from Utah State and BYU, Tony has served as program director, co-founded Choose Mental Health, and led nationally as past president of NATSAP. Tony, welcome. We're thrilled to have you on the show.
Tony: Thank you, I'm happy to be here.
Ken: You got your start working as a frontline staff, often called mentors or psych techs. How did you stumble into that?
Tony: I worked at a little program up in northern Utah called Youth Track, working with adolescent boys. It was just one of those jobs you do in college to survive, and I fell in love with it. That’s one of the reasons why, when I got my degree as a therapist, I continued working with adolescents.
Ken: Had you already planned on becoming a therapist?
Tony: Yeah, from a young age. I knew I wanted to be a therapist—probably because I wasn’t good at anything else.
Ken: You've been at Telos for over two decades. What drew you to creating your own thing and working with youth and families in the mental health space?
Tony: Right out of graduate school, I worked at a youth inpatient setting where the staff had big hearts but not much clinical sophistication. I saw good things happen, but I believed it could be done better. Like many founders, I had a vision for how it could be improved—and that's what gave birth to Telos.
Ken: Starting something like Telos—or any business—is phenomenal and painful. Speak to that.
Tony: Definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, outside of raising my own kids. It’s a lot like parenting—anyone can start a business, but not many stick around to raise it to maturity. It's been difficult, but also one of the joys of my life. I get to help save lives and reunite families. That brings me deep satisfaction.
Ken: The name Telos has special meaning. Define that for us.
Tony: Telos is a Greek term meaning the thing you were designed to become—your ultimate potential. The telos of a seed, for example, is an oak tree.
Ken: Does that concept guide the mission statement or the work you do at Telos?
Tony: Absolutely. We work with kids who’ve lost sight of their potential. We have to see past their behaviors and into their hearts—see what they can become. They need to see that reflected in our eyes before they can believe it for themselves.
Ken: What’s a typical profile of a Telos youth?
Tony: Sweet, kind, moral compass intact—but lost in a web of complex mental health challenges. Our students often face layered issues like trauma, ADHD, adoption, depression, and school failure. They’re not just anxious or depressed; it’s “and, and, and.”
Ken: Is there anything that captures how those issues block their potential?
Tony: Yes. In grad school, we learned that nobody wakes up thinking, “I want to ruin my life today.” These kids are trying to survive, often using maladaptive strategies. The good news is that it’s solvable—with the right treatment, we see miracles every day.
Ken: What’s something that unlocks that potential?
Tony: Relationship-based treatment, when done right. Youth can sense whether adults truly care. That sincerity can melt even the most armored kids—we call them “armored marshmallows.”
Ken: How do you build a team of people who can create those connections?
Tony: Start with the right core people, then guard your culture. Like attracts like. If your culture is strong, it becomes a beacon for others who want to make a difference.
Ken: Is it hard to create and maintain that kind of culture?
Tony: Not hard to create—super hard to maintain. Culture eats initiatives for breakfast. Once you get it, you have to protect it fiercely.
Ken: What keeps you fired up? Any specific experience come to mind?
Tony: So many, but I think of one boy who arrived hollow and defeated. He resisted at first, but eventually surrendered to the process. He graduated, returned years later thriving, and told us we changed his life. That’s why I keep showing up.
Ken: Who has influenced you most in building Telos?
Tony: My business partner Craig Lamont. He introduced me to humanistic treatment—dignity-based, trust-first models. It challenged me to let go of rigid behavioral systems and embrace trust and connection.
Ken: What key leadership lessons have you learned over the years?
Tony: Know your ideal client and stick to them. Also, early on I struggled with accountability—I was too focused on positivity. But kids deserve the best. That means holding staff to high standards, even when it's uncomfortable.
Ken: What do you see for the future of adolescent mental health treatment?
Tony: I'm concerned about the push for shorter stays, driven by insurance. True healing often takes 9–12 months, and pulling support at day 90 is a huge setback. We need to advocate for adequate treatment length.
Ken: What would you tell a family at the beginning of this journey?
Tony: First, have hope. We've seen this work thousands of times. Second, expect a messy middle—it's normal. And third, parents must engage in their own growth. That’s the single biggest predictor of long-term success.
Ken: If you could go back and talk to yourself before starting Telos, what would you say?
Tony: Don’t assume others just “get it.” You have to teach, model, and train it—over and over. And stay flexible. The field is always evolving. Be willing to pivot.
Ken: If someone wants to know more about Telos or get in touch, where should they go?
Tony: Easy—just go to telos.org. Everything you need is there.
Ken: Final thoughts for our audience?
Tony: If you’re struggling, remember—you’re designed to heal. Just like your body heals from a wound, your mind can too. You might need help, but healing is built in. Don’t give up.
