Therapists in Riverton, UT

I have been helping individuals, couples, and families since 1988. I have a great deal of experience working with a wide variety of patients. I have developed a specialty in working with individuals who struggle with addictions and compulsive behavior. Patients who struggle with sexual addictions and compulsive internet behavior have found me particularly understanding and comfortable to work with. You will find me kind, nonjudgmental, and informative. It can be difficult to find a psychologist who can help a couple through the challenge of an affair reconciliation; in this area I am experienced, comfortable and competent.

The problems we face can often become entangled with our perception of self. We have an opportunity to define our problems as separate and external to ourselves. "You are not the problem; the problem is the problem."

I am the founder of the Igniting Change movement and counseling office. Our focus is on removing barriers to emotional healing, like shame and negative beliefs, to ignite positive change and connection to our best selves and others. As a therapist, I specialize in helping youth and adults to overcome compulsive behavior (i.e., "process addiction") and trauma. I believe that as we ignite loving, genuine relationships and heal from past scars, we become our best selves and lead happy, fulfilled lives.

Life is a process and journey. When one feels stuck (sometimes chronically stuck), it is vital to understand why they are stuck and how to get moving forward again. I strive to help my clients to honestly and courageously seek to understand the conceptual nature of their problems with trauma, addiction, and relationship patterns. When clients can attend, listen, understand, validate, care, and nurture themselves, they can find their way in the journey. As couples and families learn to see each other, create and maintain safety and security, and soothe each other they can find deep and satisfying connections.

Are you struggling to get out of bed in the morning? Or having trouble sleeping at night because you can’t turn off your brain? Have you tried everything to improve your relationship, but nothing seems to work? Have you lost joy? If so, you’re not alone, and the good news is that help is within reach. For over 20 years, I’ve devoted myself to helping my clients with these issues and more.

From trauma to communication, every relationship has challenges which might also include issues with pornography, personality, communication, work-related stress, sexual dysfunction, feeling like you’re living with a roommate, or coming to terms with an affair. These issues are overwhelming and difficult to overcome resulting in unsafe communication. Using the best available therapies, I offer a safe therapeutic relationship full of empathy and compassion to help heal the pain

I want to empower you with the insights, skills, and self-awareness you need to heal, grow, and thrive. My clients come to me wanting more out of life. They've been dragged down by depression, anxiety, and trauma. They feel stuck in a rut, frustrated by their own self-defeating habits. Maybe they've tried therapy, medication, seminars, self-help books, meditation, yoga...but nothing seems to work. They know that they are capable of more, but just don't know how to make it happen.

A pivotal time to try therapy is during young adulthood. It's a tough phase of life and it's not only challenging for the individual, but for their parents as well! There can be pressure in areas of sports, religion, school, and relationships, not to mention "what they're going to do with their life!" Transitioning into adulthood can be difficult, but I've seen it be a time of great progress for clients and their loved ones. I help clients find direction, learn to cope with anxiety, and find their own unique identity and strength. Don't wait too long to start living the life you want to be living.

Have you ever said to yourself, "I know I need to do this for myself....., But, I can't". Then them we come up with reasons why; "it is too scary", "I am not competent enough", "I am too tired", "it is too difficult", or maybe even, "I just don't care". We have these internal conflicts that appear in our lives almost daily, If we don't resolve these internal conflicts as they arise they become bigger and more impactful in our day to day functioning, and we can get to a point where we feel "stuck" or trapped in our own lives. We can even get so stuck we start avoiding basic human needs.

Friends and family are great resource. They care about you and are often so uneasy with seeing you upset that it's difficult for them to help you address the hard areas in life. Because they don't want to see you unhappy, they often tell you 'want' to hear when a good therapist will help you discover what you need to hear. Whether it be situational (relational issues, job-loss, unexpected death) or something more long-term like trauma, addiction, depression and anxiety. Investing time with a licensed therapist can help. You are stronger and more resilient than you realize and I look forward to working with you.

The counseling world is shifting. The latest studies are proving that effective counseling goes beyond just talk therapy: it includes attention to both the mind and the body. I utilize experiential modalities, based on cutting-edge research and real-world experience by the world’s leading experiential practitioners. I combine this with classic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Somatic Experiencing (SE). Applying these tandem techniques in the counseling setting helps my clients attain tangible and life-altering changes.

Therapy is: Creating desired changes which improve our lives. My goal is to help identify the obstacles which are impeding your happiness and assist you in making changes that will bring a greater level of joy and fulfillment to your life. People enjoy my warm, easy going, supportive nature as they work through life's struggles. Clients progress as they overcome fears, anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, addictions, relationship problems, old/new emotional wounds. Success in treatment comes as the barriers to my client's "desired life" fall, one by one, and they become independently prepared for new functioning in life.

With over 20 years in behavioral health and dual diagnosis treatment, I designed and founded the Utah Addiction Centers. Specializing in holistic and person centered treatment for mental health and addictions. As a clinical therapist, I specialize in the treatment of substance abuse, sexual/pornography addiction, compulsive behaviors, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mood Disorders, and Personality Disorders.