LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Sugar House, Salt Lake City, UT

My PhD training as a counseling psychologist affords me flexibility to support multiple life concerns, and at the root of my work is the belief that relationships are capable of healing. I build strong alliances with those whom I serve in order to best meet client directed goals and foster sustained change. I adhere to evidence-based practices in psychology, and research evidence strongly supports the importance of building a strong therapeutic alliance. Everyone has a unique lens through which they see the world and I strive to see the world as my clients do to provide the best care.

Everyone struggles at some point in their lives. It’s the human experience, and comes in many forms: anxiety, depression, trauma, acting out behaviors. As a clinical therapist with a Master’s in Social Work, I have been honored to provide support to children, teens, LGBTQIA , families and adults through crisis and behavioral support, military, and person or individual previously incarcerated.I have strong experiences in helping with behavioral issues, conduct, juvenile involved youth, LGBTQIA issues/needs/supports, youth with autism and families that need more support and tools. ​

A clinical social worker with 17 years experience, Chad Anderson has successfully helped children, adolescents, and adults from all races, faiths, and sexual orientations work on individualized goals ranging from improving relationships, alleviating depression, reconciling faith with sexuality, managing addiction to avoid relapse, living with difficult mental health conditions, managing life change, and more. Chad wants to make sure you leave every session with something concrete to work on so you can notice changes in your life now, and recognize progress over time. Each client is given an individual treatment plan.

I am a certified social worker with a belief in a holistic approach to wellness and mental health. I graduated with both a Bachelors and Masters of Social Work from the University of Utah. I completed a clinical internship with the Utah Pride Center where I worked primarily with LGBTQ + individuals. Prior to that, I worked with adolescents, young adults, and families as a DCFS caseworker, mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and co-director of the Teens’ Night Out Program at the Road Home.

I work with clients on a variety of issues, though my primary focus has been in the areas of LGBT and disability therapy. During my time at the Utah Pride Center and with Alliance Counseling, I have utilized a solution-focused, shame-free approach to gender and sexuality to help my clients navigate the complex issues that accompany membership in these communities.

As your therapist, my goal is to create a safe environment for you to be and explore yourself.  Together we'll bring awareness to your thoughts, feelings, emotions, body sensations, values, desires, memories and more, to deeply understand what its like for you to be you. Increasing awareness opens the door for self-understanding, compassion, thoughtful decision-making, choice, change, and self-love. To support your journey, I use Transpersonal therapy, Gestalt therapy, Somatic-based trauma therapy, Process Work, CBT, dream work, inner child work, and shadow work. I specialize in LGBTQ + affirming therapy and letter writing.

I am a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with 15 years of experience working with trauma, anxiety and relationship issues. I work with individuals, couples and families struggling with depression, anxiety, boundaries and emotion regulation with a goal to attain individual wellness and meaningful connection. My specialization in relationship trauma extends to family, marriage, adoption, family of origin, LGBTQA , minority and other counseling arenas. I am experienced in evidenced-based modalities for trauma and emotional regulation.

Navigating through the difficulties in life can often feel overwhelming. The journey of understanding, processing, and healing can seem daunting. You do not have to travel that path alone. If you are looking to move forward with your life, break feelings of being stuck, or better understand your place in the world then therapy can help tremendously. Trauma, crisis, loss, anxiety, and depression are only a few examples of barriers that be overcome within our therapy. Together, we can work to achieve the life that you want to have.

I love to work with individuals, couples, and families. I am a person-centered therapist and focus first and foremost on building safety and trust between us. I honor the unique experiences that my clients bring to counseling and work to understand my clients’ background, culture, and past.

My goal in therapy is to help clients feel empowered and assist in building emotional and mental stability. I approach with multicultural, strength based and trauma informed lens. I provide special insights on diversity issues and its co-relation with mental health. I also believe therapy should not have one mere focus on addressing mental health issues on a micro level but also needs to move beyond and understand the complexities of a person from the macro and mezzo level. I value therapeutic relationships and consider it to be a key factor in bringing the desired change for client. I welcome clients from all background.

*Not accepting new clients at this time* I believe that each person has the innate ability to overcome life's challenging obstacles. I'm committed to supporting each client through their journey. I have a passion and history working with complex trauma, attachment disorders, dissociative identity disorders, personality disorders, suicide ideation/intervention/attempt, LGBTQ issues and place an emphasis on incorporating interpersonal neurobiology into my work with clients.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed in your relationship and need some support I can help. As a Certified Gottman Therapist using Gottman Method Couples Counseling I can assess your relationship issues and develop a simple treatment plan using evidence based interventions. Gottman Method has over 30 years of research that shows it can not only predict divorce but also improve relationship satisfaction. If you can't commit to weekly therapy, check out my website or contact me for more information on marathon sessions.

How would it feel to be certain of who you are-let's find out how you can be the expert of your own life! I focus from several evidence-based & trauma-informed therapy models with adult individuals, relationship systems & groups. I am experienced in attachment, chronic health Issues & medical trauma, life & belief transitions, gender & LGBTQ + & alternative partnerships. I'm passionate about working with individuals whose lives have been deeply altered by a major event including a medical trauma, disability or career loss. **I have limited space for new private pay, high-specialization-match clients at this time**

Hello there, welcome! You have taken a courageous first step. I understand that each of our path's to healing are different and unique. I am devoted to helping individuals explore and navigate these paths in order to have the best outcome, to heal, enjoy life, and gain a better understanding and love of self. You are capable of having the life you want. I am here to help in your healing process. I strongly believe that with a good therapeutic relationship, change is possible.

We all have a sexual story. Some aspects of our story may continue to cause pain, cause embarrassment, induce shame or guilt, keep us from fulfilling our sexual potential, block us from feeling whole or cause ongoing problems in our most intimate relationships. As a trained sex therapist, I have experience to help you address challenging aspects of sexuality integrating all aspects of sexuality including the physical, the emotional, the mental and spiritual aspects.

Phoenix Rebellion Therapy treats those looking for solutions and new directions in life. Working together, our clients and therapists can find the root of the problem and a way to move forward. If you suffer from a minor issue or something more extreme, you could use an experienced ear walking you towards a better solution. Our therapists have expertise treating everything from trauma, torture, and rape, to anxiety, addiction, and depression.

***Not accepting new clients at this time*** Do you avoid different places, people, or situations because they bring back memories from your past that are extremely uncomfortable or upsetting? Have you found yourself stuck in the same behavioral patterns and relationships despite your best efforts to change? Do you have fears of being left or abandoned despite your partners constant reassurance that they will never leave you? As your therapist, I will work alongside you to help you overcome these patterns and gain more insight into your life.

Every person is unique and valuable, and each offers the world something important. Sometimes the busyness of life, both internal and external, clouds our vision and makes remembering this difficult. As we try to see our way forward we often develop patterns of thinking and behaving that prevent us from fully showing up in our lives. My work is to assist you in challenging your current paradigm, to support you in identifying your true goals and desires, and to affirm you in your process of discovery. I approach mental health work from a person-centered, strength-based, feminist, and multi-cultural perspective. I am LGBTQ + affirming.

Faith transitions/journeys, religious trauma, sex therapy, and sexuality. I can (and do) talk about these topics all day. Any one of these issues can seem overwhelming and impossible to deal with. As a therapist who has dealt with these issues myself, I bring both professional and personal experience to help you move forward. I know every person's story and life is unique and I won't project my experiences on you. However, you won't have to explain the "Mormon lingo" or worry that I won't understand the unique issues queer individuals face in a heteronormative world.

My work with clients begins at the heart using a strength-based, person-centered approach. Navigating life's uncertainties and learning how to grow through difficult times can be challenging. Past events in our lives are part of our story, but they are not the entire story and they do not define our whole life. I embrace people and their stories with an open heart and innate sensitivity. Creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment to explore relationship and life patterns that are no longer serving you is of utmost importance to me. Therapy is a journey that we can take together, navigating the challenges in a collaborative way.