Anxiety, depression PTSD, ADHD, OCD, and all the other mood disorders can really make life a struggle, and sometimes unbearable. The clients I see need a safe space, someone to trust, and someone who cares. They are seeking support and guidance to overcome their challenges. They are open to exploring their thoughts and feelings, and they are willing to be vulnerable and honest. They need help to make positive changes in their life and relationships. They want to gain insight into themselves and their experiences, and they want to develop new skills and strategies for coping with life's challenges. We specialize in treating depression, PTSD, anxiety, and trauma utilizing evidence-based approaches.
I also offer equine assisted psychotherapy, an evidenced based experiential therapy that helps heal trauma, emotional regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to find healing and change.
I understand that seeking therapy can be a difficult decision. If you are suffering, you don't have to go at it alone. I believe that everyone deserves to live a fulfilling life, and we are committed to helping you achieve your goals.
Therapeutic Approach
Therapy begins with creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment where you can feel comfortable to share your story and express your feelings.
I utilize a variety of evidence-based modalities including:
(TI-CBT), Trauma-informed- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CPT) Cognitive Processing Therapy, (ACT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, (DBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Experiential Therapy and (MI) Motivational Interviewing modalities with a trauma informed approach.
I focus on:
1. Facilitating behavioral change by helping clients develop new behaviors that can help them overcome their challenges and improve their quality of life.
2. Improving Relationships by helping clients develop better communication skills and build stronger relationships with others.
3. Enhancing coping skills by teaching clients how to manage their emotions and develop effective coping strategies to deal with stress and anxiety.
4. Promoting decision-making helping clients make better decisions by teaching them how to evaluate their options and weigh the pros and cons of each one.
5. Self-development through helping clients develop a better understanding of themselves and their needs, as well as identify areas for personal growth.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapist
My love of animals and their therapeutic value led me to become an Equine Assisted Growth and Learning (EAGALA) Mental Health Specialist. I went through extensive military culture training while working at the VA and gained valuable clinical experience working with Veterans, earning my designation of an EAGALA Military Service Provider. The EAGALA therapy model is evidence based and utilized by all U.S. Military Branches and VA Hospitals and Medical Centers across the country and is highly effective with clients who have struggled with traditional therapy. I am currently working towards my Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Certification with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship.
My Story
A life changing event brought animals back in my life when I needed them the most. I lost my brother to the opioid crisis in 2010 and I needed to withdraw from the life I was living. I became a full-time volunteer for the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. For over almost 2 years I spent sunup to sundown with the wolves as their caretaker and their ambassador. But they were really my caretaker and gave me my personal experience with the healing powers animals possess. This was the catalyst I needed in my midlife and prompted a change in my career path. I wanted to help people heal from trauma.
Knowing that I wanted to be a therapist, I attended the University of Utah and chose Human Development and Family Studies as my major and completed the Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counseling certification program preparing for graduate school. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science and stayed at the University of Utah for my master’s in social work. While earning my degrees, I volunteered and was certified as an animal handler with Therapy Animals of Utah and again saw the healing experiences animals gave to people with all types of struggles in their life. I did a year practicum at a medically assisted treatment clinic counseling people with substance use disorders and was hired on after graduation where I worked for another year.
When working on my substance use disorder certification at the University of Utah, I enrolled in a course called “Introduction to Equine Assisted Therapy” and that is when I knew working with horses in a therapeutic way was going to be my career path as a therapist. In graduate school, I worked a year practicum at a dual diagnosis residential treatment center and then a year at the VA Salt Lake City where I was on the suicide prevention team and the DBT team. Working at the VA was truly an experience that I was honored to have and allowed me to build therapeutic relationships with those who served and protected us. I will always continue to work with this population.
After graduating with my master’s in social work and passing the clinical exam, I followed my path to working with horses in a therapeutic way by completing the certification process to become an Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) mental health professional.
Wanting to go further with my equine specializations and realizing my ability to make solid therapeutic relationships with Veterans, I then became an EAGALA Certified Military Service Provider. This certification is an extensive process requiring hours of experience and education in military culture which I achieved by working at the VA of Salt Lake City.
Right away I began working in equine assisted psychotherapy with a non-profit organization, Animals 4 Healing, gaining insurmountable experience helping people suffering traumatic pasts. I treated Victims of sexual abuse, Veterans with PTSD, people suffering from depression and/or anxiety and other mental health challenges. After a couple of years with Animals 4 Healing, I took the opportunity to start my own private practice, Gallop To Growth.
Today, I specialize in treating adults suffering PTSD, sexual abuse, anxiety, depression, adult ADHD and OCD. My main area of focus is helping people work through their traumas and I use trauma-informed care approaches that are evidenced-based and client centered. Client centered meaning, I meet the client where they are and base our approach on what’s happening in their life now and target our treatment goals based on how their past life events are negatively affecting them today. Whether this happens in the traditional talk therapy setting or using horses to assist clients with this process, I provide a safe, non-judgmental, and empathetic space for healing to happen.
Gallop To Growth is a dream come true for me and I am so grateful to have a group of people with so much experience who also share my passion for horses and helping people. Acquiring our therapy horses has been a gift I cannot describe other than meant to be. Each one has something special to give and a story of their own to share. Through working with horses in therapy, I met others that shared this passion and today I am grateful and honored to have them as part of Gallop To Growth’s equine therapeutic team. With this team, we offer therapy to people of all ages as well as collaborate and share our knowledge and expertise while supporting each other in our paths to help others.
When the opportunity to take over a boarding stable that had the perfect layout for an EAP facility, my wife and I jumped in headfirst without a second thought. Without her support, none of this would be possible. After a couple of months of overhauling the stable we are excited to share this mental health resource to Davis County and Northern Utah.
Having our own facility allows us so many opportunities to provide individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, specialized therapy programs for Veterans, Active Military, First Responders, Victims of Sexual Abuse and so much more. It is my humble hope that you will accept our invitation to come and see the healing works our horses cofacilitate with our therapy team!