Online Therapy in Utah
The same care, wherever in Utah you are.
“Therapy over a screen can’t be the same as being in the room.”
For a lot of it, and for many people. For some common concerns, including depression and anxiety, research suggests video therapy can produce outcomes comparable to in-person care, and plenty of people do the whole course that way. Fit still depends on you, the concern, the approach, and your privacy and safety needs. The clear exception is play therapy for young children, which needs the shared floor, and I’ll tell you if I think you’d be better served in the room.
- The same care, from your own roomFor talking therapy, ACT, and often EMDR, many people find video works about as well as the office for common concerns, and it skips the drive across town.
- Anywhere in UtahLicensure is statewide, so you can meet from Logan, St. George, or a town the map barely names.
- Private and simpleA secure, HIPAA-compliant link with no account to set up, and the same confidentiality that holds in the office.
What the work looks like
I'm licensed in Utah, so I can meet by secure video with clients located anywhere in the state, when telehealth is a good clinical fit, whether you're in Salt Lake City, Logan, or somewhere the map barely names. If you're weighing whether online therapy would really work for you, here's an honest look: who it fits, what you need, and where I'd still ask you to come in.
Therapy that meets you where you are
I'm licensed in Utah, so I can meet by telehealth with clients located anywhere in the state, and for a lot of the work the session can look much the same whether you're ten minutes from the office or four hours south of it. Some people find it easier to talk from their own room; some need the drive into town to mark the hour as theirs. Plenty mix the two. Whichever one actually gets you here is the right one.
Who online sessions work well for
It works well for adults and teens, for people who live nowhere near Salt Lake City, and for the ones who simply talk more freely from a familiar chair. It isn't right for everything, though. Play therapy for young children happens in the room, with the sand and the figures and the shared floor; a screen can't hold that, and therapy for children is built around being in person. And now and then, for a particular person or a particular stretch of the work, I'll say I think we'd do better face to face.
What you need, and what it's like
Not much: a private room where you won't be overheard, a decent connection, and an hour that's yours. I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform (you click a link, with no account to set up), and the same confidentiality that holds in the office holds on the call. The first few minutes feel a little different from walking into a waiting room, and then, mostly, they don't. It's still two people talking.
The same work, the same approaches
Both EMDR and ACT often translate to video better than people expect, and a lot of the anxiety work carries over well to a screen. EMDR's bilateral part can work well remotely, though for some people, especially early on, I'll suggest coming in for that piece. If I think in person would serve the work better, I'll tell you; otherwise the online hour tends to do the same work.
You don’t have to sort this out on your own.
Book a free callor call (801) 513-3505 · Mon–Fri, 9 AM–6 PM MTThe research
What the evidence says
A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found videoconferencing therapy performs about as well as in-person sessions, with a comparable working relationship between client and therapist.
- Working alliance and outcome effectiveness in videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review and noninferiority meta-analysisNorwood, C., Moghaddam, N. G., Malins, S., & Sabin-Farrell, R. · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · 2018
From the journal
Your therapist
LCSW · Licensed in Utah · No. 13989909-3501
MSW · University of Utah
Verified on Psychology TodayQuestions clients ask
The things people ask first
Does online therapy actually work as well?
For a lot of what I do (talking therapy, ACT, and often EMDR), it works well for many people, and plenty do the whole course by video. The clear exception is play therapy for young children, which needs the room, the sand, and the shared floor, so that happens in person. Now and then I'll suggest coming in for a particular person or stretch of work, and I'll tell you if I think so.
What do I need for a telehealth session?
A private room where you won't be overheard, a decent internet connection, and an hour that's yours. I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform (you click a link, with no account to set up), and the same confidentiality that holds in the office holds on the call.
Can you see me if I live outside Salt Lake City?
Yes. I'm licensed in Utah, so I can meet by telehealth with clients located anywhere in the state, when it's clinically appropriate, whether you're in Ogden, Provo, St. George, or a town I haven't heard of.
Can I switch between online and in-person sessions?
Yes. If you are close enough to the Salt Lake City office, the format does not have to be a permanent choice. You can meet online when travel or a busy week makes that easier and come into the room when being together feels steadier; we will use whichever setting best supports the work.
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