Essence Counseling and Consulting

Let's get real before we get serious! For the most part we are all walking around pretending to be okay and hoping our positive affirmations, daily meditations, gratitude journal entries and the annoying latest push-up challenge will finally pay off with the bliss, confidence and motivation we see in our imaginary future selves. When in reality we might be feeling the cliché, "HOT MESS", which I will say has a certain je ne sais quoi about it. Right? The truth is we all have a core self who wants to be healed and has the power to do it! Yet it is almost impossible to do without true Connection, Compassion and Curiosity of who we really are. We all have complex and fascinating aspects of ourselves we struggle with. For example, "My inner child, my evil dude, my hot mess self and the inevitable...not good enough self". These are all examples of aspects of yourself who need to feel unconditionally loved and accepted the way we all want to be in this present moment. The relationship with yourself is vital in living your "Best Future Self" and befriending and nurturing your defeated, overwhelmed, and exhausted self. Whether it's trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, low or no self-esteem, identity issues or utter shame and guilt, you have a chance to heal and be who you are, or whoever you want to become! YOU GOT THIS! I consider myself to be a healer of all aspects of self. A Trauma Healer. Now a bit of the serious. I am Mariah Peterson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of clinical experience. In 2006 I graduated from the University of Utah with my Masters of Social Work having also received the distinguished Belle S. Spafford Award for achievement and promise in improving the lives of women and children. Upon graduation I moved to Denver, Colorado where I worked in a variety of settings including community mental health day treatment, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services as well as corporate case management and outpatient work specializing in adults who suffer from trauma. In 2018 I returned to my home and stomping grounds, the Wasatch Front to continue my work. I am a certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist and working on becoming a consultant. I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) in conjunction with EMDR to heal and help you love and accept all parts of yourself. I am trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and led DBT groups for the past four years. In addition to these therapies, I also use mindfulness-based Acceptance, Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). I have a great interest and passion in Integration and Canna-therapy where I combine both to assist those who suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I currently teach Advanced Practice at the University of Utah College of Social Work with Master Students where they learn best practice, ethics and evidence based treatment modalities. Therapy is about being open to learning about yourself and yes, laughing is part of it! The major focus of my practice is treating adults who suffer with trauma, anxiety, depression, "being stuck and not motivated", and helping those in difficult life transitions and relationship issues. My approach to therapy is to help you develop the best relationship with yourself as possible and help you learn how to cope with our changing world and understand your inner self. I believe fully in the value of connection, ultimate self-compassion and radical acceptance of all parts that make up who you are and learn to forgive yourself for not being what you thought you were meant to be so you are able to become who you want to be. I understand that change does not happen overnight and some changes will never be made, which is why I am a proponent of harm-reduction strategies. When it comes to therapy I believe the relationship with the therapist is the most important aspect in healing. It is important to me that if I am not a good fit to help you we will find someone who is. See my additional profile on Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/mariah-peterson-lcsw-salt-lake-city-ut/1034284