Willow Therapy in Utah Blog

Welcoming Alexis Acosta, ACMHC to Willow Therapy Utah

We’re Excited to Introduce Alexis Acosta, ACMHC

Willow Therapy Utah is thrilled to welcome Alexis Acosta, ACMHC to our growing team of mental health professionals! Alexis brings a grounded, empathetic, and strengths-based approach to her work with teens, adults, and couples, and she is now accepting new clients.

Alexis offers therapy both in-person in Pleasant Grove and online for clients throughout Utah, making care accessible, consistent, and personalized.

Meet Alexis on our team page

Areas of Focus: Who Alexis Supports

Alexis works with individuals and couples navigating a wide variety of challenges, including:

• Anxiety and depression

• Relationship issues and conflict

• Family dynamics and healing past wounds

• Grief and life transitions

• Religious or spiritual identity exploration

• Teen and young adult mental health

She is especially passionate about creating a nonjudgmental space for clients to process deep emotions, connect with their values, and rediscover a sense of safety in themselves and their relationships.

Explore therapy for anxiety
Learn about therapy for teens

Therapy Style and Approach

Alexis believes in helping clients move toward healing by addressing emotional pain—not just the symptoms. Her work is client-centered, relational, and trauma-informed, drawing from:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Narrative Therapy

• Family Systems Theory

Whether you’re healing from past wounds, navigating relationship conflict, or seeking clarity about your identity, Alexis offers a supportive space to explore what matters most to you.

Explore therapy approaches at Willow Therapy

Working With Alexis

Alexis sees therapy as a collaborative journey toward meaningful change. Her clients describe her as thoughtful, steady, and deeply attuned—someone who can hold space for the hard stuff while helping you move forward with confidence.

She is available for:

• Individual therapy

• Couples therapy

• Teen therapy

• Faith transition and values-based therapy

Now Accepting New Clients

Alexis is currently accepting new clients and offers both in-person sessions in Pleasant Grove and telehealth across Utah.

We accept a wide range of insurance plans, including:

• SelectHealth

• PEHP

• UnitedHealthcare

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• TRICARE

• EMI and Motiv Health

✅ Start Therapy With Alexis Today

Whether you’re beginning therapy for the first time or returning after a break, Alexis Acosta, ACMHC offers the warmth, insight, and support you need to move forward with clarity and hope.

✅ Schedule a session
✅ Contact us with questions
✅ Meet the full team at Willow Therapy

Summer Self-Care: Maintaining Mental Wellness While Balancing Family and Work

How to Stay Grounded, Present, and Energized During a Busy Season

Introduction: Why Summer Can Feel Like a Lot

Summer is often portrayed as relaxing—but for many people, it’s one of the busiest times of the year. Between keeping kids entertained, managing vacations, hosting family gatherings, and juggling work responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or burned out.

At Willow Therapy, we help individuals and families find balance during life’s busiest seasons. Whether you’re a working parent, college student home for the summer, or simply trying to reclaim your peace, summer is the perfect time to reconnect with yourself and practice intentional self-care.

1. Set Summer Boundaries (Without Guilt)

Summer often brings a surge of invitations, activities, and commitments. While fun, they can also deplete your energy if you’re not careful.

Try this:

• Say “yes” to connection, not obligation

• Protect downtime on your calendar just like appointments

• Limit screen time or work email when you’re off the clock

• Let your kids be bored—it fosters creativity!

Healthy boundaries are an act of self-respect and a foundation for mental wellness.

Explore therapy for stress and burnout

2. Make Time for “Mini Moments” of Self-Care

You don’t need a week-long vacation to recharge. Look for ways to create small, meaningful pauses during your day.

Ideas:

• Step outside and breathe deeply for five minutes

• Keep a gratitude journal on your nightstand

• Swap doomscrolling for a favorite audiobook or walk

• Try grounding techniques like noticing 5 things you see, hear, and feel

Learn about mindfulness-based therapy

3. Support Your Kids’ Emotional Wellness, Too

Summer can be tough for kids and teens too—especially those who struggle with transitions, social pressure, or boredom. Therapy offers a space for them to:

• Process feelings

• Strengthen coping tools

• Build confidence for the school year ahead

Explore child and adolescent therapy

4. Embrace Flexibility in Your Routines

Your routines don’t have to disappear—just adapt them.

• Shift your morning routine later if school’s out

• Plan work blocks around kids’ nap times or activities

• Use outdoor time for movement and connection

Balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about adjustment.

5. Therapy Can Be Part of Your Self-Care Plan

If you’re feeling scattered, anxious, or emotionally drained this summer, therapy can provide structure and support. At Willow Therapy Utah, we offer both in-person and online sessions so you can access care on your terms.

Many of our clients use the summer season to:

• Reconnect with themselves

• Work through parenting or relationship stress

• Reassess personal goals

• Build emotional regulation skills

Meet our therapists

6. Use Your Insurance to Make Therapy More Affordable

We accept many major insurance plans including:

• SelectHealth

• UnitedHealthcare

• PEHP

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Wise/Imagine Health

• TRICARE

• EMI Health

Need help verifying your benefits? Contact us and we’ll walk you through it.

✅ You Deserve Care This Summer, Too

Summer is a time of movement—but it can also be a season of restoration. Therapy is one way to stay grounded in your values, emotions, and goals—even when life is moving fast around you.

✅ Schedule a therapy session
✅ Explore our therapy services
✅ Reach out with any questions

We Now Accepts TRICARE for Mental Health Services

Mental Health Support for Military Families

At Willow Therapy Utah, we’re honored to support our military members, veterans, and their families by accepting TRICARE insurance. Mental health care should be accessible and affordable—especially for those who’ve dedicated themselves to serving our country.

Whether you’re active duty, retired, or part of a military family, we’re here to help you navigate life’s challenges with expert, compassionate care.

What Is TRICARE?

TRICARE is the health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families. It provides coverage for a range of medical and mental health services, including:

• Individual therapy

• Couples and family counseling

• Treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and depression

• Support during life transitions or after deployment

We are contracted through TriWest, and we follow Medicare billing guidelines to ensure compliance and high-quality care for all TRICARE beneficiaries.

Learn more about TRICARE mental health coverage

Therapy Services Covered by TRICARE

TRICARE members at Willow Therapy Utah can access a wide range of services, including:

• Individual therapy

• Couples counseling

• Family therapy

• PTSD treatment

• Support for anxiety and depression

• Stress management and emotional regulation

• Telehealth options for clients throughout Utah

Our Therapists Are Here for You

Our team includes experienced, licensed therapists who understand the unique stressors faced by military individuals and families. Whether you’re navigating deployment transitions, relationship challenges, or trauma recovery, we’re here to support your mental wellness with care and respect.

Meet our team

Getting Started with TRICARE at Willow Therapy Utah

1. Verify Coverage
   Contact TRICARE or TriWest to confirm your mental health benefits and authorization for services.

2. Choose a Therapist
   Explore our therapist directory to find someone who fits your needs and goals.

3. Schedule a Session
   Visit our appointment page to request your first session—either in person or via telehealth.

4. We Handle the Billing
   We’ll submit claims directly to TRICARE through TriWest, so you can focus on healing, not paperwork.

Why Choose Willow Therapy Utah?

• Veteran- and military-friendly environment

• Experienced with trauma-informed care

• Discreet, compassionate therapists

• Flexible scheduling and telehealth options

• Located in Pleasant Grove and serving all of Utah

We’re here to help you strengthen your mental health while honoring your service and sacrifice.

Start Today

If you or a loved one is covered by TRICARE and ready to begin therapy, Willow Therapy Utah is ready to support you. You don’t have to go it alone—and you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Let’s work together toward healing and growth.

✅ Schedule a session
✅ Contact us with questions
✅ View all insurance we accept

Navigating Life Transitions: Finding Balance During Major Changes

Therapy Can Help You Adjust, Adapt, and Thrive Through Life’s Big Shifts

Introduction: Why Navigating Life Transitions Can Feel So Overwhelming

Even positive change can bring stress. Whether it’s starting college, becoming a parent, ending a relationship, changing careers, or moving to a new city, navigating life transitions can disrupt your sense of identity, stability, and emotional balance.

At Willow Therapy Utah, we help people move through these uncertain seasons with clarity and confidence. You don’t have to do it all on your own—therapy provides a safe space to process what’s changing and what it means for you.

What Counts as a Life Transition?

Life transitions come in many forms—some expected, some completely unexpected. Common examples include:

• Graduating from school or changing jobs

• Getting married, divorced, or becoming a parent

• Moving or relocating

• Losing a loved one

• Navigating illness or caregiving

• Experiencing a faith shift or spiritual change

• Entering a new life stage (like midlife or retirement)

According to the American Psychological Association, major transitions are some of the most common sources of stress—but also growth—when approached with the right tools and support.

Why Life Transitions Can Disrupt Mental Health

Change, even when it’s welcome, often brings:

• Anxiety and uncertainty

• Grief or loss of identity

• Relationship stress

• Self-doubt or decision paralysis

• Exhaustion from adapting to “the new normal”

Your brain and body are working overtime to adjust—and therapy helps you move through that process with more intention and less overwhelm.

Explore individual therapy services

How Therapy Helps You Navigate Life Transitions

At Willow Therapy Utah, we offer a supportive space to:

• Process emotions like grief, fear, excitement, or regret

• Clarify values and goals during moments of change

• Strengthen coping tools for stress and uncertainty

• Rebuild identity when life feels disoriented

• Create routines and boundaries that support your next chapter

You don’t have to rush the process. We go at your pace, honoring the emotions that come with change while helping you move forward with strength.

Life Transitions We Support in Therapy

We work with clients navigating transitions like:

• Postpartum and parenthood shifts

• Marriage or relationship changes

• Faith or spiritual identity changes

• Career pivots or burnout recovery

• High school to college or early adulthood

• Midlife reflection or empty nesting

• Grief after loss or trauma

Explore therapy for postpartum and motherhood

Learn about faith transition therapy

Meet Therapists Who Specialize in Life Transitions

👩‍⚕️ Mariah Frias, LCSW

Mariah helps adults explore identity, loss, and healing through transitional seasons with warmth and wisdom.

👩‍⚕️ Jeanna Cunningham, CMHC

Jeanna offers insight and grounding for clients going through relationship changes, trauma, or spiritual shifts.

You Deserve Support During Seasons of Change

Whether you’re facing a joyful milestone or an unexpected life detour, you deserve a space to feel heard, validated, and supported. Therapy helps you stay grounded—even when everything else is shifting.

✅ Schedule your therapy session
✅ Explore our therapy services
✅ Meet our therapist team

Trauma-Informed Therapy: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understanding This Compassionate Approach to Mental Health Care

Introduction: Why Trauma-Informed Therapy Matters More Than You Think

Not all therapy is the same. For those who have experienced trauma—whether in childhood, adulthood, or both—it’s essential to receive care that feels not just effective, but safe. That’s where trauma-informed therapy comes in.

At Willow Therapy Utah, we use trauma-informed approaches to ensure clients feel empowered, not retraumatized, during the healing process. Whether you’re aware of your trauma history or just know something feels “off,” this type of therapy could be the compassionate support you’ve been needing.

What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy isn’t a specific technique—it’s a framework and mindset that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into every part of the therapeutic process.

A trauma-informed therapist will:

• Recognize signs of trauma

• Prioritize safety, trust, and emotional regulation

• Avoid triggering or shaming language

• Respect your autonomy and boundaries

• Create a space where you feel seen and heard—without pressure

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as any event that overwhelms your ability to cope, especially when it involves loss of control, power, or safety.

What Counts as Trauma?

Trauma can be big and obvious, like abuse, loss, or violence—or quiet and cumulative, like emotional neglect, chronic stress, or harmful belief systems.

Examples include:

• Childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse

• Growing up in a high-conflict home

• Medical trauma or chronic illness

• Car accidents or natural disasters

• Spiritual or faith-related trauma

• Racism, discrimination, or systemic oppression

• Birth trauma or postpartum mental health challenges

If something impacted how safe you feel in the world or in your own body—it matters.

Signs You May Benefit from Trauma-Informed Therapy

You may benefit from trauma-informed support if you:

• Feel chronically anxious, on edge, or easily overwhelmed

• Experience flashbacks or nightmares

• Struggle with emotional regulation

• Avoid certain people, places, or feelings

• Struggle with trust, intimacy, or identity

• Have unexplained physical symptoms or chronic tension

You don’t need a formal PTSD diagnosis to benefit from trauma-informed care.

Explore our therapy approaches

How Trauma-Informed Therapy Works at Willow Therapy in Utah

Our trauma-informed therapists integrate a variety of techniques, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Mindfulness and grounding practices

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• EMDR or exposure-based therapies

• Psychoeducation to help you understand your nervous system and responses

Most importantly, we go at your pace. You’re in control every step of the way.

Meet Our Trauma-Informed Therapists

👩‍⚕️ Jeanna Cunningham, CMHC

Jeanna specializes in trauma, relationship repair, and identity work using a trauma-informed lens.

👩‍⚕️ Mariah Frias, LCSW

Mariah helps adults navigate complex trauma, faith transitions, and emotional healing through compassionate and integrative therapy.

Meet the full team

Why Trauma-Informed Care Builds Better Outcomes

Trauma-informed therapy helps you feel:

• Safer in your body and relationships

• More regulated in daily life

• Less ashamed of your reactions or coping mechanisms

• More hopeful about your healing process

• Empowered to set boundaries and reclaim your voice

This is therapy that holds your story gently—and helps you write the next chapter.

✅ Ready to Begin Trauma-Informed Therapy?

If you’ve felt let down by therapy in the past, or have avoided it altogether because it didn’t feel safe—trauma-informed care might be what you’ve been waiting for.

✅ Schedule your first session
✅ Explore therapy services
✅ Read about our therapy approaches
✅ Contact us with questions

FAQs About Mental Health Insurance Coverage in Utah

Your Guide to Understanding Therapy Benefits, Copays, and What’s Actually Covered

Introduction: Mental Health Insurance Coverage in Utah—What You Should Know

If you’re planning to start therapy, understanding your mental health insurance coverage in Utah is the first step toward making confident and informed decisions. The good news? Most insurance plans today offer mental health benefits—but knowing exactly what’s covered and how to use it can still feel confusing.

At Willow Therapy Utah, we help clients every day make the most of their mental health insurance coverage—and this guide answers your most common questions.

What Does Mental Health Insurance Coverage in Utah Typically Include?

Under current healthcare laws, most plans must offer parity between mental health and physical health coverage. That means your mental health insurance coverage in Utah should provide access to:

• Individual therapy sessions

• Family and couples counseling

• Telehealth therapy

• Diagnostic assessments for anxiety, depression, and more

NAMI explains how parity laws ensure that mental health care must be covered similarly to medical care.

Insurance Plans We Accept at Willow Therapy Utah

Willow Therapy Utah is in-network with:

• PEHP

• SelectHealth

• UnitedHealthcare

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• EMI Health

• Wise/Imagine Health
  

• Victims of Crime – Utah State government program

See our full list of accepted insurances

Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Do I need a referral to start therapy?

Most Utah insurance plans do not require a referral. You can book directly with us.

How much will I pay with insurance?

You’ll typically have:

• A copay (usually $20–$50 per session)

• A deductible or coinsurance to meet depending on your plan

Contact us to help verify your coverage

Does my plan cover online therapy?

Yes—telehealth therapy is widely covered in Utah. We offer virtual therapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families.

How many sessions are covered?

It depends on your plan. Some allow unlimited sessions; others limit the number or require reauthorization. We’ll help you track it. NAMI – Mental Health Treatment Works

What services are usually covered?

Most plans cover a wide range of mental health services including:

• Individual therapy

• Teen and child counseling

• Couples therapy

• Postpartum therapy

Can I use HSA or FSA for therapy?

Yes! You can use HSA/FSA funds to pay for copays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket therapy expenses.

✅ We’ll Help You Make the Most of Your Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Understanding your mental health insurance coverage in Utah doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ll help you:

• Confirm your benefits

• Find a therapist who’s in-network

• Make the most of your available sessions

✅ Schedule an appointment
✅ Meet our therapists
✅ Explore therapy services

Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Speech Therapy

How Speech-Language Pathologists Help Kids with ASD Communicate and Connect

Introduction: How Speech Therapy Supports Children with Autism

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience challenges in communication—but with the right support, they can grow in confidence and connection. One of the most effective interventions is speech therapy for autism, which helps children strengthen language skills, improve social communication, and build independence.

At Willow Therapy Utah, our speech-language pathologist (SLP) provides compassionate, evidence-based support for children with autism in Pleasant Grove and across Utah County.

Why Children with Autism Benefit from Speech Therapy

Every child with autism is unique. Some are nonverbal, while others speak fluently but struggle with conversational skills, gestures, or understanding social cues. Speech therapy meets your child where they are and helps them move forward at their own pace.

Common goals in speech therapy for autism include:

• Developing expressive language (words, signs, or devices)

• Understanding directions and vocabulary

• Practicing turn-taking and back-and-forth conversation

• Enhancing nonverbal communication (gestures, facial expressions)

• Using visuals or AAC devices for alternative communication

• Reducing frustration and behavioral outbursts linked to communication challenges

Explore our speech therapy services

What Does Speech Therapy Look Like for a Child with Autism?

Sessions are tailored to each child’s developmental level and learning style. Therapy may involve:

• Play-based activities to promote natural communication

• Visual supports like picture schedules or social stories

• AAC devices (augmentative and alternative communication) when needed

• Structured routines to build comfort and predictability

• Family coaching to carry strategies into daily life

Learn about our AAC therapy services

Meet Our Speech-Language Pathologist

👩‍⚕️ Courtney Schneider, SLP

Courtney specializes in pediatric speech-language therapy, including support for children with autism. She creates a warm, structured environment that helps kids engage and thrive through personalized interventions and parent collaboration.

Whether your child is nonverbal, developing first words, or learning social skills, Courtney provides the tools and encouragement to help them grow.

Early Intervention Makes a Big Difference

The earlier a child with ASD begins speech therapy, the more likely they are to build meaningful communication skills. Early support helps children:

• Form stronger bonds with family members

• Reduce frustration from being misunderstood

• Participate more fully in school and social settings

• Gain self-esteem and autonomy

According to Autism Speaks, speech therapy is one of the most beneficial services for children with autism—especially when started early.

Speech Therapy for Autism Across the Spectrum

We support children who are:

• Nonverbal and learning to use AAC

• Minimally verbal and working on word combinations

• Verbal but struggling with pragmatics (social communication)

• Navigating speech sound errors or sensory processing challenges

Check out our language therapy page

Support for Parents and Caregivers

We understand that raising a child with autism can feel overwhelming at times. That’s why we provide family education and coaching as part of therapy—so you can feel confident reinforcing skills at home.

Our goal is to support the entire family, not just the child.

Contact us to learn how speech therapy fits into your child’s care plan

Serving Families Across Utah County

Our speech therapy services are available in Pleasant Grove and surrounding areas, including Orem, Vineyard, and Provo.

✅ Take the First Step Toward Communication Growth

If you’re exploring speech therapy for autism, we’re here to help. Whether your child is just beginning to communicate or working on complex social skills, Willow Therapy Utah offers personalized support you can trust.

✅ Schedule a speech therapy evaluation
✅ Meet Courtney, our SLP
✅ Explore pediatric speech services

Welcoming Dr. Samuel Major, PhD, LMFT to Willow Therapy Utah

Experienced Therapist Supporting Adults, Couples, and Families Through Meaningful Change

We’re Thrilled to Introduce Dr. Samuel Major, PhD, LMFT

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Samuel Major, PhD, LMFT to the team at Willow Therapy Utah! With over 20 years of experience in clinical and academic settings, Dr. Major brings warmth, insight, and a deep commitment to helping people strengthen their relationships and reconnect with themselves.

Dr. Major is now accepting new clients for individual therapy, couples counseling, and family therapy, both in-person at our Pleasant Grove location and through secure telehealth sessions statewide.

About Dr. Major

Dr. Samuel Major is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. His style is collaborative, client-centered, and emotionally attuned, with a special interest in helping clients explore how their stories shape the way they live, feel, and connect.

His clinical experience spans work with:

• Adults seeking emotional clarity, identity support, or relational healing

• Couples struggling with disconnection, conflict, or major life changes

• Families navigating communication breakdowns, blended dynamics, or grief

• Individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, or spiritual struggles

Meet Dr. Major on our team page

Therapy Services Dr. Major Offers

Dr. Major is available for the following services:

• Individual therapy for adults

• Couples counseling and marriage therapy

• Family therapy

• Support for religious/spiritual transitions

• Therapy for stress, burnout, emotional numbness, or low motivation

Dr. Major’s Therapy Approach

Dr. Major helps clients “explore, expand, and revise the stories they live by”—an approach grounded in narrative therapy. He also incorporates:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to support emotional connection and repair

• Systemic and relational frameworks to help individuals and families understand behavior in context

• Deep listening and compassionate inquiry to help clients build awareness and meaning

His approach is particularly effective for clients working through identity transitions, faith challenges, personal stuckness, or the desire to live with greater authenticity and emotional connection.

Now Accepting New Clients

Dr. Major is now seeing clients in Pleasant Grove and throughout Utah via telehealth. His services are in-network with many major insurance plans including:

• SelectHealth

• PEHP

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• UnitedHealthcare

• Wise/Imagine Health

• EMI Health

If you’re looking for an experienced, thoughtful therapist who blends clinical insight with deep compassion—Dr. Major may be the right fit for you.

✅ Ready to Work with Dr. Samuel Major?

Whether you’re seeking therapy for yourself, your relationship, or your family, Dr. Major creates a grounded and safe space for honest exploration and lasting change.

✅ Schedule your session with Dr. Major
✅ Read his full bio
✅ Learn about our therapy services
✅ Contact us to ask about insurance