Meet Danny Gelalich, CMHC — Therapist for Athletes

Meet Danny Gelalich, CMHC — a sports psychology therapist bringing practical, goal-focused support to couples, individuals, and athletes in Orem, Pleasant Grove, and virtually across Utah.

Looking for a sports psychology therapist in Utah? Willow Therapy Services is excited to welcome Danny Gelalich, CMHC, a Clinical Mental Health Counselor who works with couples, individuals, teens, and athletes and performers who want to strengthen their mental game. Danny’s areas of focus include anxiety, stress management, depression, anger management, emotion regulation, men’s issues, and sport and performance psychology.

Danny holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a clinical mental health counseling focus from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brigham Young University. His clinical background spans individual, couples, and group therapy in community mental health, a private practice internship, a university training clinic, and a middle school. He sees clients at Willow’s Orem office, the Pleasant Grove office, and virtually across Utah through secure telehealth therapy.

Sports Psychology Therapy From a Former Division I Athlete

Danny played Division I baseball at BYU, so he knows firsthand what it’s like to balance performance, pressure, and identity. That experience shaped his passion for helping athletes — and anyone who feels the weight of high expectations. He has also spent time coaching and mentoring kids, which shows up in the grounded, practical way he works with clients of all ages.

Sport and performance psychology focuses on the mental side of performing under pressure. Danny draws on CBT and ACT to help athletes and other high performers work through performance anxiety, confidence, focus, motivation, burnout, and setbacks. You don’t need to be a competitive athlete to benefit — the same skills apply to students, musicians, and professionals who feel pressure to perform.

Danny’s Approach: Collaborative and Goal-Oriented

Danny integrates person-centered principles with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to create a collaborative, goal-oriented space built around growth and healing. He may also use motivational interviewing to help you build momentum around the changes you want to make. The goal is always practical tools and real progress you can feel outside the therapy room. You can read more on Willow’s Person-Centered Therapy page.

Who Danny Works With

Danny works with adolescents and adults, including couples. His primary areas of focus include anxiety and stress management, depression, anger management, emotion regulation, men’s issues, and sport and performance psychology. He’s also open to supporting clients navigating grief and loss, trauma, addiction, and substance use.

Couples therapy. Danny helps partners communicate better, work through recurring conflict, rebuild trust and connection, and navigate stress and life transitions together — in a space where both people feel heard. Learn more about couples counseling at Willow.

Individual therapy. For adolescents and adults building practical skills to manage what’s weighing on them, Danny offers one-on-one individual therapy focused on moving toward the life you want.

Men’s issues and anger. Danny offers a judgment-free space for men to talk openly about stress, identity, relationships, expectations, and the pressure to hold it all together. Having led emotion regulation groups, he helps clients understand what’s beneath anger and big emotions, pause before reacting, and respond in ways that protect their relationships and goals.

Teens and student-athletes. Danny supports teens and adolescents navigating stress, emotions, identity, peer relationships, and the pressures of growing up — including student-athletes balancing school and sport.

What to Expect at Your First Session

Sessions with Danny are collaborative, practical, and paced around your goals — you’ll leave with a clear sense of what you’re working toward and the tools to get there. Willow Therapy is in-network with most major Utah insurance plans, including Aetna, Select Health, PEHP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, EMI Health, and United Healthcare, and also accepts HSA/FSA and offers superbills for out-of-network reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sport and performance psychology?
It focuses on the mental side of performing under pressure. Danny helps athletes and other high performers work through performance anxiety, confidence, focus, motivation, stress, and setbacks using evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT. You don’t need to be a competitive athlete to benefit.

Does Danny offer couples therapy?
Yes. Danny works with couples who want to improve communication, work through recurring conflict, rebuild trust and connection, or navigate stress and life transitions together.

Does Danny work with teens?
Yes. Danny works with adolescents and adults, including student-athletes balancing school, sport, and everyday pressures.

What is Danny’s therapy style like?
Collaborative, grounded, and goal-oriented. Danny integrates person-centered principles with CBT and ACT, and may use motivational interviewing to help you build momentum around the changes you want to make.

Where does Danny see clients?
Danny sees clients at Willow’s Orem office (568 E 1400 S) and Pleasant Grove office (233 S Pleasant Grove Blvd), and provides secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth to clients anywhere in Utah.

How do I get started?
You can verify your insurance online or reach out directly to schedule your first session with Danny.