Salina Mecham

Hey there! My name is Salina Mecham. I attended the University of Utah and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work and a certification in substance use treatment. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), and Domestic Violence Intervention Treatment Counselor (DVP). I am fully licensed in the states of Utah, Washington, and New Jersey. I have worked with adults and adolescents and enjoy all ages. I got my start in group homes for troubled youth, and I can truly say that I have never felt more fulfillment in my life than when I was getting chairs thrown at my head, and called names that I can never repeat, because in those moments, I was present and doing what I could to help a person in pain.

I eventually moved on to work in a behavioral health hospital where people came when they hit their limit and could no longer cope with living, or their mental health was affecting their ability to function in their lives. I am currently the CEO of Willapa Behavioral Health & Wellness, a community behavioral health agency. I continue to offer treatment at the agency for mental health, substance use disorders, domestic violence intervention treatment, and couples counseling. I also serve clients on BetterHelp because I love providing therapy and don’t get to do it nearly enough as a CEO. I am working on getting trained in the Gottman method (couples counseling).

My preference is to utilize video sessions so that I can read the situation more clearly. I can, and do, use the phone, but will not use the live chat option because I have found that concepts and meanings tend to get lost because so many nonverbal cues are not seen. I also utilize the email option often, and return all emails sent to me within 48 hours. When time permits, I can open up special times for sessions if there is an emergency. I feel it is important for my clients to spend their week being aware of the things that happen around them, and how those things affect them, and to be prepared with those and other things they would like to address in their session. I also value honest feedback said to me in the moment. I can make adjustments in my approach if I know it isn’t hitting where you need it to. Honesty and openness is so important in therapy and can add so much to the quality of your experience.

I am trained in Gottman Level 1 methods for couples therapy and trained as a Level 1 IFS therapist which is indicated for the treatment of PTSD, depression, and anxiety (and basically everything else). When I am not using these interventions, I do tend to take an eclectic approach to counseling because one size does not fit all. I pull from CBT, ACT, DBT, REBT, and I am trained in, and use EMDR for trauma treatment. It is very important to me that I create a safe place for all my clients. Judgement has no place in my practice. I believe strongly in the golden rule and kindness, curiosity, validation, comfort, and safety are very important to me. No matter the issue, I am open and ready to help you navigate it in a way that can help keep you intact and moving forward.