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 queues 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 feed back 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 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.
Additional areas of focus: Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Blended family issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
UT LCSW 5006607-3501
NJ LCSW 44SC06195200
NH LCSW 4058
WA LICSW LW61049548
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Salina Mecham. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Salina is the first therapist I’ve ever had. She has been wonderful. I was very nervous for the first session and she quickly put me at ease. She is very friendly and supportive. I feel as though a friend is helping me through my problems.
Written on Jul 12, 2024 after therapy with Salina for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and trauma and abuse
Salina is amazing. This isn’t my first time in therapy, but it is my first time using BetterHelp and she is the best therapist I ever had. She provides me with insights into my situation, alternatives to see things differently and challenge my initial thought processes. She always listens, remembers details from past sessions, and helps me tie together why I might think or behave in a certain manner. She’s the best.
Written on May 19, 2024 after therapy with Salina for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes
Salina is the best Therapist I ever had. She really listens to me and helps me navigate through the problems in my life. She’s very positive and cheers me up when we talk.
Written on May 16, 2024 after therapy with Salina for 1 year and 7 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
Amazing helps alot. Highly recommend her
Written on Jun 21, 2022 after therapy with Salina for 11 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, anger management, and adhd
Salina has a way of giving solid professional advice while also feeling like a trustworthy friend who never judges. I've returned to her on numerous occasions as she is so helpful and understanding.
Written on Jan 10, 2022 after therapy with Salina for 1 year and 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, and self esteem
Salina is patient and kind in listening and responding to me. She encourages me to lean into difficult emotions and experiences while being in a safe place to feel them. She makes recommendations that are tailored to who I am and what I need. Best counselor I’ve ever had.
Written on Nov 30, 2021 after therapy with Salina for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes