“Everyone loses their way at some point, and it’s not just because of their mistakes or the decisions they make. It’s because they’re horribly, wonderfully human. And the one thing I’ve learned about being human is that we can’t do this alone. When we’re lost, we need help to try to find our way again.”
― T.J. Klune, Under the Whispering Door
Provides
Specializations
- LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Counseling
- Trauma Recovery
- Attachment & Sexual Trauma
- Relationship & Peer Issues
- Identity Development
- Life Transitions
- Men’s Issues
- Multicultural Focus Counseling
- Self-Worth & Empowerment
- Inner Child Work
- Relationship & Peer Issues
Certifications
- Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling –
- University of Utah
- Bachelor of Science, Psychology – University of Utah
- Bachelor of Management, Marketing – University of Lethbridge
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained
My Approach
I had the experience that many others have had of going to therapy at a young age and finding it to be lacking. Very rarely was I asked what I wanted or what I believed would help me. For a long time, no one taught me how to trust my own voice. Now, I believe the greatest goal of counseling is to achieve a stronger relationship of trust and love with yourself. That is why I use evidence-based & trauma-informed therapy models to guide our work together, but you will always remain the expert of your life. I want to help you learn to hear, understand, and trust your own voice.
In order to achieve a vibrant working relationship, I strive to create a space as free from shame as possible. This process is supported by several evidence-based and trauma-informed therapy models. And, while the vulnerable nature of therapy is never free of risk, I work with my clients in a kind, direct way. Working together, it is my hope that we can uncover the experiences that have created negative patterns or self-concepts. By tracing the dots and filling in the gaps between your experiences and what they mean to you, we can begin to map out your story. Then, through practice, mindfulness, and exploration, we can begin to loosen the hold this story has on you, and perhaps even rewrite it.
This journey is a personal one, and I encourage all of my clients to open themselves up to and discover their own identities. Your culture, worldview, and daily life are not mine to judge or alter. I value authenticity, acceptance, compassion, and connection. If those sound like a good foundation for your therapeutic goals I would be happy to work together.
About Reggie Thomson
I took a bit of the scenic route when it comes to arriving in clinical counseling. My education started in Canada, where I am from originally. I studied marketing only to find that a had very little love for it as an actual career. It was through my own identity work and by rediscovering my values, that I decided to change the direction of my life towards therapy. So, I moved to Utah, got a second bachelor’s degree to prove I could, in fact, get good grades, and enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Masters program at the University of Utah.
Woven through this process I have spent time in different settings that broadened my appreciation for mental health services and helped me understand the diversity of needs that we face in our communities. Over the year I worked with non-profits, volunteered at LGBTQ+ organizations, participated in and facilitated support groups, and worked in inpatient mental health care.
Beyond all of this, it is most likely that my early life experiences most prepared me to become the professional I am now. I was enrolled for many years in “therapy” that was intended to alter or correct my sexuality. Often this was done under the guise of addressing some other issue, but the goal of conversion therapy was always present. Because of this experience, I have a fierce devotion to social justice and equality. One that I hope shows in my daily life and my work.
I understand that therapy is a vulnerable process and one that does not always guarantee safety. I hope all of my clients feel my appreciation and respect for the risk they take in opening up to me. It is always my goal to meet that vulnerability with understanding and empathy.
When not working I might be found hopelessly distracted by a book or planning my next Dungeons & Dragons character. I have a soft spot for all things fantasy. Above all, spending time with good company is my favorite hobby and my greatest treasures are the relationships I have forged with the people I consider my closest friends and family today; my own little adventuring party. Now, as a therapist, I find so much joy and honor in helping others live their own adventures to the fullest. Through all the ups and downs, sorrows and successes, it’s your life, and I truly believe that you can tell an amazing story.