We absolutely LOVE families first!!! We have been going for 7 years and all the Dr's. Are amazing! They make you feel heard and cared about every time we go in! My kids love going to the Drs!!
Valerie Peterson, CSW, was born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Recreational Therapy in 2000 and enjoyed working with children and teens in Primary Children’s Behavioral Health programs. After taking a break to focus on raising her family, she recently received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. She is passionate about helping families flourish and is excited to be part of the Families First Mental Health Team. She has experience working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, emotional deregulation, and trauma. In addition, she has experience using CBT, DBT, IFS, and creative therapies (art, sand tray, narrative, and play) to help individuals and families increase their emotional intelligence and resilience to manage the challenges life brings. She is also passionate about helping parents and utilizes attachment theory to teach authoritative parenting skills that incorporate empathy, connection, and leadership into family relationships.
When she isn’t at work, Valerie loves spending time with her husband and 3 kids. She enjoys laughing with them at family dinners while they tell dad jokes and silly stories. She also loves hiking, running, reading, gardening, cheering for her kids at their games and competitions, entertaining, and teaching piano lessons.
MSW, Arizona State University, 2022
English
We absolutely LOVE families first!!! We have been going for 7 years and all the Dr's. Are amazing! They make you feel heard and cared about every time we go in! My kids love going to the Drs!!
—Aubree Wamsley.
Counselor
Johnathon Peterson is an ACMHC with experience working with children struggling with managing their emotions and teens who experience substance abuse, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, adoption, families, and ADHD. Johnathon earne...
Counselor
Kelsie Bamforth is from Orem, Utah. She graduated with a nursing degree from Utah Valley University and worked as a nurse in the ER and ICU. She decided to transition to psychiatry after seeing the need for mental health providers. She graduated with...