Salina Mecham

Salina Mecham earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah and holds a certification in substance use treatment. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and also trained as a Master Addiction Counselor and a Domestic Violence Intervention Treatment Counselor. She maintains professional licensure in Utah, Washington, and New Jersey.

With six years of clinical experience, Salina has worked with adolescents and adults across a variety of settings. Her clinical work began in group homes for youth, where she remained present through intense and challenging moments, and later included practice in a behavioral health hospital supporting people at crisis points who were struggling to function in daily life.

She is the CEO of Willapa Behavioral Health & Wellness, a community behavioral health agency, and continues to provide treatment at the agency for mental health concerns, substance use disorders, domestic violence intervention treatment, and couples counseling. She also sees clients through an online therapy service because she values direct clinical work and does not get to do it as frequently while serving in an executive role. She is currently pursuing training in the Gottman method for couples counseling.

Salina generally prefers video sessions so she can read nonverbal cues more clearly, and she offers phone sessions as well. She does not use live chat because she finds many nonverbal cues are missed in that format. She often communicates by email and aims to respond to messages within 48 hours. When her schedule allows, she can open extra times for emergencies.

Her clinical approach is eclectic and tailored to the individual - she draws from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy, and she is trained in and uses EMDR for trauma treatment. Creating a nonjudgmental, kind, and curious therapeutic environment is central to her practice. She values honest feedback in-session and will adjust her approach when needed to help clients remain intact and continue moving forward.