Mara Haight, CMHC – Founder and Executive Director

I am a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in trauma-informed clinical practice. I received a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Westminster College in June of 2013. Prior to pursuing my graduate education, I completed a Bachelor of Science in both Economics and Communication from the University of Utah in 2007.

Since 2006 I have worked in the violence treatment and prevention community. Most recently I spent 8 years working at the Rape Recovery Center in Salt Lake City, where I was the Executive Director. Community engagement remains important to me, and I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Utah Non-profit Association and the Implementation Collective for the Utah Association for Women in Psychology. I am also an adjunct professor at Westminster College, where I have taught graduate students since 2015.

My clinical training and practice is focused on understanding the connection between trauma and common mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. I became trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a well researched treatment for post traumatic stress disorder, through EMDR HAP and have been practicing EMDR since early 2013. I believe that every individual has the ability to heal if given the right combination of empowerment, information, and support.

Years of experience: 10
Specialization: Clinical Mental Health Counselor

There are many misconceptions about therapy. These range from “Why should I pay someone to listen to me talk. My friends can do that…” to “Therapy is for really dysfunctional people.”
The reality is that most people can benefit from therapy. Whether you are still being impacted by past trauma, or you are going through a transition in life, therapy can help. Therapy is not just about talking. Therapy provides a confidential space to explore your internal world, and gain insight into the ways that you are coping with the world around you.