Jerry Utt, LCSW

Jerry Utt brings 30 years of clinical social work experience grounded in both military and civilian behavioral health settings. He began his training at the United States Army Academy of Health Sciences, Behavioral Health Division, and completed initial clinical work at Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio of San Francisco. He went on to earn a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina and holds licensure as an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides professional psychotherapy and case management services.

Over his career he has worked in inpatient and outpatient environments, developing particular skill in crisis intervention for people facing severe life disruption. He treats a wide range of concerns including trauma, mood disorders, addiction, anxiety, grief, relationship and family problems, and challenges with anger or self-esteem. He is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and he applies trauma-focused methods such as Cognitive Processing Therapy when clinically appropriate.

His approach blends evidence-based strategies - including Cognitive Behavioral techniques - with motivational interviewing to engage people in treatment and support practical change. He emphasizes collaborative work with each person to address behavioral health and substance use issues and to restore better functioning in daily life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing them against real-life evidence. CBT is often used to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, address anger management, and change behaviors that maintain distress.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, combines skill-building in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. It is particularly helpful for intense emotions, self-harm urges, and relationship difficulties where stronger coping skills are needed.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-focused awareness and gentle acceptance of thoughts and feelings to reduce reactivity and improve coping. It can support stress reduction, relapse prevention in addiction, and management of chronic emotional pain.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Jerry works collaboratively with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit varied schedules and mobility needs. These options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, accessible care without requiring travel, making it easier to maintain regular appointments and build momentum in treatment.