Jerry Utt , LCSW

Jerry Utt brings three decades of clinical social work experience to his practice, combining military behavioral health training with advanced academic preparation. He began his career after graduating from the United States Army Academy of Health Sciences, Behavioral Health Division, and completed his initial clinical training 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 established a career focused on helping people navigate complex behavioral health and substance use challenges.

Throughout more than 30 years in both inpatient and outpatient settings, he has developed expertise in crisis intervention for individuals facing severe life disruptions and persistent dysfunction. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - which indicates advanced professional training and clinical licensure, and he is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), skilled in trauma work and trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy. He also employs Motivational Interviewing to engage clients in change and integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to address issues like anger management and self-harm.

Jerry works with a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, parenting and career challenges, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes. He approaches care with practical, goal-oriented strategies aimed at helping people regain function and move forward, drawing on evidence-informed methods suited to each person’s situation.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Jerry Utt

Jerry Utt uses a range of evidence-informed approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and replacing them with more effective strategies - it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, anger, and coping with life stressors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness - it is helpful for intense emotions and relationship challenges. Mindfulness Therapy encourages present-moment awareness and compassionate acceptance of experience, which can support stress reduction, impulse control, and grounding after trauma.

Finding the best approach is part of the therapeutic process; Jerry collaborates with each person to assess goals, preferences, and practical concerns, and together they decide which methods to prioritize. The aim is a flexible plan that aligns therapeutic techniques with the client’s values and daily life.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to maintain continuity when in-person visits are difficult. These formats support regular check-ins, real-time skill practice, and ongoing support while offering flexibility and accessibility for people managing work, family, or health-related constraints.