Lindsey Heyward, Intern

Lindsey is a graduate student of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Utah Valley University. She believes meaningful change happens in a space where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood. Her approach is grounded in Client-Centered Counseling, where empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard create a safe foundation for growth. She also draws from principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), guiding clients toward greater psychological flexibility by fostering acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based living. 

Lindsey works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples, tailoring therapy to meet each person’s developmental needs and personal goals. Her clinical specialties include working with trauma, anxiety, and depression. She takes a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes safety, collaboration, and empowerment while helping clients gently process difficult experiences at a pace that feels manageable. She supports clients in understanding how past experiences may be impacting present emotions, relationships, and patterns, while also building practical tools for coping and resilience. 

Lindsey utilizes play therapy to allow younger clients to communicate and process experiences in ways that feel natural and comfortable to them. She also has lived experience with selective mutism and understands the importance of collaborating closely with families and schools to foster confidence, communication, and emotional safety. 

Lindsey believes that therapy is a collaborative journey, where each individual’s lived experience is honored and explored with curiosity and compassion. Whether working with children, adults, or couples, she creates a safe and affirming space for healing, growth, and self-discovery. 

Specialties: 

Play therapy 

Children don’t always have the words to explain big feelings. Instead, they show us through behavior — meltdowns, withdrawal, anxiety, trouble at school, or changes at home. Play therapy gives children a safe, natural way to express themselves and work through challenges using the language they know best: play. Through guided play with a trained therapist, children can build emotional skills, process difficult experiences, and develop confidence in a way that feels comfortable and engaging. 

Play therapy is an evidence-based approach designed specifically for children. Rather than relying only on conversation, therapists use toys, art, games, storytelling, and imaginative play to help children express emotions, solve problems, and practice new skills. Play therapy meets children at their developmental level and helps them feel understood without pressure to “find the right words.” 

To a child, it feels like play. To a therapist, it’s a powerful window into how a child is feeling and what they need. 

Children may benefit from play therapy if they are experiencing: anxiety, big emotions or frequent meltdowns, difficulty adjusting to changes (divorce, moves, new siblings), grief or loss, behavioral challenges at home or school, social struggles or difficulty making friends, trauma, or withdrawal and low self-esteem. 

Parents and caregivers are an important part of the process. While play therapy sessions are primarily child-centered, I regularly connect with caregivers to share progress and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship. 

Selective Mutism 

I remember wanting to speak. I remember having the words in my head — whole sentences, actually — but when it was time to say them out loud, nothing came. My throat felt tight, my chest heavy, and all eyes suddenly felt too big, too close, too much. 

Selective mutism isn’t about defiance or stubbornness. It’s an anxiety response. And for children living with it, everyday moments — answering a question, saying hello, asking for help — can feel overwhelming.Play therapy offers a way in. A way to build safety, confidence, and communication without pressure, force, or shame. Children with selective mutism are able to speak comfortably in some settings (often at home) but feel unable to speak in others, like school or public places. 

When speaking feels too scary, speech isn’t a starting point. I start with safety, connection, and regulation. 

Play therapy allows children to communicate in ways that don’t rely on words at first. Through play, children show their fears, strengths, humor, creativity, and feelings — all without the pressure of being put “on the spot.” 

Watching your child struggle to speak can be heartbreaking and confusing. Many parents worry they’ve done something wrong or feel pressure from others who don’t understand. Selective mutism is not caused by poor parenting. It’s an anxiety condition, and with the right support, children can make meaningful progress. I work closely with parents to build connection and confidence in a variety of settings. 

Trauma 

Trauma can change the way you see yourself, others, and the world. You might feel constantly on edge, easily overwhelmed, emotionally numb, or stuck replaying painful memories. Relationships may feel harder. Trust may feel fragile. You may wonder why you can’t “just move on.” After trauma, your nervous system can stay in “survival mode,” leading to symptoms like anxiety, irritability, emotional shutdown, difficulty sleeping, or feeling constantly on alert. Therapy helps you understand these responses so they feel less frightening and confusing. When you recognize that your reactions make sense, shame often begins to lift. 

Trauma can make it hard to feel safe with others — even people you care about. One of the most important parts of trauma therapy is creating a sense of safety. You are never pushed to share more than you’re ready for. Therapy moves at a pace that feels manageable, with a focus on building trust, stability, and coping skills before processing painful experiences. Feeling emotionally safe is the foundation for healing. 

Many people feel like trauma changed who they are. Therapy can help you reconnect with your strengths, values, and identity beyond what happened to you. You are more than your trauma, and healing includes rediscovering the parts of you that may have felt lost or buried. 

Anxiety 

Anxiety can feel consuming — racing thoughts, restlessness, and constant worry can make even simple tasks difficult to manage. But you don’t have to navigate it alone. Therapy offers a supportive path to understanding your anxiety and discovering powerful ways to manage it. 

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if anxiety already makes you worry about new situations. Our goal is to make the process feel safe, collaborative, and judgment-free. You don’t need to have the “right words” or a clear starting point — we’ll figure it out together. 

Clients often share that therapy helps them relax more easily, more in control, sleep better, manage stress, improve relationships, and boost self-esteem. Anxiety may be part of your story right now, but it doesn’t have to define your future. 

Depression 

Depression can feel heavy, isolating, and exhausting. It can drain your energy, cloud your thoughts, and make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. You might feel disconnected from people you love, lose interest in things that once mattered, or struggle with constant self-criticism and hopelessness. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. 

Depression can make life feel meaningless or flat. Therapy helps you reconnect with your values, interests, and relationships — the parts of life that give you a sense of purpose. Even small steps toward what matters most to you can create meaningful shifts in mood and hope. 

Accepted Insurances: Aetna, BCBS/Regence, Cigna, EMI, PEHP, & Select Health, 

*Medicaid & Medicare plans are NOT accepted*

**Accepting New Clients**

Licensing #:  5805169-6004 

Supervised by Laura da Silva, CMHC, RPT-S