Individual Therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah

Most people who come to us have already tried to figure things out on their own. They’ve read the books, talked to friends, maybe even tried therapy somewhere else. What they’re looking for now is someone who will actually help them understand what’s happening underneath, not just manage the symptoms, but get to what’s really driving them.

At Peterson Family Therapy, we specialize in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), which works at the level of attachment and emotion. It’s not about coping strategies alone. It’s about understanding yourself well enough that things actually change.

What is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy is one-on-one work with a trained therapist to understand yourself better, move through what’s keeping you stuck, and build something more sustainable. It’s not just for crisis moments. A lot of our clients come in because they’re tired of repeating the same patterns, feeling disconnected, or just knowing something needs to change.

People come to us for a lot of reasons:

Process life transitions and big changes
Develop better coping strategies for stress
Improve self awareness and emotional intelligence
Work through past experiences that still impact daily life
Build confidence and self esteem
Prepare for healthier relationships
Achieve personal growth and self actualization

“I’ve been seeing Ed for over two years and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my mental and emotional well-being. He’s helped me navigate tough seasons with clarity and compassion. Our work hasn’t just been about getting through hard moments—it’s been about building tools I can use anytime. I feel more grounded, self aware and better prepared for whatever comes next.”

– Paul S.

Our Approach to Individual Therapy

We specialize in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), an evidence-based approach that explores how your early attachment experiences shape your current emotional patterns and relationships.

This approach helps you:

Understand the emotional patterns that drive your behavior
Process past experiences that may be holding you back
Develop secure attachment patterns for healthier relationships
Build emotional resilience and self compassion
Create lasting change from the inside out

Meet Your Individual Therapists

Ed Peterson, LCSW, MBA

Ed has been doing this work for over 20 years. He’s a licensed clinical social worker, a certified EFT therapist, and one of a relatively small number of certified EFT Supervisors in the country, meaning he doesn’t just practice Emotionally Focused Therapy, he trains other therapists in it.

Before founding Peterson Family Therapy, Ed served as Clinical Director at the Balance House Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program and worked as a primary counselor at The Cirque Lodge, one of the most recognized residential treatment centers in the country. That background in addiction shapes how he works with individuals today. He understands how emotional pain drives self-protective behavior, and he knows what it actually takes to change.

His style is direct. He’ll ask you the question you’ve been avoiding. He’ll interrupt if he thinks the conversation needs to go somewhere else. Clients describe him as warm, but he won’t let you stay comfortable in a story that isn’t helping you.

Ed specializes in anxiety, depression, addiction recovery, and helping people build the emotional foundation for relationships that actually work.

“My style is empowering and motivational. I encourage clients to get out of their comfort zones and take calculated emotional risks. I believe in inspiring people to do the hard emotional work needed for true recovery.”

Candace Peterson, LCSW

Candace has been in mental health work for over 20 years, and her path to get here is not a typical one. She started her career at a suicide and crisis hotline, then moved into intensive family preservation work, meeting with families in their homes for eight hours a week when children were at risk of being removed. She’s been in the hardest rooms.

She spent five years working with active duty military and veterans at the VA, specializing in PTSD and complex trauma. That experience includes Cognitive Processing Therapy, crisis intervention, and working with people who had seen real things. It runs through everything she does now. She currently facilitates a Religious Trauma Support Group at the Utah Pride Center, working with people navigating the intersection of faith, identity, and mental health.

Candace also has advanced training in both Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), and brings that attachment lens to all of her work.

Her approach is patient and direct in equal measure. Clients feel safe with her. She’ll also challenge you when it’s time.

Candace specializes in trauma, PTSD, religious trauma, crisis intervention, and identity and faith issues.

“I believe people have the answers inside themselves to their problems and challenges. My job is to help them find those answers.”

What People Come to Us For

People reach out to us for a lot of different reasons. Some are in crisis. Many are just tired of feeling stuck. Here’s a snapshot of what we commonly work with:

Anxiety: Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
Depression: Including major depression, persistent low mood, and seasonal depression
Trauma and PTSD: Complex trauma, childhood trauma, and acute stress responses
Addiction: Substance abuse, gambling, pornography, and sex addiction, and supporting long-term recovery
OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions
ADHD: Adult ADHD and the patterns it creates in daily life
Eating Disorders: Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and body image struggles
Grief and Loss: Death, divorce, job loss, and other significant losses
Life Transitions: Career changes, relationship shifts, identity questions, and aging
Relationship Patterns: Building self-awareness and healthier ways of connecting
Self-Worth: Confidence, shame, and feeling like enough

Get Started With Expert Individual Therapy In Salt Lake City, UT

Interested in learning more about individualized therapy in Salt Lake City? Take the first step by filling out the form below, and requesting a free 15-minute consultation. We’re here to make that step as comfortable as possible.

Call us today: (801) 809-7990 or fill out the form below to schedule your consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need individual therapy?

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. A lot of people come to us because something feels off. They’re stuck in the same patterns, stressed in ways that aren’t getting better, or just want to understand themselves better. You don’t need a diagnosis. You just need to feel like something could be different.

What happens during an individual therapy session?

Sessions are private and confidential. You’ll talk about what’s on your mind, and your therapist will listen, ask questions, and help you look at things from angles you might not have considered. It’s not advice-giving. It’s a process of figuring out what’s actually going on and what you want to do about it.

How often should I go to therapy?

Most people start with weekly sessions. As things shift, we’ll adjust based on what’s working and what you need.

How long does therapy take to work?

There’s no set timeline. Some people notice real shifts within a few sessions. Deeper patterns usually take longer. We check in regularly so you’re never just going through the motions.

Is individual therapy confidential?

Yes. Everything you share is protected by law. There are a small number of legal exceptions, involving situations related to safety, and we’ll walk you through those in your first session.

Do you accept insurance?

We’re currently out of network, which means we don’t bill insurance directly. We can provide documentation you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if your plan covers out of network mental health services. We also accept HSA and FSA payments. If you’re not sure what your plan covers, it’s worth a quick call to your provider before we meet.

What’s the difference between individual and couples therapy?

Individual therapy is just you and your therapist. The focus is entirely on your own experiences, patterns, and growth. Couples therapy brings both partners in to work on the relationship dynamic between them. A lot of people do both at different points. Individual work often makes couples work more effective, and vice versa.

What if I want to transition to couples therapy later?

That’s something we think about from the start. Because Ed and Candace both work with individuals and couples, you don’t have to start over with someone new if your needs change. The work you’ve already done carries forward.

What should I expect in my first session?

Mostly, we want to get to know you. What’s bringing you in, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping for. We’ll start to get a sense of what you want to work on and how we might approach it together. Most people leave the first session feeling like they can breathe a little easier. That’s the goal.