About Cody Merrell, LCSW
Helping People Heal, Grow, and Develop a Deeper Sense of Self
I believe meaningful therapy begins with understanding. My goal is to provide a thoughtful, collaborative space where you can better understand yourself, heal from difficult experiences, and create meaningful change that feels authentic to who you are. Whether you're navigating trauma, anxiety, identity, relationships, or life transitions, therapy is tailored to your unique experiences, goals, and strengths.
What You Can Expect
I believe meaningful therapy begins with understanding. My role isn't to tell you who you should be or to offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I work to create a space where you can explore your experiences openly, better understand yourself, and move toward meaningful, lasting change.
Our work together is collaborative and tailored to your unique experiences, goals, and strengths. Whether we're addressing trauma, anxiety, identity, relationships, or life transitions, I strive to balance curiosity, compassion, and practical strategies that support growth both inside and outside of our sessions.
Above all, I want therapy to feel like a place where you can show up authentically, feel understood, and develop a deeper sense of self.
Areas I Commonly Help With
The reasons people come to therapy are often interconnected. While every person's story is unique, these are some of the areas I most commonly help clients explore, understand, and navigate.
Identity, Authenticity and Self-Understanding
Develop a deeper sense of self, strengthen self-trust, and build a life that feels more authentic, connected, and aligned with who you are.
Trauma Recovery and Eye Movement Desenitization and Reprocesing (EMDR)
Heal from difficult experiences that continue to influence how you see yourself, relate to others, or move through the world using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR when appropriate.late to others, or move through the world.
Religious Trauma and Non-Affirming Environments
Heal from the lasting impact of high-demand or non-affirming environments that may have shaped your sense of self, relationships, or ability to live authentically.
f
LGBTQIA+ Identity, Belonging and Community
Explore identity, belonging, relationships, and the unique experiences of living as an LGBTQIA+ adult in an affirming, supportive therapeutic space.
Identity, Relationships and Belonging for Gay Men
Explore the unique experiences many gay men navigate around identity, dating, intimacy, relationships, self-worth, and healing from shame or non-affirming environments. This is a focused area of my practice reflecting the depth of this work.
Anxiety, Perfectionism and Life Transitions
Whether you're adjusting to Utah, navigating a career or relationship change, feeling stuck in anxiety, or caught in patterns of perfectionism and self-criticism, therapy can help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
Working Together
Therapy should feel like a place where you don't have to have everything figured out before you arrive. Together, we'll take time to better understand your experiences, explore the patterns that may be shaping your life, and identify what feels most important to you.
Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, our work is tailored to your unique experiences, goals, and strengths. Depending on what best supports your growth, we may integrate approaches such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other evidence-informed therapies.
Above all, I hope therapy becomes a space where you feel understood, respected, and comfortable showing up as yourself. My goal is to help you develop a deeper sense of self, heal from difficult experiences, strengthen your relationships, and build a life that feels more authentic, connected, and aligned with who you are.
Education and Approaches
Education and Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Licensed to Practice in Utah & Arizona
A Thoughtful, Evidence-Informed Approach
Graduate education and professional licensure provide the foundation for my work, but meaningful therapy also requires curiosity, humility, and a commitment to continued learning. I regularly pursue continuing education to strengthen my clinical skills and stay informed by current research and best practices.
Rather than relying on a single therapeutic model, I draw from evidence-informed approaches and tailor therapy to your unique experiences, goals, and strengths. My focus is not on applying a particular technique; it is on helping you better understand yourself, heal from difficult experiences, and create meaningful, lasting change.
You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out
Many people wait to reach out because they think they need to know exactly what's wrong or have a clear idea of what they want to work on. In reality, you don't have to have everything figured out before starting therapy.
Whether you're feeling stuck, navigating a difficult season, or simply sensing that something no longer feels aligned, therapy can be a place to slow down, better understand yourself, and begin moving toward meaningful change.
If you're wondering whether we'd be a good fit, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute in-person or online video consultation. It's an opportunity to ask questions, share what brings you in, and see whether working together feels like the right next step.