Our Vision For Use Of Ketamine

She has 20 years of experience working in mental health with an emphasis in substance use disorders. She is passionate about studying the use of psychedelic medicine to assist in therapy and healing of depression, anxiety, grief and existential concerns. She has participated in MAPS Conferences and completed two different psilocybin assisted psychotherapy trainings taught by expert team members of The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. She has been an active member of U-Psi (Utah Psychedelic Science Interest group) for over three years. She completed training for Ketamine Assisted Therapy through Telos Transformational Therapies in Seattle and is excited to bring this highly personal tailored experience to Salt Lake City at her own clinic, Alternative Pathways of Cottonwood Heights. At Alternative Pathways, Shannon will conduct a thorough assessment and treatment plan for each client. Treatment plans may incorporate medication management as well as individual and/or group therapy. For Ketamine Assisted Therapy, she will provide a comprehensive experience that is one-of-a-kind in Utah. Local clinics offer ketamine as a sole treatment with minimal mental health support and providers who lack training in transformative medicines. She values the ethics behind taking the time to adequately prepare each client, providing one-on-one support from the beginning of the journey until your return, and then integrating the experience all while prioritizing safety and well-being.

Bernice spent the last 17 years of her nursing career in nursing leadership at the University of Utah Hospital both in Endoscopy and the Labor and Delivery unit. As a nurse leader, Bernice recognized the need for training in how to help the nurses on her team process professional trauma. Bernice went back to graduate school at the University of Utah to obtain her master’s degree in Social Work. She has worked for the the past 2 years as a trained trauma therapist in private practice, many of her clients are nurses and first responders dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout. In addition to working at Alternative Pathways, Bernice currently works as the primary trauma therapist at Turning Point Recovery Centers to help clients that struggle with addiction and processing their trauma. Bernice also does public speaking to raise awareness around how professional trauma contributes to burnout in bedside providers and to help hospital systems understand how to support their nursing staff with professional trauma.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Matt has served in many capacities including running groups, coordinating care, practicing therapy, supervising social work students and doing case management. He is a member of the University Psychedelic Interest Group and the LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah. By sharing his credentials, experience and affiliations he hopes to take the first step towards building trust and connection with you. In the same spirit, he would like you to know that he lives in Salt Lake with a wonderful partner and two mostly-wonderful cats. Also, he is probably binge-watching many of the same shows that you are. Matt is excited about the new therapeutic space that Alternative Pathways is bringing to our community with use of Ketamine for psychotherapy, and he is looking forward to meeting you in that space and on that path, wherever it may lead.

We could all benefit from therapy at different points in life and transition! I practice as a traditional mental health therapist and believe that (in persons who are a good fit for this medication) ketamine can be a way to expedite our work together. I’m confident that, combined with the therapy integration process, you can get closer to where you’d like to be.

Training and Qualifications: I completed my Masters of Social Work at The University of Utah (MSW with emphasis in health) and did an extra year of post graduate studies in substance use disorders (SUDC). I've had amazing mentors during my decade in mental health that have provided years of additional training and research opportunities.

Therapy is hard work and I will honor your space of reflection with unconditional positive regard. I specialize in strength based treatment of: anxiety, depression, life transitions, crisis, identity formation and existential distress. I have training in psychedelic trip integration and have been a research therapist for clinical psychedelic studies. 

I look forward to meeting you and know that you are in good hands at Alternative Pathways.