About Us
Successful therapy requires hard work and trusting your therapist. WORTH IT was created to help you facilitate both. We want you to feel safe and comfortable from the moment you begin working with us. Discover how to love yourself and develop the skills needed to thrive regardless of your challenges or circumstances.
Our Team
Brian Dickert
He/him
Office manager
Alyssa Hughes
She/they
CMHC-I, Student
Chantry Carter
He/him
LCSW, Life Coach/ Consultant
Our Story
In 2009, Aimee started a small private practice in Orem, Utah, where she worked part time, while focusing on her family.
In March 2020, we began the process of expanding our services by moving to Lehi, Utah. Aimee began hiring more therapists, offering additional specialties, and more hours of availability for our clients.
In a matter of a few months, we were able to take our visionary project and make it a reality by undergoing a transformation to a successful therapy clinic, with goals of expansion. We began assisting those struggling with anxiety and stress, related to the ever-changing COVID environment, in addition to our usual specialties.
We developed a rebranding campaign and created the brand WORTH IT counseling + coaching as this name matches our belief each client and couple we see is worth the effort, energy, time, and space needed to achieve their full potential, as individuals, and in their relationships.
The therapists at WORTH IT pride themselves on providing a therapeutic experience that is safe, comfortable, and friendly. It is important to us that our clients feel they are understood and valued.
Our therapists specialize in grief, trauma, and loss. This includes death, terminal illness, faith crisis/transition, rape advocacy and support, sexual abuse, auto or work accidents, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In addition, our therapists specialize in relationships. This includes parent-child relationships, siblings, premarital and marital couples counseling, non-monogamy/open relationships, LGBTQIA+, sex therapy, healthy divorces, and co-parenting. We assess commitment to the relationship, also known as discernment counseling, work on healthy communication and problem solving, and encourage both couples/together and independent time. Relationships are getting more and more unique, and we pride ourselves in supporting couples however their relationship works for them.
Aimee Mortensen
CCMHC, CST, NCC
Life Coach/Consultant
Trauma Specialist
Couples Specialist
Aimee has a Master of Arts Degree in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Science Degree in Administration and Supervision from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Utah State University.
Aimee is skilled in American Sign Language (ASL). She understands and appreciates Deaf Culture and enjoys working with individuals and families that need assistance in Deaf and hard of hearing situations.
Aimee was in an auto accident, in 2001, shortly after she was married, in which she nearly lost her life and her husband was killed. She sustained many injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She has personal experience with grief, loss, and trauma and is grateful she can support others through her life experiences and training.
Aimee’s specific areas of expertise include grief, death and dying, trauma recovery, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), faith crisis/transition, LGBTQIA+, open/polyamorous relationships, and divorce. Areas of special interest include working with sexual abuse survivors and couples, during or after a divorce, to co-parent in a healthy way. She is a certified Rape Trauma Advocate. Aimee is trained in Gottman Couples Therapy. Aimee enjoys working with teens entering the transitional stage of adulthood and young adults determining their life goals, careers, relationships, and futures.
Aimee is an American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA) Diplomat and Clinical Mental Health Specialist (DCMHS) in Trauma Counseling and Couples Counseling. She has taught seminars on: Suicide Prevention, Stress Management, Improving Communication Skills, De-stressing Your Marriage, Grief and Loss, Dealing with Trauma, Preparing Your Children for Emergency Situations and Disasters, Understanding the Effect of Pornography on Children, and Getting the Most out of Your Current Employment.
Aimee is happily divorced and has a great relationship with her ex-husband. They each have their two children half the time. They co-parent like champions and prioritize their children and their needs, no matter how challenging it may feel at times. Aimee works hard to attend all of her children’s events, which currently include many soccer games. She loves watching their personalities develop and appreciates teaching them about life, feelings, and relationships.
Read Aimee’s #metoo story here. Aimee’s #MeToo story is difficult for many to read and may cause stress for some readers.
Jeness Woodard
LCSW, CCTP
Therapist, Life Coach/Consultant, EMDR
Jeness is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social work from Ohio State University in 2010 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, also from Ohio State University. She moved to Utah shortly thereafter. Jeness has worked for DCFS, working with families toward reunification and for the University of Utah with the transplant team. She brings a unique perspective as someone not from Utah.
Jeness is happily married for over 30 years, has 4 amazing grown up children and 3 beautiful grandchildren. She has 2 dogs – a 9-year-old Pug and a 1-year-old American Dirus, and a cat. She enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time with her Scout troop, friends and family. Her favorite thing to do is to travel the world with her husband.
Jeness has focused her work as a clinical practitioner with a specialty in trauma. Jeness uses a person-centered framework. Boundaries, grounding skills, and motivational interviewing are essential. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and is trained in EMDR. Jeness is working on Internal Family System’s therapy training and incorporates parts work, somatic work, and polyvagal exercises to support clients in their path toward healing.
Jeness enjoys working with teens and young adults in individual therapy as they navigate the challenges of growing-up. Family dynamics change as we grow, as do other relationships, goals, and ideals. Jeness has a deep understanding of the need for each of us to define self, particularly with life changes. Jeness is compassionate, caring, and believes that the client is the expert of themself.
Allora Stratford Walters
ACMHC
Life Coach/Consultant
Allora Stratford Walters ACMHCTherapist/Life Coach/Consultant Allora is passionate about helping individuals, couples, and families navigate their unique life journeys. Her expertise spans a wide range of areas, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, gentle/respectful parenting, faith crisis/transitions, LGBTQIA+ support, relationship issues, and couples counseling. Allora graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bradley University, with a focus in brain-based interventions. She holds the belief that each individual deserves a personalized therapeutic approach.
Allora embraces an eclectic methodology, primarily rooted in person-centered theory, existentialism, and strengths-based, solution-focused principles. She adeptly weaves in techniques and strategies from a variety of therapeutic modalities to address the unique needs of her clients. Allora understands the significance of the mind-body connection and incorporates mindfulness techniques into her therapeutic practice. Additionally, she employs brain-based interventions and psychoeducation to enable clients to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms influencing their behavior. This knowledge fosters self-awareness and equips clients with the tools to better comprehend and manage their experiences.
Allora’s own battles with years of untreated ADHD, depression, and anxiety ignited a deep commitment to helping others improve their mental health. She provides unique insights as she is able to draw from her own experiences to guide individuals through their challenges and empower them to discover effective coping strategies that work for them. Allora creates a safe, non-judgmental, and inclusive space for her clients. She believes in the power of trust, empathy, and genuine acceptance. Allora understands that everyone’s experiences and emotions are unique. Your feelings, no matter how complex or challenging, are always met with compassion and validation. Allora actively listens, offering insights and reflections that make you feel seen, heard, and truly understood, believing that this deep connection is where transformation begins.
Outside of her profession, Allora is happily married with two young children. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband, family outings, vacationing, playing games (board games, ping pong, pool, pickleball), singing and playing the piano, and spending time with family and friends. Allora loves being a therapist and is committed to helping her clients live their best lives. Reach out to Allora today and take the first steps towards a better future.
Natasha Taylor
CMHC-I, Student,
Dance & Movement Specialist, Life Coach/Consultant
Natasha is compassionate, creative, warm, and enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds in an environment that is welcoming, nurturing, and open to discovery. Specialty interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, grief, ADHD, and self-empowerment. Natasha’s training supports individual needs to increase self-awareness, improve self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and empower the self and the body.
When she is not working or studying, Natasha enjoys gardening, spending time with her family and fur baby, CiCi, going to concerts and festivals, photography, and dancing. She loves all genres of music and is always open to new music finds and suggestions.
Chantry Carter
He/him
LCSW, Life Coach/ Consultant
Chantry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He received his Masters of Social Work from Utah Valley University. He is from Utah and has lived here most of his life, other than living a few years in Japan. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, trying new places to eat, reading, board games, playing dungeons and dragons with his friends, and going to the theater.
Chantry has experience in a variety of fields, including acute mental health (i.e. Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc.), anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ support, faith transitions, and substance abuse. Chantry is passionate about identity development, shame resilience, increasing self-compassion, and understanding and developing a healthy relationship with spirituality. He loves utilizing solution-focused and strength-based interventions to help clients become comfortable with themselves and work towards the life they want to have.
Chantry believes that every client’s story deserves to be heard and validated. Our past experiences help us understand different aspects of ourselves and how we have arrived at this point in our lives. Though our past experiences are important to acknowledge, they don’t have to dictate where we are going. Through therapy, we can come to terms and heal from our past and take control of writing the future chapters of our lives.
Alyssa Hughes
CMHC-I, Student
She/they
Alyssa is a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. She focuses on working with LGBTQ+ clients, individuals going through religious transitions, and neurodiverse clients. She is willing to work with any age, but has the most experience with children and adolescents. She has expertise in a wide range of mental health issues including ADHD, autism, religious transitions, and adverse childhood experiences.
Alyssa has a focus on social justice counseling and employs person-centered theory, feminist theory, and relational-cultural theory. She uses these together along with a systems-based social justice approach in order to help the client in a well-rounded way.
Alyssa worked closely for adolescents in the state juvenile justice system for over two years helping kids overcome difficult experiences. Working closely with adolescents who exhibited problematic sexual behaviors, Alyssa employs many therapeutic strategies for this population and has worked with the Utah Network on Juveniles Obtaining Safety (NOJOS). In addition, she has worked in behavioral therapy for children with autism and has a commitment to serving that population. Alyssa has had her own experiences with late diagnosed ADHD, religious transitions, and coming to terms with her own sexuality that lend a hand to understanding where clients are coming from and strategies to work through these difficult challenges in life.
Outside of working hours, Alyssa enjoys camping and hiking, especially in National Parks. She is also a figure skater, loves to do new art projects, is a political activist, and loves to create community with loved ones (including her dog).
