Our Team

Not sure where to start?

Getting the right fit is an important step. Each member of our team brings different strengths, and some clients benefit from having more than one kind of support in their corner.

Let us help you find the right fit: Schedule a free consultation and we’ll talk through your needs, insurance options, and what kind of care may be most helpful.

Schedule a Consultation

At Sova, I work alongside our therapists to provide case management support for individuals and families. My role is to help bridge the gap between therapy and daily life by supporting practical needs, reducing barriers, coordinating care, and helping clients and families take the next manageable step.

I am not a therapist, and my work is designed to complement therapy rather than replace it. Some clients work with me while also seeing a therapist at Sova, while others work with me as part of a broader care team that includes outside providers.

Am I a Good Fit for You?

Working with me may be a good fit if life outside of therapy is making it harder to stabilize, follow through with care, or move forward.

I often support clients and families with:

  • accessing resources such as housing, food, transportation, clothing, school supports, or medical care

  • reducing barriers that make it difficult to attend therapy or stay connected to treatment

  • coordinating care between therapists, dietitians, medical providers, schools, and other supports

  • building practical routines and skills at home

  • grocery shopping, meal planning, or implementing recommendations from a dietitian or care team

  • taking manageable steps toward school, work, relationships, self-care, and other important parts of life

Case management can be especially helpful when care feels scattered, overwhelming, or hard to carry into daily life. My goal is to help reduce overwhelm, clarify next steps, and support practical changes that make care feel more connected, sustainable, and possible.

My Approach

My approach as a certified case manager is values-based, trauma-informed, and ACT-informed. I believe behavior makes sense in context, and that individuals and families are often doing the best they can with the tools and support available to them.

Rather than focusing on fixing or correcting, I focus on understanding what is getting in the way, building practical supports, and helping clients take steps that fit real life.

ACT-informed care guides my work by emphasizing values, flexibility, and sustainable change. I support individuals and families navigating eating-related concerns, emotional regulation, identity exploration, and complex systems of care. I prioritize curiosity, collaboration, and dignity, and I believe progress does not need to be linear to be meaningful.

Background

My work has been rooted in the mental health field for nearly a decade, with a focus on supporting youth and families navigating high-acuity, complex challenges. I have worked closely with young people experiencing chronic safety concerns, significant emotional distress, trauma, fear, and unmet needs, while also supporting caregivers through some of their most overwhelming and vulnerable moments.

I began this work as a behavior manager and case manager, where I developed a foundation in safety planning, skill development, system navigation, and family collaboration. Over time, I moved into program leadership and director roles, overseeing intensive day treatment programs and supporting multidisciplinary teams. These experiences shaped how I approach care today: with practical support, clear communication, steadiness, and a deep respect for the complexity of each family system.

A significant part of my background includes directing a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) day treatment program and later developing and leading an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) day treatment program from the ground up. In both settings, I supported youth and families in building emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, communication, trust, and stability at home. Family involvement remained central to this work, with a strong belief that lasting change is more possible when caregivers are supported alongside their children.

Across all of my roles, my work has centered on high-acuity care, family involvement, and systems-level support. I bring a deep understanding of how treatment models translate into real life, how programs function, and how to support families through emotionally demanding work with clarity and care.

As a founder of Sova Counseling, I am committed to building services that are ethical, accessible, and human. Sova was created to help fill a gap in the community, where families often struggled to find care that felt steady, collaborative, and grounded in dignity. My goal is to help create support that feels transparent, compassionate, and rooted in hope for both individuals and the families who walk alongside them.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

Working with me is often described as warm, grounding, and collaborative. I bring honesty, curiosity, and steadiness into each interaction, whether we are meeting in an office or in your home. My approach to case management is hands-on and supportive. This may look like helping you navigate systems, coordinate care, problem-solve barriers, or sit together while we break overwhelming tasks into clear, manageable steps.

My work is designed to complement therapy, and clients work with me alongside an ongoing therapeutic relationship. I collaborate closely with therapists to help ensure care feels coordinated, supportive, and aligned across systems.

You do not need to have everything figured out. I make space for difficult emotions while also helping individuals and families identify strengths, resources, and next steps that feel aligned with their values. My goal is to walk alongside you, reduce overwhelm, and support you in building a path forward that feels sustainable and true to who you are.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of work, I am a parent, a partner, and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. These parts of my life shape how I understand care, identity, and the importance of belonging and authenticity. I value relationships that feel grounded and honest, and I believe connection is a powerful part of well-being.

I enjoy spending time at lakes and would live on one if I could. Being near water helps me slow down and feel more present. I also value creativity, especially through painting and movement, as ways to reconnect with myself. Balance, rest, and moments of joy feel essential to me, and that belief carries into both my personal life and my work.


Me at a Glance

I am a co-founder of Sova Counseling and a Certified Case Manager providing systems-focused support to individuals and families. My work includes supporting individuals navigating disordered eating or eating-related concerns through collaborative meal planning, care coordination, and thoughtful guidance across mental health and support services. Support may take place in-office or in-home to best meet individual and family needs.

I value transparency, collaboration, and dignity, and I bring a steady, grounding presence to my work. I am especially mindful of reducing barriers and creating affirming support for individuals and families who have historically felt unseen within mental health systems.


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Jamaica Shires

Co-Founder | Director | Case Manager

Insurance accepted

Optum - Medicaid

State (FFS) - Medicaid

Self-pay

Currently accepting new clients


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Ali Hildenbrand

Therapist | CSW

Me at a Glance


I am a Clinical Social Worker (CSW) providing trauma-informed therapy in Utah. I bring a grounded, thoughtful approach to care and value collaboration, curiosity, and creating a space where clients feel safe to show up as they are.

I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating emotional overwhelm, school stress, identity development, neurodivergence, trauma, eating-related concerns, and family challenges.

My style is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I focus on building trust early, helping clients feel understood, and creating a therapy space where people can show up as they are. When eating or body concerns are part of the picture, I approach them with curiosity and care, paying attention to the emotional, relational, sensory, developmental, and family factors that may be involved.

Am I a Good Fit for You?

Working with me may be a good fit if you or your child are looking for a therapist who is warm, approachable, and easy to connect with.

I often work well with clients who:

  • feel overwhelmed by emotions, stress, food or body concerns, or major life transitions

  • are children, teens, or young adults who need therapy to feel safe, respectful, and developmentally appropriate

  • are neurodivergent or exploring how neurodivergence shapes emotions, relationships, school, sensory needs, body awareness, or eating patterns

  • need support with emotional regulation, coping skills, communication, identity development, or self-understanding

  • are navigating trauma, family stress, school concerns, body image distress, disordered eating patterns, or early eating-related struggles

  • have had a hard time feeling understood by adults, providers, or systems

  • want a therapist who can collaborate well with parents, caregivers, case managers, dietitians, schools, or other members of a care team

I aim to create a space that feels steady, friendly, and nonjudgmental, while also helping clients build insight and skills that support meaningful change.

My Therapeutic Approach

My therapeutic approach is collaborative, skills-based, and culturally responsive. I work from an attachment-based, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and eating-disorder-informed lens, integrating emotion regulation strategies, family systems work, and developmentally appropriate interventions.

I believe therapy works best when clients feel genuinely understood and when care is responsive to who they are, not just what they are struggling with. I take time to build rapport, understand each client’s strengths and needs, and shape therapy around what will be most helpful for that person or family.

When eating-related concerns are present, I focus on understanding what role food, body image, control, sensory needs, stress, identity, or relationships may be playing in someone’s life. I support clients in building awareness, emotional regulation, communication, and a more compassionate relationship with themselves and their needs.

I am also committed to ongoing learning. I actively expand my clinical knowledge to better support the specific needs of the clients I work with, especially when a client’s experience calls for additional understanding, consultation, or collaboration.

Background

I earned my undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and my Master of Social Work from Hawaii Pacific University. As a LEND Scholar, I completed advanced interdisciplinary training in autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities, which continues to shape my neurodiversity-affirming approach.

My graduate research focused on funding Native Hawaiian health programs, and I participated in the Hawaiʻi Positive Engagement Program, a cohort-based initiative centered on reducing toxic stress and strengthening well-being through positive psychology practices. These experiences deepened my commitment to equity, cultural humility, and holistic care.

My background has also given me an appreciation for the practical realities that can affect therapy, including family stress, school systems, access to resources, and coordination between providers. While my role at Sova is as a therapist, this experience helps me collaborate effectively with case managers, dietitians, and other supports when clients need a more coordinated approach to eating-disorder-informed care.

What It Is Like to Work With Me

Clients often describe me as warm, calm, supportive, and easy to talk to. I work to create a therapy space where clients can feel accepted as they are while also feeling supported in making meaningful change.

In session, this may look like slowing things down, helping clients put words to what they are feeling, practicing coping skills, exploring patterns in relationships, or finding new ways to respond to stress, conflict, food or body concerns, school pressure, sensory overwhelm, or family dynamics.

I balance warmth with structure. I will meet you where you are, and I will also help you take the next step when you are ready. You do not need to have the right words or know exactly what you need before beginning therapy. We can figure that out together.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of work, I enjoy yoga, eco-therapy, gardening, and tending to a growing collection of plants. I love cooking, reading, traveling, and exploring my new home state of Utah. I also value time with family and friends, participating in advocacy efforts, and adventuring with my miniature dachshund, Dwight, who is always keeping me on my toes.

Insurance accepted


Optum - Commercial and Medicaid

State (FFS) - Medicaid

Select Health - Commercial and Medicaid

Currently accepting new clients

Me at a Glance

I provide behavioral health support and psychosocial rehabilitation services as part of Sova’s supervised clinical model. My advanced doctoral-level training in counseling psychology shapes how I understand clients’ stories, support meaningful skill-building, and approach each person with depth, care, and respect.

I often work with clients who feel stuck in patterns that are hard to shift, even when they understand the problem or know what they “should” do. My work focuses on helping clients build insight, practice evidence-based skills, and take realistic steps toward change in daily life.

I bring a warm, multicultural, and deeply respectful approach to this work. Each person’s culture, family, identity, history, and lived experience matter, and support should be shaped around the whole person.

Yifat Levenstein

BHC | Behavioral Health Professional

My Approach

My approach is structured, relational, and evidence-based. I support clients in identifying patterns that keep them stuck, building practical skills, and applying those skills in ways that fit real life.

I draw from training in trauma, attachment, assessment, multicultural counseling, and behavioral interventions. When clients are navigating body image distress, eating-related struggles, shame, avoidance, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty following through on goals, I focus on understanding both the internal experience and the context around it.

I do not believe people are problems to be fixed. People make sense in context. My goal is to help clients understand what is happening, build tools that are actually usable, and move toward greater stability, agency, and connection.

Am I a Good Fit for You?

Working with me may be a good fit if:

  • you feel stuck in patterns that are hard to change, even when you understand them

  • you want structured support with practical, evidence-based tools

  • you struggle with avoidance, follow-through, emotional overwhelm, or habits that feel difficult to interrupt

  • you are navigating body image distress, eating-related concerns, shame, or a complicated relationship with yourself

  • you want support that considers culture, identity, family, and lived experience as central parts of care

  • you are going through trauma, academic stress, life transitions, or a period of emotional difficulty

  • you want support that is warm and human, but also organized, thoughtful, and skill-focused

My role is to help you build insight and practice change. For some clients, this work stands alongside therapy as part of a broader care plan. For others, it offers focused behavioral health support around specific patterns, skills, and goals.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

Working with me is warm, collaborative, and structured. I care deeply about understanding your story, and I also care about helping you find tools that make daily life feel more manageable.

I often help clients slow down and look closely at what is happening: what they feel, what they avoid, what they believe, what they want, and what gets in the way. From there, we can practice specific skills, identify next steps, and work toward changes that feel realistic rather than overwhelming.

I bring a strong multicultural lens to my work. Your background, heritage, family system, identity, and life experiences are not side details. They are part of the story, and they matter in understanding what stability, healing, and change can look like for you.

Professional Background

I am a Utah-licensed Behavioral Health Coach with seven years of advanced doctoral-level clinical training in counseling psychology at the University of Utah. My training included work across high-complexity settings, including the University Counseling Center, the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, and the David Eccles School of Business.

Across these settings, I worked with diverse populations, including student veterans, medical residents, first-generation students, and clients holding minoritized identities. My clinical and research background has focused on trauma, assessment, culture, identity, body empowerment, behavioral change, and sociocultural risk factors related to eating disorders.

This background shapes my work at Sova, where I aim to bring structured, research-informed support together with warmth, cultural humility, and care that feels personal, grounded, and responsive to real life.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of work, I am a mother of three amazing girls, a lover of good coffee, and someone who finds meaning in meditation, movies, and quiet moments of reflection.

I try to stay connected to the heartbeat of the world in the way I live, parent, and care for others.

Insurance accepted

Optum - Medicaid

State (FFS) - Medicaid

Self-pay

Currently accepting new clients

Me at a glance

I am the co-founder and Clinical Director of Sova Counseling, as well as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. My work includes providing therapy directly, supporting our clinical team, and helping shape Sova’s model of care.

I focus on eating concerns, complex emotional experiences, family systems, and the barriers that can make care feel overwhelming or hard to access. Across my work, I am committed to care that is evidence-based, deeply human, collaborative, and grounded in dignity.

Sova creates the opportunity to lead a team that provides every client with the benefit of thoughtful, dignified, eating-disorder-informed care.

A man with dark hair and a beard is smiling and laughing while sitting at a table. He is wearing a gray sweater over a white collared shirt. There is a green plant on his right side and a plain wall in the background.

Yotam Livnat

Co-Founder | Clinical Director | CMHC

What I Bring to Sova

As Clinical Director, part of my role is helping shape the clinical foundation of Sova Counseling. I provide therapy directly, and I also support our team in building care that is thoughtful, coordinated, and responsive to the people and families we serve.

Sova was built around a simple but demanding belief: people deserve care that takes their suffering seriously without reducing them to symptoms, behaviors, diagnoses, or compliance. That belief shapes my direct clinical work, our team conversations, and the way we think about treatment.

I bring a commitment to care that can hold complexity. That means paying attention to emotion, behavior, identity, trauma, culture, family systems, access barriers, and the real-life contexts that shape healing. I believe therapy should be compassionate without becoming passive, structured without becoming controlling, and evidence-based without becoming mechanical.

This matters especially in eating disorder care, where individuals and families are often handed fear-based messages, rigid rules, or care that does not fit the reality of their lives. At Sova, we work to offer something steadier: care that is clinically thoughtful, relationally grounded, and responsive to the person or family in front of us.

My Clinical Approach

My clinical approach focuses on helping people build lives they find worth living. I take the lived experiences of my clients seriously, including their resilience, intelligence, pain, and capacity for change.

In individual therapy, I draw primarily from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), client-centered, Gestalt, and interpersonal process approaches. In practice, this means we pay attention to the full context of your experience while working toward choice, flexibility, accountability without shame, and movement toward what matters.

When working with families, I prioritize connection first, followed by collaborative correction. I believe lasting change depends on safety, trust, and relational support rather than control or compliance. My family work is informed by Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and research on emotion coaching as a parenting approach. These frameworks provide structure while staying grounded in the realities of each family’s day-to-day life.

Across settings, my goal is to support change that is sustainable, respectful, and aligned with each individual or family’s values, rather than imposed from the outside.

Background

I have worked with youth, families, and communities in therapy-adjacent and clinical roles for over fifteen years. Before becoming a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I supported teens through youth groups, educational programming, summer camps, and middle school teaching. Those early experiences shaped my belief that young people deserve care that takes them seriously, and that families often need support, not blame.

Much of my clinical work has been rooted in community mental health, where I found a professional home in connecting high-quality, dignity-forward therapy with people regardless of their means. Over the past several years, I worked in, and then helped build and lead, an adolescent day treatment program alongside Jamaica. In that setting, we supported high-acuity youth and families while working to preserve autonomy, choice, connection, and clinical effectiveness.

That history informs everything I bring to Sova Counseling. Over time, it became clear that access to specialized, thoughtful care for eating concerns was one of the most significant gaps people faced. This was especially true for eating disorder care that could hold complexity, family involvement, financial barriers, identity, trauma, and real life all at once.

Sova was created to help fill that gap. I am proud to be part of building a space that values connection, compassion, context, time, collaboration, and care that is done for the right reasons.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

I take time to get to know you. I prioritize exploring alongside you, rather than rushing toward answers to questions that deserve care and patience.

I center your values, and if you are not sure what they are yet, that is okay. We can discover them together and ground them in your lived experience.

I am comfortable offering challenge when it is helpful, just as I am comfortable sitting in silence, slowing things down, or pivoting to something concrete when grounding is needed. That might mean pausing to breathe, changing pace, or even building a LEGO set together to help anchor the moment.

I believe healing can hold more than one thing at a time. Laughter, curiosity, and moments of joy can coexist alongside grief, fear, and frustration. I aim to create space where the full range of your experience is welcome, without pressure to perform, explain, or be anywhere other than where you are.

Meaningful change often requires accountability without shame, hope without fear of failure, and persistence through setbacks. I will stay with you through cycles of effort, growth, and difficulty as we continue learning what works for you.

Life Outside of Work

When I’m not at work, I’m usually in the kitchen, playing a video game, or outside somewhere. I love exploring new foods, especially when they offer a way to learn about the people and places that made them. I enjoy camping with my kiddo, going on bike rides, or settling in with a group of friends for a round of Dungeons and Dragons.

I’m deeply curious by nature and have spent most of my life learning a little bit about a lot of things. That curiosity tends to show up everywhere, and you’ll probably encounter it in our work together. I often seem to know something about almost anything, unless it’s important, in which case I’m suddenly no help at all.

Most importantly, I am a self-made master of terrible puns and dad jokes. You have been warned.

Insurance accepted


Optum - Commercial and Medicaid

State (FFS) - Medicaid

Select Health - Commercial and Medicaid

Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield - Commercial

Aetna - Commercial

Cigna - Commercial

Limited availability for new therapy clients