Kimberly Gishi, CMHC INTERN

I moved to Utah when I was 6 and have been here ever since. I love traveling, but always want to come home to my mountains. I attended UVU (back when it was UVSC) and received my Associates degree. Because I'm the 9th out of 10 kids, I needed to make my own path and attended University of Utah for my Bachelors of Art in Psychology instead of BYU. I am currently attending Amridge University for my graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

I worked on my masters degree on and off during the next phase of my life of getting married and raising 3 boys. In this time I was able to take a long look at what I wanted to be when I grew up, and knew I wanted to work with children and young adults. When my youngest started first grade I finished my Masters in Human Services and re-entered the workforce as a behavior specialist at a local elementary school. I was able to work with the kids in real time to learn emotional regulation, handle conflict, learn communication skills, and find their self-worth. It was an extremely rewarding job and I loved every second of it.

After 5 years at the elementary school, I went back to graduate school and I am currently in the process of finishing my Masters of Art in Marriage and Family Therapy. My focus is on trauma, autism spectrum, and mental health of children and youth. Because I want to focus on youth, I have a soft spot for parents and teachers because I know the work and self-sacrifice that goes into the years of raising kids.

I love spending time with my family and being the goofy, weird mom. I love spending time with friends and finding relationships that allow me to be me, and I want to help others find those same kinds of relationships and love in their own lives. Most of all, I want to help others learn to love themselves.