MY STORY

I founded Frontier Psychology, PLLC on Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City to provide high-quality, evidence-based outpatient therapy to children and adolescents. I started this practice because I saw a need in the community for more clinicians who specialize in treating children and adolescents and who include families in their child's therapy. For many child and adolescent clinical issues, involving parents or care providers in therapy is often a key element of therapeutic success.

With over two decades of experience working with youth, I specialize in working with children, teenagers, and their families to assess and treat mood disorders and behavior problems. To address the various issues with which clients present, I apply a variety of evidence-based approaches and frequently use Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In addition to therapy and assessment, I am passionate about outreach and teaching. I have supervised numerous interns in the internship program at HMHI and regularly appear in local media speaking about suicide prevention and mental health. I also help train medical professionals in the hospital and provide outreach to the community.

Prior to becoming a psychologist, I worked as a geophysicist for the US Geological Survey and worked with children as a middle school teacher. When I am not at work, I am busy raising two children along with my wife, camping in the desert, climbing and skiing in the Wasatch mountains, and playing the ukulele.

Work Experience

Prior to starting Frontier Psychology, I worked as a Psychologist at the the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI), in Salt Lake City, UT. At HMHI, I directed the APA-accredited psychology training program and provided clinical services to children and adolescents. I had the privilege of working with and learning from a world-class team of psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses, and other helping professionals.

As the Director of Psychology Training (2016-2022), I trained psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows in accordance with the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation Standards of Accreditation. I loved being part of training the next generation of outstanding therapists and being part of meeting the severe mental health needs in our state and country today.

In the role of Staff Therapist (2014-2022), I provided individual- and family-therapy to children and adolescents on the inpatient units and day-treatment programs. When there were complexities in a patient's presenting concerns, I also completed diagnostic and psycho-social assessments for the purposes of differential diagnosis and treatment planning.

I continue to work part-time at HMHI because I enjoy helping youth and families at that level of care. I also love the people and environment at HMHI, and I love supporting the training of the next generation of psychologists and psychiatrists.

Prior to working at HMHI, I worked as a therapist in the Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne, UT from 2013-2014, providing individual and family therapy to adolescent boys in a Wilderness Therapy Program.

Education

I received my doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University, in State College, PA (2006-2012). Penn State is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 Best Clinical Psychology programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. My area of study was in interventions for youth with disruptive behavior problems and problematic peer relationships. After my graduate training, I completed my Pre-Doctoral Internship (2011-2012) and Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012-2013) at Geisinger Medical Center, in Danville, PA, working with pediatric and outpatient clinical populations.

Selected Presentations

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2011

Powers, CJ: The Youth Mental Health Crisis: Causes and what we can do. Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ & Hayes, L.: Anxiety & Depression in Youth: Research Updates and Transdiagnostic Treatment. Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ: Teenage Suicide. 44th Annual Utah PA/NP Conference, Snowbird, UT

Powers, CJ & Palacios-Gutierrez, C: Psychological Assessment for Non-Psychologists. Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ & Hayes, L.: Exposure Therapy for Anxiety in Kids and Teens: What it is, what it isn’t, and how to do it well. Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ: Do’s and Don’ts of Behavioral Treatments for ADHD, presented at the 2017 Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Evidence-based Assessment and Treatment for Youth, presented at the 2016 Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Evidence-based Assessment and Treatment, presented at the 2016 Generations Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Powers, CJ: Emotional Racing Motorcycles: The Risks and Rewards of being Highly Emotionally Sensitive, Presented at the 2015 Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

Coffman, D., Powers, CJ, (symposium co-chair), & Bierman, K. (Causal mediation of inattention and aggression on substance use outcomes in the fast track data. Presented at the 2012 Society for Research and Child Development Themed Meeting: Developmental Methodology, Tampa Bay, FL.

Powers, CJ (symposium co-chair), Coffman, D., & Bierman, K. Self-contained placement and mental health: application of propensity score models with time-varying treatments and moderators. Presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research and Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

ersity Park, PA.