Intermountain Press Release

Provo, Utah—Recognizing the critical role that good mental health plays in the overall health and wellbeing of the community and the increasing need for mental health services in Utah County, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center has expanded its Outpatient Psychiatry and Psychology Services.

The interests and expertise of the providers in the clinic span the phases of life from childhood disorders to geriatric and end of life issues. The breadth of the services offered includes mood and anxiety disorders; affective and thought disorders; personality and behavioral problems; and substance abuse and related behaviors.

The providers bring unique experience and training to help the community with psychiatric and psychological needs. Recently, the team brought on four new providers – Psychiatrists, Jason Andersen, and Brian Harlan, and Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (APRNs), Vicky Geilman, and Wendy Johnson. The addition of these new providers increases the ability to provide quality care to those in the community seeking help.

"With the addition of four new clinicians and consolidating our psychiatric and psychological services into one central location, we are able to better serve the community and further encourage therapeutic teamwork between our providers," says Kenneth Tuttle, PhD, director of Behavioral Health at Utah Valley Regional. "Not only does this facilitate communication and collaboration between providers, it simplifies scheduling and access for our patients."

In addition to offering outpatient psychiatry and psychological services, other resources for the community are offered. The Dayspring Program is a support group program designed to help those with chemical dependency and other addictions. The Dayspring Program is run by Richard Potts, PhD, and Cheryl Cozzens, LCSW. The other community resource offered is the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training group. DBT skills training provide patients with the skills to modulate emotions that at times can be frightening. It also facilitates improvement in interpersonal relations. The DBT group is run by Jason Conover, MS, LCSW, Newt Bryson, LCSW, and Allen Fife, PhD.

The clinic works with referring physicians and agencies, but is also accepting new patients. New patients should first check with their insurance provider to verify if a referral is needed to visit the clinic. The clinic accepts most insurance plans such as SelectHealth, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, PEHP and PEHP Chip, and DMBA. To schedule an appointment, call 357-7380 for Outpatient Psychiatry, or 357-7525 for Outpatient Psychology.