Our Clinicians

Denise Brooks, LCSW

My belief is that life isn’t black or white, right or wrong, good or bad. It is building a life worth living and enjoying. I earned a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science degree in gerontology (the study of aging). I am licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Utah and Alaska. The 4,000 hours required to become an LCSW were done in State of Utah and Salt Lake County crisis services, emergency departments, and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute.

Over half of therapy effectiveness is the client/therapist relationship. My responsibility is to create a safe, listening, accepting, challenging, and validating space. In turn, the client is open, honest and wants to do the work. I practice evidence-based DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) teaching skills to improve depression, anxiety, PTSD, borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders. Working for Highland Springs for the past seven years has allowed me to do individual and group therapy. Importantly, I don’t believe in a power differential; “We’re just walking each other home.”

Schedule an appointment with Denise Brooks, LCSW:

Holley Blitz, LMFT

Holley Blitz holds a license as a marriage, child, family therapist.  She has thorough experience working with individuals, couples, children, and adolescents on their journey towards wholeness.  Her current areas of specialty include anxiety, stress management, relationship issues, working with grief-loss, women issues including postpartum depression, and in working with people on the autism spectrum. Holley utilizes principles of psychology to help people gain awareness of and address underlying patterns of their belief system.  She encourages them to look at the belief system, thinking, feeling,  and behavior that holds them back from living life to the fullest.  You are the expert on your life and Holley is here to help you find your joy to live your best life!

Schedule an appointment with Holley Blitz, LMFT:

Jeanette Ricci, LCSW

Schedule an appointment with Jeanette Ricci, LCSW:

Edward Seiler, CMHC

Hi my name is Edward Seiler CMHC. I am a fully licensed therapist here in Utah. I have been doing therapy now for 25 years. I have lived in Utah now for eight years and practiced as a substance abuse counselor mainly but also specialize in couples counseling, anger management, adolescent and teen issues, anxiety management, and depression management. I practiced therapy in Pennsylvania for about 18 years and mostly helped adolescents and their families, from the ages of 5 to 21 years of age. My therapy modalities include Cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical behavioral therapy, Motivational interviewing and Acceptance Commitment therapy as well as positive psychology. In my spare time I enjoy running, hiking, and playing sports. Edward is accepting new patients and only conducts his sessions through Telehealth appointments!

Schedule an appointment with Edward Seiler, CMHC:

Leisa Watkins, LMFT

Leisa is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and Idaho Family Court reunification therapist who works with couples, families, and individuals with trauma. She believe in strengthening communication skills and addressing traumas through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy to promote healing and better functionality in the unit or individual. In her years of experience working with families and couples, she has found that issues resulting in relationship trauma stem from a lack of strong communication skills between the participants in the relationship and that most individual trauma related issues stem from unhealed and unresolved traumas that impact a person’s ability to function from a place of health in the present. Trauma is not something you have to continue to live with and it is possible to live a life free from traumatic responses and the aftermath of triggering behaviors.  You can be a better you through trauma work.

Leisa has successfully assisted clients to heal from sexual and abuse traumas, medical trauma, workplace traumas, and have experience with traumas that have developed into dissociative disorders. She is a certified EMDR therapist and a Consultant with EMDRIA ( EMDR International Association). She is also an Idaho Supreme Court trained mediator. Conflict resolution is also one of my strengths. She employs elements of narrative, CBT, DBT, IFS, and family systems therapies as well as EMDR therapy to assist her clients.

You have the potential to be the best possible you, individually and in your relationships, where past traumas no longer dictate your interactions with others in your life. Leisa looks forward to helping you on your journey.

Schedule an appointment with Leisa Watkins, LMFT:

Mackenzie Passey – Executive Director

Kenzie has been working in the mental health field for over four years. Kenzie started as an office specialist and worked her way up from direct client care to operational leadership and business administration. Over the years, Kenzie has gained a love and appreciation for the power of behavioral health and the positive impact it has on clients and their lives. Kenzie’s favorite part about Highland Springs Specialty Clinics is the amazing team of hardworking staff dedicated to helping others everyday. In her free time Kenzie enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and reading a good book.

Schedule an appointment with Mackenzie Passey – Executive Director: