Meet the Team

My name is Ashley Barton. I attended Southern Utah University where I earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2011. I received my Masters of Social Work in 2024 from the University of Utah and obtained my Certified Social Worker license with the State of Utah. I was born and raised in Cedar City. I enjoy listening to podcasts, reading, baking and spending time with my friends and family. I have been married to my husband for 12 years and have two children. Together we like to spend time at our Cabin on Cedar Mountain, camping, riding ATVs and traveling.

I have over 10 years of experience working with family systems. My passion for mental health includes assisting clients through difficult times in their life, building upon their strengths and finding solutions for a positive future. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults. I am TF-CBT informed and am always learning and growing to best support those I work with. I would love to see you in my office soon.

My name is Kendra Jones, CMHC. I am the Lead therapist here at Mending Minds. I have been working in mental health for 6 years now. I have lived in Cedar City, Utah for 26 years. I feel blessed to be able to be a part of such a great community. I raise my 6 children here and have been happily married for 15 years.

I attended Southern Utah University for my undergraduate degree, then soon after getting my masters in clinical psychology at The School for Professional Psychology in 2020. I am certified in Sandtray techniques, EMDR, and Trauma informed Yoga. I believe that using a combination of techniques is key when meeting the client where they are. I am always looking for new ways to gain ground on the latest ways that can help others in their journey.

I prefer helping with sexual trauma and trauma in general. I am able to help reprocess past experiences to gain a better sense of wellness. One of my core values as a therapist is meeting the client right where the client is, no judgements or expectations. Just unconditional empathy and understanding.

My name is Chelsee Robinson. I am an Intern Therapist here at Mending Minds. My hands are delightfully full with this fast-growing practice and with two kids and a pup at home.

I love Cedar City so much that years serving the community as a teacher, business owner, and local leader in health and wellness just wasn't enough. I'm excited to now be offering mental health support as a therapist.

My passion for trauma work is informed, among other things, by many years studying the interconnectedness of the mind and body as a yoga teacher. I truly believe we can rewire parts of our brain to help find wholeness and that this brave and beautiful work of mending parts of ourselves should never have to be done alone.

I am certified in brainspotting, IFS informed, and Sandtray therapy.

My name is Shandra Powell and I am a long time Cedar City resident. I graduated from SUU in 1993 with a BS in Elementary Education and then went on for Master's Degrees in Family and Human Development (MFHD, Utah State University, 2001) and a Master's of Social Work (MSW, University of Utah, 2018). I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and LOVE to connect with and support others in a meaningful way.

My true claim to fame is having an amazing family that includes my husband, 5 children and, currently, 18 grandchildren. My formal education pales in comparison to my lived experiences.

I enjoy working with groups and helping others recognize their true value in a world that doesn't always encourage us to be genuine and authentic to ourselves. In the group setting, I learn from those I work with and it helps me stay grounded and gives me hope for the future. I would love to help you remember what it feels like to find joy in the little things.

My name is Jen Johnson and I graduated from Southern Utah University with my Bachelor of Social Work and currently am in University of Kentucky's Master of Social Work program. I have lived in Cedar City since 2011, but grew up in Southwestern Montana. I have been married for 16 years to my best friend and we have four wonderful children together. In my down time, I love hanging out with my family, riding my horses, and crocheting. I enjoy these grounded activities, celebrating all parts of life.

I am passionate about all things mental health and helping people.

I consider myself a humanitarian, and that's what drew me to social work. Understanding my own adverse childhood experiences has given me a great amount of empathy for those around me. I believe that healing happens when you can safely share your story in a judgment free zone. These experiences and understanding are felt in session.

I am excited to be a part of the Mending Minds team and hope to grow with you soon! Please reach out if you have questions.

I'm David Shinost, a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. I'm currently earning my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and have a deep passion for helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's challenges.

I take a down-to-earth, collaborative approach to therapy, drawing on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy to help clients strengthen their relationships and reshape their personal stories. My goal is to create a safe space where people feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful changes.

Outside of therapy, I love hiking, camping, and fishing with my wife and three little daughters. I also enjoy drone photography and am always working on improving my Spanish. I love learning both in and out of the therapy room, and I look forward to working with you on your journey toward growth and connection!

My name is Keri Carter (she/her), and I graduated from Southern Utah University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Utah. I have lived in Utah my entire life and moved to Cedar City in 2020. I have been married for 4 years and have two beautiful dogs. In my spare time, I love to go on adventures, and I pride myself on my many hobbies. Some of my favorite pastimes are kayaking, reading, binge-watching TV shows, and spending time with my loved ones.

As a therapist, one of my core values is believing that every individual's story matters. I enjoy working with survivors of trauma and providing a safe place to process their experiences. I believe every client deserves a judgment-free environment and has the capacity for growth. One of my goals is to create a safe space for all identities and people of different backgrounds.

My name is Kelsi. I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern at Mending Minds. I have over a decade of experience in trauma-informed and experiential therapies here in southern Utah, and I love helping people to move out of stuck patterns, back into embodied wholeness.

My approach is person-centered, strengths-based, and often somatic, grounded in the belief that with the right support and conditions, we each have within ourselves a resounding capacity to heal, grow, and navigate life's challenges. While I eagerly welcome people of all identities and backgrounds, I especially enjoy working with those navigating trauma, neurodiversity, and spiritual identity.

In my spare time, you can typically find me gardening, playing volleyball, doing puzzles, or getting lost in canyons and backcountry adventures — hiking and climbing with my husband and our two dogs.

Autumn is an integral part of the Mending Minds team, contributing to our mission of creating a compassionate, supportive community for mental health and wellness in Cedar City and surrounding areas.

She brings dedication and empathy to her work with clients, helping them navigate life's challenges with care and understanding.

I'm Emma (she/they), a Social Work Intern here at Mending Minds. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Strategic Communication from Southern Utah University in 2020, and am currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Kentucky. Between degrees, I worked several social work-adjacent jobs that deepened my passion for supporting individuals and strengthening my community.

My passion for supporting others through their healing processes is something I feel very deeply. Choosing to pursue a career in therapy was something that just made sense to me, based on my personal experiences I have had in my own therapy-guided healing.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in compassion, empathy, and listening. I see a large range of clients of all ages and backgrounds. I truly believe that, with a strong therapeutic connection, progress is inevitable. I specialize in LGBTQIA+ experiences and struggles, faith transitions, and trauma processing, however I love learning about people from all walks of life and the hardships they experience.

In my personal life, I find the most joy through music. For me, it is comforting, healing, and freeing. I love being able to bring its concepts into sessions and see the growth it can help facilitate.

My name is Dennie. I am currently earning my master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School and am excited to be completing my practicum with Mending Minds. Before beginning this chapter, I spent several years working as a real estate agent here in Southern Utah, helping people find a sense of home and belonging. Over time, I witnessed the powerful ways that therapy can create healing and transformation, which inspired me to follow my heart into this field and help others do the same.

I enjoy working with those navigating life transitions, faith deconstruction, trauma recovery, and grief. My approach is warm, person-centered, and trauma-informed, combining mindfulness, CBT, and gentle somatic awareness to help clients reconnect with self-trust, balance, and authenticity.

Outside the therapy room, I teach yoga, spend time outdoors, and love connecting with my community. I'm passionate about whole-person healing and hope to continue blending movement, mindfulness, and mental health into my work as a therapist.