Derek Barrientos

LCSW

Available in the Highland Office and over Teletherapy

Speaks Spanish

Derek is an experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Utah Valley University and his Master’s of Social Work from the University of Utah. Derek’s clinical experience has been in crisis environments, working in both outpatient and inpatient units, providing critical safety evaluations, and working one-on-one with youth during critical care. Derek has primarily worked with youth and teenagers in their homes alongside parents during immediate need, and has polished critical thinking and observation skills when addressing intensive needs. 

Derek promotes Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused (SFT), and Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) therapeutic practices that promote autonomy, self-growth, and collaboration. Derek is experienced in Parent-Child therapeutic models that consist of Parent Management Training. He is also experienced in Safety models that consist of skill building and interactive activities to teach coping skills, safety interventions, and education of behavioral health issues. Derek has worked with youth and teenagers who have generalized anxiety, depression, and self-harm behaviors.

Derek’s approach is client and family-centered, and he has worked with families of diverse backgrounds and people who identify as LGBTQ+. Derek's cultural background has a strong influence on providing ethical and culturally competent models, as he comes from a Central and South American ethnicity and is also fluent in Spanish. Derek has trained experience in crisis work and promotes a safety-first approach to ensure that all clients' safety needs, if present, are involved in his therapeutic approach. 

Derek grew up in Arkansas and completed all of his primary education there before coming to Utah for his college education. Derek has welcomed the naturistic environment in both Arkansas and Utah and enjoys paddleboarding, canoeing, and going on nature walks. Derek loves to be involved in sports and follows the University of Arkansas men’s and women’s collegiate sports teams, and is also involved in playing in indoor soccer leagues in Orem. Derek is a film buff and enjoys using his AMC subscription to go to the movie theater. Derek loves to attend Broadway shows and watch reality television, and has participated in many movie and television show trivia nights.