While originally born here in Utah, Dereck considers his home to be where he grew up in Las Vegas, NV. Dereck is a graduate of Utah Valley University where he obtained his Master of Social Work. During his studies, he spent time working with adolescents as a school social worker and support staff at an adolescent residential treatment center. Most recently, Dereck worked as a therapist within a coordinated specialty care team dedicated to intervening with adolescents and young adults experiencing early onset psychosis. He remains committed to learning and honing his craft to better serve clients and their families.

Dereck’s passion for helping youth makes it deeply important to him to help facilitate healing, build resilience, and guide adolescents through what is already a tumultuous time in their lives. He believes that enhancing one’s interpersonal relationships and self-regulation are key pieces that go above managing mental health issues and set one up for success in life! To Dereck, SCS is a place that he has come to recognize as an immensely powerful program. Such an organization provides various resources beyond individual therapy and so he enters determined to mobilize the support offered to his clients and their families.

When Dereck is not in “therapy mode”, he enjoys being an uncle to the best niece in the world (…and some nephews that are alright). He loves to go camping, off-roading, and playing tabletop games with friends. Every now and then, he has just enough time to play Apex Legends with his older brother who lives on the other side of the country to stay connected (…he mains Bloodhound, but he’s not very good though).