Anarie White, LCSW
Hi, I’m Anarie. I’m a therapist who understands how complex it can feel to navigate the intersections of identity, spirituality, sexuality, relationships, family, and the expectations of the communities we move through. Many of the people I work with carry questions, longings, and wounds in these areas, and I’m deeply familiar with the emotional terrain—its challenges, its grief, and its possibilities for growth.
In therapy, I take a friendly, collaborative, and evidence-based approach, tailoring each session to your unique needs and the pace of your nervous system. Whether you’re working through existential concerns, sexual shame or frustration, trauma, identity confusion, grief and loss, perfectionism, anxiety, or relational disconnection, I will meet you with steadiness, compassion, and clarity. My aim is to help you understand what’s happening inside, reduce shame, strengthen resilience, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that know what you need.
I’m particularly passionate about helping individuals and couples heal sexual shame and trauma and develop sexual confidence, ease, and positivity. My background includes research on self-perceived pornography addiction and LGBTQ concerns in religious contexts, and I understand the deep pain and complexity that often surround these experiences.
My therapeutic foundation draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I’m also trained in several trauma-focused approaches (Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure, Cognitive Processing) and have experience treating OCD and anxiety using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Most of all, I offer a warm, grounded space where you can slow down, explore honestly, and feel deeply understood—so that clarity, healing, and connection can take shape.
Credentials and Background:
Education
Master of Social Work, Utah State University — 2023
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Utah State University — 2008, summa cum laude
Licensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Utah — #13552390-3501
Professional Experience
Mental Health Therapist, Ogden Center for Change — 2023–present
Social Work Intern, Wasatch Family Therapy — 2022–2023
Social Work Intern, McKay-Dee Hospital Behavioral Health Unit — 2021–2022
Sexual Assault Response Advocate, YCC Family Crisis Center — 2020–2021
Professional Memberships
LGBTQ-Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah
Mormon Mental Health Association
Northern Utah Emotionally Focused Therapy Community (NUEFT)
The Healing Group Institute Training Academy
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Advanced Trainings
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship and Core Skills
Gottman Method Couples Therapy — Level I & II
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshops, including ACT for OCD
Trauma-focused modalities: Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure, CPT
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Trichotillomania training and supervision — 12 hours
QTBIPOC Cultural Training — 3 hours
Rape Crisis Advocacy Training — 40 hours
Rocky Mountain Sex & Intimacy Summit — 2019, 2022, 2023
Research, Publications & Presentations
Droubay, B.A., & White, A. (2023). Sexual orientation, homophobic attitudes, and self-perceived pornography addiction. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00846-8
Droubay, B.A., Fisher, A., & White, A. (2025). Religious congregants’ affirmation of lesbian and gay individuals in church: The role of social empathy. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
White, A., & Johnson, D.P. (2025). Unspoken Burdens: Healing sexual shame and trauma in LDS and post-LDS men. Presented at the Mormon Mental Health Association Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
