Christy Montrone-Burns

Let me tell you a bit about myself to help you decide if you might want to work with me.

I grew up on a farm in Utah. I was married in 1989 and started working as a Psychiatric Technician at Primary Children’s Medical Center’s adolescent residential program in 1992. I graduated fromthe University of Utah in 1996 and began working at the Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families,

I spent eight years working with children and families who experienced all forms of trauma, particularly sexual abuse and with youth who acted out sexually. I helped create an after-school resiliency training program called Kids Connect. We met in elementary schools and worked with parents, teachers, and children. Kids Connect was a fun experience because we used music, games, art projects, plays, and dancing to build the children’s resiliency skills.

I am grateful that in 2004, I could take time off from my professional career to stay home with my three children. During that time, I volunteered extensively for our Unitarian Universalist church, working with the children and youth program. This experience was a natural extension of my profession as a social worker. I encouraged the children and adolescents to express their emotions, use critical thinking skills, communicate assertively, and advocate for social justice issues. In addition, I received training to teach comprehensive sexuality education to people aged 4-90+, with most of my experience working with the younger age groups.

I began designing jewelry in 2011 for fun and to earn an income. My favorite part was using the lost wax method to cast silver and gold jewelry. Circles and Stones was the name of my business. I designed and sold jewelry at the local markets until 2016.

In 2017, I was ready to return to my original therapy profession. I worked with children, adolescents, and young adults at Cornerstone Counseling Center, Volunteers of America. At Cornerstone Counseling Center, I learned how substance abuse and trauma intersect.

In 2017, I started feeling anxiety symptoms that I had never had before. I was using all of my coping strategies, but they were ineffective. I was introduced to mental health nutrition at a workshop at my yoga studio in 2017. I began implementing the information I gained about blood sugar and targeted amino acid therapy in my own life and was amazed at the quick results! These techniques were so compelling that I received additional training from The Alliance for Addiction Solutions and became a Level 2 Certified Recovery Nutrition Coach in 2019.

I was certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in 2020. PCIT is the gold standard in family therapy for young children and focuses on attachment. I loved using this technique with families and am grateful that Cornerstone Counseling Center helped me with this certification. I am no longer certified in PCIT because I no longer work with young children.

I was trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and certified in 2021. Since then, I have completed additional EMDR training and found Sandar Poulsen’s early childhood trauma protocol invaluable.

I completed Vital in 2024, a 12-month psychedelic-assisted therapy program, to help my clients integrate psychedelic or non-ordinary experiences. I feel strongly that these medicines and experiences can be helpful when treated with the reverence they deserve.

I am currently in IFS training and love how accessible this modality is for most clients. When used with nutrition, EMDR, and non-ordinary experiences, clients feel the shifts in their experiences. Therapy is hard work, and it is satisfying when folks see the changes in their lives.

The modalities I’ve mentioned all tap into your inner healer. I’ll be your helper, but you will be doing the work. Accessing your inner healer, showing up more authentically, and relying on your internal wisdom is empowering.

I am happy to be in this phase of my life. I love my profession and the specialties I have chosen. I invite you to join me, and I look forward to working with you!