Aaron Johnson, LCSW

“Aaron was quickly able to navigate the challenges of connecting with a 17 year old. He was able to inspire and lead our son through the life changing decisions and corrective actions that helped move him forward into young adulthood. Aaron was also very quick to develop therapeutic relationships with myself & husband in order to direct our attention to making the positive changes necessary within ourselves to best reconnect our family.” – Parent

When it comes to commitment, Aaron is all in for teens and their families. His career has been defined by a deep and unwavering dedication to helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult paths—and guiding young people toward lasting change.

Aaron holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Portland State University, with an emphasis in narrative therapy. This foundation shapes his belief that every student’s story can be reauthored—moving from struggle and limitation to purpose, resilience, and hope. His clinical work consistently reflects this philosophy, and it shows in the meaningful, lasting outcomes his students achieve.

Aaron specializes in working with adolescents and young adults and has extensive experience helping youth navigate a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. His areas of expertise include autism spectrum differences, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, process addictions, and complex family dynamics. He is passionate about helping young people discover their strengths, develop resilience, and create lives marked by purpose, connection, and personal responsibility.

He also has advanced training in supporting individuals with executive functioning challenges and slower processing speeds. Aaron works closely with students who struggle with organization, planning, emotional regulation, attention, cognitive flexibility, and information processing. His experience working with neurodiverse youth allows him to tailor treatment to each individual’s strengths and needs while helping them develop practical skills that increase confidence, independence, and success in daily life.

Aaron has a rare ability to form genuine, enduring connections. His approachable, kind demeanor quickly establishes trust, while his authenticity and care foster deep, often life-long relationships with the families he serves. For Aaron, the work doesn’t end at discharge—his impact continues as students carry forward the confidence and insight they’ve gained.

His professional journey began working with the state of Utah in residential treatment settings, where he focused on child safety and strengthening family systems. He later expanded his expertise through therapeutic wilderness work, supporting teens struggling with sexual behavior challenges. These experiences shaped his primary areas of focus, including adoption-related family dynamics, process addictions such as pornography, video gaming, and gambling, as well as broader mental health and behavioral concerns affecting adolescents and young adults.

At his core, Aaron is a fierce advocate for young people. He believes deeply in each student’s capacity to succeed, to find real answers, and to build a meaningful life—and he works tirelessly to help them get there. Whether helping a young person navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use concerns, autism spectrum-related challenges, executive functioning difficulties, or family relationship struggles, Aaron brings compassion, expertise, and an unwavering belief in the possibility of change.

Through strong relationships, evidence-based treatment, and a deep respect for each individual’s story, Aaron helps students and families move beyond obstacles and toward lasting growth, healing, and hope.