Hello!
My name is Christian Snuffer, and I am a Youth Mentor in the Salt Lake Valley area. I was born and raised in Sandy, Utah, and I will forever be grateful to call the Wasatch Front my home. I have been all over the country, pursuing my passion for behavioral health, and I am excited to offer these passions in the form of mentorship. I am a very outdoorsy person; I love hiking, climbing, biking, exercising, and just moving my body in general. I am working my way through graduate school and biding time until I can open my own private practice as a mental health counselor. But that is still a year or two out, so right now, I am focusing on mentoring young men who need the support.
I choose to focus on working with adolescent boys because that is where my strengths of connection and patience lie. I can be very helpful in a focused and limited time. And I think adolescents are pretty cool and interesting these days.
Credentials:
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BA - Psychology from the University of Utah
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MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Prescott College (In Progress)
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Wilderness First Responder - Wilderness Medicine of Utah
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40-Hour Crisis Response Training - Rape Recovery Center
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Crisis Prevention Institute Certified
Experience:
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I have 6 years and over 10,000 hours of behavioral health experience
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I have worked for wilderness therapy programs in Hawaii & Alaska
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I have worked for a residential treatment program in Utah
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I am studying behavioral health, and I continue to fine-tune my experiential knowledge with book learning
Areas of Focus:
Some of the topics I have recently addressed with clients include:
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Struggles with the recent school closures and managing online school
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Recent transitions from therapeutic programs
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Additional need for more structure and routine
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Struggle to set and maintain goals
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Guidance from someone other than immediate caregivers.
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Guiding the process of gaining employment
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Navigating healthy relationships with friends and family
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Instilling discipline, focus, and motivation
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Role modeling appropriate masculinity
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Developing social and communication skills
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Developing self-confidence
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Providing honest feedback for areas of improvement
Other Relevant Info
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I grew up LDS, and I am very familiar with the values, beliefs, and practices. If there is a religious dynamic affecting the relationship with your son, I am confident I can address it.
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I am one of 9 kids. I have 2 older brothers, 2 older sisters, & 4 younger sisters! I have seen and experienced every family dynamic possible. I know what it's like to be a younger brother, an older brother, a middle child, an uncle, and a son. If your son needs to navigate any of these roles, I am confident I can help.
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I have planned and led countless outdoor expeditions: climbing, hiking, biking, camping, etc. If you want to facilitate an experience like this for your son, I can make it happen.
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While I love being outside, I also like to cuddle up and read. I am a huge fantasy nerd, I watch anime, and I often dream of being a wizard!