Burton "Burt" Swaim

Burton "Burt" Swaim is a licensed clinical social worker with five decades of experience helping people manage anger, stress, and life changes. He listens without judgment and works with clients to set clear, achievable goals. Burt focuses on practical steps that increase confidence and improve daily functioning.

Burt uses straightforward conversation to identify patterns that get in the way. He encourages active participation so each person shapes their own plan for change. Sessions often include looking at thoughts, behaviors, and choices that affect mood and relationships.

He has a long history of supporting people through addiction and recovery, including work on alcohol and drug problems. That background informs how he addresses process addictions and compulsive behaviors. Burt also helps people cope with grief, trauma, and intimacy-related concerns.

Burt describes his approach as collaborative and practical. He helps clients set timelines and measurable steps toward their goals. Building motivation and self-esteem is part of the work, along with learning skills to manage anxiety and depression.

Outside therapy he has contributed to documentary films and publications on recovery and addiction. Those projects reflect a long-term commitment to removing stigma and increasing access to treatment. He brings that experience to therapeutic conversations in Utah and elsewhere within his licensure limits.

How his approaches shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful space where the client's experience guides the conversation. It helps people feel heard and build their own solutions rather than being told what to do.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, anger, and depressive symptoms.

Existential Therapy invites people to consider meaning, choice, and responsibility in their lives. This approach can help when someone is facing big life changes, grief, or questions about purpose.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and then recommend ways of working together. That decision is collaborative and can change as needs evolve.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, shorten check-ins when needed, and allow people to join from different locations without commuting. Licensed professionals can use the same therapeutic techniques online as in person, adapting exercises and homework to fit everyday life.