Janine Baker , LCMHC

Janine Elizabeth Baker is dedicated to supporting adolescents by addressing trauma at its roots before destructive patterns carry into adulthood. Having previously worked in adult corrections, Janine observed that adult treatment often tries to modify a lifetime of damage; at Oxbow Academy, she focuses on early intervention to foster genuine, transformative change in childhood behavior. She believes no one is born with problematic behaviors—they are learned responses to past trauma.

Her clinical approach utilizes trauma-informed assessment and intervention, structural family systems therapy, crisis intervention and de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Patient with non-linear progress and persistent in engaging hard-to-reach families, Janine maintains genuine optimism about every adolescent’s capacity for growth. She works to strengthen family systems, build resilience, and equip young men with the emotional regulation and tools they need to achieve positive developmental outcomes and avoid institutionalization. Her practice is grounded in modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gestalt Therapy, and Jungian therapy.

Janine is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Utah. She holds between 5 and 10 years of experience in mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment, along with nearly 2 years specializing in adolescent care. Janine earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) with a focus on Trauma and Crisis from Walden University.

Janine began her mental health career in 2017 during her internship and practicum at IHC Hospital. She subsequently worked within Utah State Corrections, providing care to the general population before serving for several years in the HOPE program. Her clinical specialties and training cover CBT, DBT, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Motivational Interviewing, CBT for Substance Use (CBT-SU), Seeking Safety, CAMS, Sex Therapy, Equine Therapy (including certification in Eagala), Sylvotherapy, Gestalt, and Jungian approaches. Additionally, she is certified in Sex Therapy and is working toward certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Janine moved to Utah at age 11, where she discovered a deep connection to the outdoors. Outside of her clinical practice, she is an avid equestrian with a lifelong passion for horses, having self-taught herself riding, training, and competitive showing starting at age 13. Having personally experienced how bonding with a horse can navigate life’s challenges, she brings a deep appreciation for animal-assisted connections into her perspective.

Her personal pursuits also include canine training, studying forensic psychology, and outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, and rock hounding—jokingly noting that she sometimes feels she missed her calling as a geologist.