Dr. Manuel Evangelista

Dr. Manuel Evangelista helps people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or burned out find steadier ground. He meets adults who are managing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship strain, substance concerns, mood differences, and life transitions. He writes plainly and meets people where they are. Dr. Evangelista is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, with 21 years of practice in Utah. He combines social, biological, and psychological perspectives in his work. His approach draws on mindfulness and contemplative practices alongside more familiar talking therapies. In sessions he focuses on acceptance, making meaning, and building tolerance for hard feelings rather than trying only to erase them. He uses methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and narrative approaches depending on what fits the person. He describes his style as informed by eastern healing traditions and western neuroscience. That means attention to breath, awareness, and how thoughts and behaviors affect daily life. He also collaborates with prescribers when medication is part of care, and can coordinate around that when helpful. He brings personal experience with trauma and a long history of clinical work and advocacy to his practice. People who want a thoughtful, mindfulness-informed path toward better balance in emotional, physical, and spiritual areas may find his way of working useful.

How his approaches translate to online work

Online sessions can use mindfulness-based practices alongside evidence-informed therapies. Mindfulness Therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and simple body and breath practices to reduce reactivity and improve attention; it can help with stress, anxiety, and sleep problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes values-guided action and accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while building practical steps toward a meaningful life. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person in the room, using empathic listening and reflection to help people feel heard and understood.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will work together with each person to choose what fits their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative planning makes it easier to adapt practices like mindfulness or behavioral skills to a person's daily routine.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find they can practice mindfulness and skill-building exercises between sessions in their usual environment, which helps learning carry over into everyday life.