Michelle Gourley

M. Michelle Gourley, MFT, LCSW, JD

As a licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, and family and juvenile law attorney, Michelle has spent her entire career working to enhance the healing and wellbeing of juveniles, young adults, and their families. Her experience includes working as a therapist in a full continuum of mental health services beginning in Child Protective Services in California, psychiatric social work at the Utah State Hospital, treatment of substance abuse and trauma in a day treatment program, and specialized assessment and treatment for adolescents in residential, correctional, and out-patient settings.

In 1982, Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the pre-professional option of Family Sciences with a Minor in Psychology and Sociology. In 1984, she graduated with two Master’s degrees, one in Social Work and a second in Marriage and Family Therapy. In 1998, Michelle earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah Law School specializing in family and juvenile law. She is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed member of the Utah State Bar Association.

In the mid-1980’s, Michelle was one of the co-founders of Utah NOJOS (Network on Juveniles Offending Sexually) which included development and numerous revisions over the years of the NOJOS Protocols and Standards for Juvenile Sex-Specific Assessment and Treatment (most recent 2024 edition). From 2000 to 2013, Michelle’s out-patient agency, ChoicePoint Therapeutic Services, held the first sole contract with the Utah Third District Juvenile Court to provide psychosexual assessment of juveniles referred for sexual issues. Currently, through her private practice, she continues to provide specialized assessment for juveniles and young adults throughout the United States in both State and Federal jurisdictions. Currently, Michelle is a Clinical Member of ATSA (The Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sex Abuse) Best Practice Committee and co- author of the 2023 Guidelines: Children with Sexual Behavior Problems, 2nd Edition.

In 2002, Michelle co-founded Gateway Academy—a premier residential treatment program and school dedicated to the healthy development and healing of adolescent boys who struggle with anxiety, depression, ASD, and learning differences. During her work as Director of Clinical and Academic Integration at Gateway, Michelle developed the brain-based and mindfulness approach that integrates recent research in neuroscience into both treatment and academic programming.

Michelle has provided professional training and presentations in numerous state and national conferences regarding experiential and in-vivo interventions, adolescent development, healthy sexual development, specialized assessment and treatment of trauma, sexual abuse, and juvenile sexual misconduct and social media and porn literacy. Over the past 20+ years, Michelle has also provided professional training on treatment incorporating neuroscience, mindful awareness, and brain-based approaches. In 2020, she earned certification as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher from Brown University.

Michelle feels like she will never have enough time to explore and experience all of her interests. First and foremost, she loves to spend time with her family and friends. She also loves to be in the outdoors and nature and enjoys cycling, scuba diving, water skiing, camping, hiking and river rafting. She is an avid traveler, loves photography, music, poetry, yoga and meditation. She has an insatiable desire to learn and a passion for real, compassionate connection.