About Us

Cindy
Dr. Cindy Wasek

Dr. Cindy Wasek leads our team of mental health practitioners, using the principles of integrative medicine to provide healing and wellness to people of all ages. Integrative medicine utilizes conventional as well as alternative therapies and treatments.

With her whole heart, Cindy believes in integrative health care that is patient-centered and fundamentally driven by health promotion and prevention strategies to achieve wellness.

Cindy has earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) since 1997.

Integrative Medicine at The Lotus Center logo

The Lotus Center Mission

At The Lotus Center for Healing and Wellness, our mission is to improve mental health and wellness through an integrative and holistic approach that fosters healing and wellness in mind, body, and spirit. Our goal is not just to alleviate suffering but to empower our clients with diverse pathways toward growth. We accomplish this by bringing together a team of behavioral health experts in one place guided by the principles of collaboration, excellence, innovation, accessibility, and advocacy, to work with and on behalf of our clients.

Collaboration

We believe in the power of collaboration among team members and clients. Our team of skilled practitioners, including APRNs, mental health therapists, a clinical chaplain, a case manager, a massage therapist, and meditation and yoga professionals, provides comprehensive, compassionate care in one welcoming and accessible place. Our team is dedicated to working together with our clients to ensure individualized care tailored to each person’s unique needs.

Excellence

We strive to maintain an extremely high standard of excellence in care, using only evidence-based treatments with careful and consistent monitoring of effectiveness. Our approach is grounded in good science, driven by inquiry, and open to new paradigms, ensuring our treatments are both innovative and evidence-based.

Innovation

Innovation is at the core of our practice. We adopt cutting-edge treatment modalities that are backed by solid research to provide our clients with the most advanced quality of care. Most recently, we have added a Ketamine Therapy program based on the evidence of its impressive effectiveness in treating depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges. Our Ketamine Therapy program includes careful and intentional preparation and follow-up integration with a specially trained psychotherapist, which is quickly becoming a gold standard of care for this type of treatment.

Accessibility

We are committed to accessibility in mental health care. We strive to make our comprehensive range of treatments for mind, body, and spirit, including medication management, psychotherapy, support groups, spiritual care, guided meditation, grief support, vitamin infusion therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, massage, yoga, cannabis therapy, and Ketamine therapy, accessible to those in need. We do this by providing all of these services in one location, and we bill many insurance companies for eligible treatments to help our clients manage costs.

Advocacy

Advocacy is integral to our mission. Beyond treating illness, we emphasize the broader concepts of health promotion and illness prevention, aiming to enhance overall well-being. We are dedicated to building community, enhancing collective expertise, and advocating for our clients to ensure every individual has access to holistic, compassionate, and effective care and the resources they need.

 

Through these guiding principles, The Lotus Center for Healing and Wellness strives to provide a nurturing environment where clients can achieve holistic well-being, empowered by collaborative, compassionate, and innovative care.

 

Integrative Medicine at The Lotus Center logo

The Lotus Philosophy

The following principles are part of The Lotus Center's guiding philosophy:

1.

Patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process, fostering a collaborative and empowering environment for our clients.

2.

We take into account all factors that influence health, wellness, and disease—including mind, spirit, community, and body—ensuring a comprehensive approach to care.

3.

We strive to maintain an extremely high standard of care using only evidence-based treatments with careful and consistent monitoring of effectiveness.

4.

Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.

5.

We neither reject conventional medicine nor accept alternative therapies uncritically, striving to find the best combination of treatments for each individual.

6.

Our approach is grounded in good science, driven by inquiry, and open to new paradigms, ensuring our treatments are both innovative and evidence-based.

7.

We attempt to make our innovative and highly effective therapies available in one place and accessible to all of our clients, ensuring accessible and equitable care for all.

8.

Beyond treating illness, we emphasize the broader concepts of health promotion and illness prevention, aiming to enhance overall well-being.

Andrew Weil on Integrative Medicine

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Meet Our Team

9a
Dr. Cindy Wasek
DNP, APRN
cindy@lotusslc.org

Bio

Cindy has earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) since 1997.

Dr. Wasek is specialized as an Integrative Mental Health Practitioner, using holistic methods to provide healing and wellness to people of all ages utilizing traditional as well as alternative treatment modalities.

All clients receive an evaluation and recommendations based upon all aspects of their health that contribute to wellness; including physical, mental, environmental, and spiritual realms.

With her whole heart, Cindy believes in integrative health care that is patient-centered and fundamentally driven by health promotion and prevention strategies to achieve wellness.

She's a mom to four great kids, many creatures, and she loves to teach and practice yoga, cook and travel with the people she loves. Also . . . she has the best laugh on the planet.

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Peggy Jerome
APRN
peggy@lotusslc.org

Bio

Peggy is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), providing Psychiatric Medication Management services at The Lotus Center.

Peggy has been involved with nursing for the past 24 years, 19 of those years as an APRN and all of her nursing career has been in the field of psychiatry. She began her career as an inpatient nurse at the University Psychiatric Hospital child and adolescent units where she discovered her love of the child and adolescent population.

Her career has moved her into a variety of communities throughout the State of Utah including managing adolescents and children through the Utah Juvenile Justice System and Foster care community where she enjoys helping children in these populations to discover their potential and value to be able to move forward and become successful people.

Peggy’s treatment approach is to treat the whole child and provide the patient’s family with the tools needed to best meet their child’s needs. Peggy values taking a team approach with the whole treatment team at the patient’s disposal to assist in meeting the child’s goals.

Peggy feels fortunate to be a mother to three wonderful boys who keep her and his supportive husband running in every direction, from one sport to the other. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Randi
Randi Hollis
APRN, FNP, PMHNP
Randi@lotusslc.org

Bio

Randi Hollis is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

She completed her bachelors and Master of Science in nursing at Graceland University in Independence Missouri, and Psychiatric Specialty at the University of Cincinnati.

Randi has experience with all ages and has experience both inpatient and as an outpatient provider. Randi takes a team approach to patient care and is open to alternative therapies as well as traditional medicines.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, and her mini farm.

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Sarah Kaihau
Sarah Kaihau
FNP
sarah@lotusslc.org

Bio

Sarah earned her Nurse Practitioner Degree in 2017 from Simmons University in Boston Massachusetts. She is a board certified Family Nurse practitioner with experience in psychiatry.

She earned her Registered Nurse Degree from Weber State University and has experience in pediatrics and neonatology.

Sarah specializes in treatment for all ages. She has been working in outpatient Community Mental Health since 2017. Sarah uses a team approach to her treatment of mental health and really feels that treatment needs to include the mind, the body and the spirit. She treats mental health using traditional and alternative methods.

In her free time she loves to spend time with her husband and family. She loves to sing any time she can and loves to laugh and quote movies. 

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Josh Watkins
LCSW/Clinical Director and Therapist
josh@lotusslc.org

Bio

Josh graduated from the University of Utah in 2011 with his Master of Social Work degree and has been working in a clinical role ever since.

He had the unique opportunity to receive one-on-one intensive mentorship with a Behavioral Tech advanced trained and Certified therapist in the Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy model from 2011-2016.

The ability to balance acceptance and change, validate that our behaviors make sense given our history and current circumstances, and identify more effective behaviors to meet our value based goals is the corner stone of his therapeutic style.

He consistently works to ensure he has a healthy, equal, and transparent relationship with his clients.

Over the period of his career, he has received extensive training in treating addiction, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.

He has worked with Veterans for the last 8 years and has assisted our former service members to cope with combat and non-combat related trauma.

Over the period of his career he has also been provided the privilege to work extensively with individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community.

He loves the landscape of Utah and regularly escapes with his family and friends to the solace of the outdoors.

He looks forward to learning about your interests or potentially exploring new ways to enjoy life. He believes that we are on this amazing ride together, even if it feels like we are at times doing it alone. He hopes to make you feel more supported and empowered to move through both the good and hard times we all must face.

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Shawn Hazen
LCSW/Therapist
shawn@lotusslc.org

Bio

Shawn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working with children, adolescents, and adults supporting a variety of behavioral health needs including depression, trauma, attachment disorders, addiction, and sexual abuse.

Shawn’s clinical practice is a client-centered approach to therapy, drawn from a deeply compassionate space. He draws from a unique combination of education and hands-on experience, and he enjoys collaborating with clients using a holistic approach that fosters health and wellness.

Shawn is deeply committed to a therapeutic approach that builds on the values and strengths of the individual as they work to achieve meaningful change.

He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Utah.

Shawn has worked with non-profit agencies, leading psychiatric treatment facilities and private counseling centers to provide progressive mental health and addiction treatment.

Shawn is passionate about his family, the desert, and finding the perfect song for each moment, which is why we lovingly named him the DJ of the Lotus Center.

So, if you have any suggestions for jams in our waiting room, DJ Shawn is the person you want to talk to.

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Aubree Payne
LCSW/Therapist
aubree@lotusslc.org

Bio

Aubree Payne, LCSW, has worked at the Lotus Center in a number of capacities. While working on her Master's in Social Work at the University of Utah, Aubree was an Intern at Lotus and then worked part time as an Administrative Assistant supporting our clients with scheduling and billing.

She completed her undergrad in Psychology at Utah State University and graduated from the University of Utah College of Social Work with her MSW in 2018.

Currently Aubree is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to support individuals who have suffered from traumatic experiences.

Aubree loves seeing the resiliency that each client possesses as they work through their own unique challenges.

In her free time Aubree is usually playing with her two dogs, Benji and Jax. She also enjoys the outdoors, reading, and practicing mindfulness.

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Charlie
Charlie Johnson
LCSW/Therapist
charlie@lotusslc.org

Bio

As a therapist, Charlie specializes in serving children, adolescents and their families who are dealing with sexual and physical trauma, substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, delinquency, ADHD and other related behavioral health issues.  

Charlie is also a trained NOJOS affiliate provider.  He offers individual, group and family therapy and draws from his extensive experience as a social worker in the public sector where he worked with Juvenile Courts and Juvenile Justice Services.  

Charlie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Weber State University, and later a Master degree in Forensic Social Work from the University of Utah. 

We feel especially fortunate to have Charlie on our team because he is truly one of the very kindest, most hard working people on the planet, and also--he's a pretty funny guy.

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4a
Amy Feller
CMHC/Therapist
amy@lotusslc.org

Bio

Amy is an energetic and compassionate psychotherapist who takes a holistic approach to therapy.

She has experience working with individuals, couples, children, and families with a variety of issues and in numerous settings. She specializes in working with substance use disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, behavioral issues and enjoys utilizing play therapy to work with children.

Amy is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has successfully provided this treatment to many clients.

Amy graduated with her Bachelor's degree in 2012 from the University of Phoenix and her Masters Degree in 2014 from the University of Phoenix.

In her free time Amy loves to spend time with family and her Labradoodle, Lilly. She loves physical fitness, hiking and being in nature. Amy believes connecting to oneself through fitness is an important component to improving well-being.

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Kellie Terrell
Kellie Terrell
CMHC/Therapist
kellie@lotusslc.org

Bio

Kellie received her bachelor’s degree at Westminster College and her Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University in Minnesota. 

She has 19 years of experience working with individuals who have autism and specializes in working with kids.  She uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and uses a person-centered approach  to assist clients with being able to see themselves more clearly and to be able to stay in touch with their true self. 

In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family, read, and do crafts, and she loves the outdoors and going camping. 

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Rachel Littauer
CSW/Therapist
rachel@lotusslc.org

Bio

Rachel completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Pepperdine University in 2017 and graduated with her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2024.

Rachel believes that everyone is an expert in their own journey and prioritizes a client-centered  and holistic approach to healing. She works with her clients to integrate their mind, body, relationships, and environment to come up with a plan for healing that captures the whole picture. She believes that therapy is an incredibly powerful tool for healing and is excited and honored to be your guide in this journey.

Rachel has experience working with individuals experiencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and Autism. She is passionate about working with individuals of all ages and identities and is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all people.

In her spare time she loves rock climbing, hiking with her enormous dog, Juniper, reading good fiction, and spending time with her family and close friends.

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Gina Searle
CMHC/KAP Therapist
gina@lotusslc.org

Bio

Gina Searle is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) who is passionate about supporting others on their journey toward greater wellbeing. Gina wholeheartedly believes the therapeutic relationship to be a collaborative process that co-creates an environment of trust and safety and enables her clients to access their own inner wisdom.

Gina works part time at The Lotus Center as a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapist. She has had extensive training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, having completed the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) training in MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy and the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training with Polaris Insight Center. Over the last few years, Gina has collaborated with other clinics in the Salt Lake Valley to provide quality KAP services to clients.

She has been in private practice since 2003, primarily working with adults and couples. She is a Certified Sex Therapist (CST), a Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist (CGT) and a Certified Integrative Body Psychotherapist (IBP). You can find out more about Gina’s work at  www.ginasearle.com

As a transplant to Utah from Indiana, Gina takes every opportunity to be out in the desert and mountains. Spending time in nature--camping, hiking, biking, or relaxing is where she feels most at home. She enjoys reading, engaging in movement practices and exercise, and spending time with her family. Most recently she is learning to wake surf, and despite the cold water, she loves it!

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Blakely May
ACMHC/Therapist
blakely@lotusslc.org

Bio

Blakely is passionate about learning new therapeutic modalities and applying evidence-based methods to support her clients to be effective in their daily lives. She is also dedicated to providing compassionate and empathetic care to enhance the well-being of her clients.

Blakely has experience working in both Neurodevelopment and Behavioral Health. Prior to her work at The Lotus Center, she worked as a victim’s advocate with the Rape Recovery Center of Utah. She is certified in UCASA Training for Rape Crisis Advocacy as a Sexual Assault Counselor.

She completed her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adams State University, and she completed her undergraduate work at the University of Utah with two Bachelor of Science Degrees; one in Psychology and one in Criminology. 

In her free time, Blakely enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and dogs, and indulging in self-care.

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Jude Higgins
Jude Higgins, PhD
Psychedelic Clinical Chaplain, Death Doula
jude@lotusslc.org

Bio

Jude’s training in clinical chaplaincy began during her residency at Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo, California in 2020. Her clinical residency was rooted in neuro-psychoanalytic psychotherapy and incorporated the work of Mark Solms and Jaak Panksep. She served as the palliative care chaplain while working at Kaiser. Currently, she works in Salt Lake City at Primary Children’s Hospital as part of their spiritual care team. She is also a volunteer and bereavement coordinator at Quality Home Health and Hospice.

Jude holds a Ph.D. in education and has worked as a tenured anthropology professor for a number of years before dedicating herself to end of life work and spiritual care. Her personal spiritual practice includes various aspects of shamanism, and she has worked with Peruvian and Celtic shamans during her studies of plant medicine.

With regard to psychedelic work, she is well versed in traditional induction in the form of shamanic journey work, which she has been doing for the past 20 years. She focuses specifically on integration not only for her clients, but for herself as well. She is working toward certification as a psychedelic assisted therapist at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

She has also been working as an End-of-Life Doula and training others in this sacred work for the past six years. Often, when she works in the area of death, dying, and grief, she combines formal death doula, and chaplaincy training with her shamanic practice. See more of her work in this area at: http://mydeathdoula.com

Her personal spiritual practice involves an interesting mix of many traditions (her O’Higgins family extending far back to the druid poets of Ireland and her powerful Mestizo family from New Mexico), and she often calls on her ancestral lineages for guidance. 

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Derrein Wynn
Certified Case Manager
derrein@lotusslc.org

Bio

Derrein envisions building a case management program that can benefit those in need. He wants to grow, make a difference in the lives of others, and learn more about the inner workings of the healthcare field. He has 10 years of social service experience and is currently pursuing a career in healthcare administration through Western Governors University.

He specializes in autism services, behavioral health, substance abuse, and housing intervention.

He enjoys working out, learning new things, and traveling.

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shar
Shari Ferreira
Medical Assistant
shar@lotusslc.org

Bio

Shar is a Medical assistant with over 11 years of experience working in various specialties. She was inspired to join the medical field after caring for her mother with heart failure. One of her favorite specialties has become psychiatry with the changing times and the world we live in. She felt caring for others and just being kind was the greatest way to be that change in life we strive to be for others who need it. She believes that when you share kindness, it's returned tenfold. Some things she enjoys outside of work are her children, grandchildren, family, friends, and her schnauzers. Her hobbies include true crime podcasts, road trips, games, and people watching.

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10a
Tina Flattery
Business Manager - LMT
tina@lotusslc.org

Bio

Before coming to the Lotus Center, Tina worked in healthcare staffing for 10 years.

During that time placing physicians and advanced practice providers domestically and internationally. Bringing her experience working with providers and supporting a medical practice to The Lotus Center feels like the culmination of experience and intention.

Tina is also a Licensed Massage Therapist with a practice here in The Lotus Center. She specialized in restorative and recovery massage as well as offering Thai Massage.

You can schedule direct with her by calling or texting 801-949-5310.

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3a
Lindi Schooley
Administrative Assistant, Phlebotomist
lindi@lotusslc.org

Bio

We asked Lindi to help us write her bio and the first thing she said was: “I absolutely love life”.

As an empowerment coach and a member of the Lotus support team, Lindi draws from a personal trauma from a few years ago when she was injured in a fire while camping. Through this experience, Lindi tells us she has dedicated her life to healing myself both physically and emotionally, a path that promotes her passion for assisting others in their pursuit of healing.

Lindi is deeply dedicated to working in service to others and we are so fortunate to have her on our team.

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Janette
Janette "Jae" White
Medical Assistant
Janette@lotusslc.org

Bio

Janette "Jae" has been working in the medical field for the past 30 years. She started out as Medical Receptionist and then went on to get her EMT and CNA licenses. Now as a Medical Assistant, she loves working in the medical field and derives much joy and happiness from helping people. 

She has a great love for music and believes that it can be very healing and good for the soul. She loves traveling and exploring new places and hopes that one day she will get to see all of the beautiful places on her bucket list.

She loves spending time with her family and friends camping, fishing, and just hanging out together being silly.

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Julie Bush
Administrative Assistant
julie@lotusslc.org

Bio

Julie has been a long time advocate for people with disabilities, mental health, yoga, family, and community. (She even bought the house she grew up in.) She is the former executive director of Yoga Forward and loves helping people find a more happy peaceful life through yoga and meditation.

She enjoys spending time with family, music of all genres, sparkly things, and babies. She has a passion for helping people to see their worth and believes kindness through example has a ripple effect beyond measure.

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Dawn Malouf
Administrative Assistant
dawn@lotusslc.org

Bio

Dawn was born in Minnesota but grew up in Salt Lake City. She attended parochial school starting in first grade all the way through high school. (She is still afraid of Sister Eileene.) She graduated from The University of Puget Sound in 1992 with a Bachelor's degree in business.

Dawn has spent the last 23 years as a stay at home mom raising her 3 amazing children, which include twins. She and her husband spent many years helping with homework and attending various sporting events.

In her free time she loves attending the University of Utah gymnastics meets.

Dawn is pretty sure that she was displaced at birth and belongs with her people on a sunny warm beach somewhere. Since she isn't on a beach somewhere, she is extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of The Lotus Center Team.

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Buddah
Buddha
Therapy Dog
Not Accepting Emails

Bio

Buddha is a therapy animal in training and he is super happy to come curl up with you during your session, if you ever want his company. He likes long walks, the occasional splash in the creek, and leisurely naps (preferably on a sofa). He's sweet, gentle, a great listener and he never ever shares any secrets.

If you think you might like him to join your session, just let your therapist know. Buddha is around throughout the week and he'd love to see you.

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Join Our Team

The Lotus Center is currently hiring for a Full-Time APRN position!

Learn about this position and apply!
How Can We Help You?

Call Us Today

Your physical and mental health are very important to us.  Do you have questions?  We are here to help.

385-272-4292

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