River Oak Counseling
Meet Our Therapists
Diana Ballard, LCSW
Therapist and Owner
Hi, I'm Diana Ballard, LCSW, mental health therapist. I'm glad that you're here considering therapy, it's such a brave and empowering step! You don’t have to keep managing life's challenges on your own. If anxiety, depression, trauma, or ongoing stress have left you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in patterns that are hard to break, therapy can offer a path forward. I am committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a warm and supportive space where clients can feel safe, understood, and empowered.
Together, we’ll explore the experiences and thought patterns that may be keeping you stuck, while building practical tools to help you feel calmer, think more clearly, and move through life with greater confidence. I believe that healing happens through connection, insight, and steady progress. I would be honored to support you as you take the next step toward hope, balance, and lasting change.
Diana's background: Diana has worked in the mental health and social work field for over 20 years across different mental health settings. Diana has worked as a mental health therapist, counseling individuals, couples, and families in private practice settings, for the past 11 years. She has extensive experience working with adults, teens, and children in therapeutic settings. Some of Diana's training includes: trauma informed therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy, internal family systems (IFS), solution-focused therapy, sand tray therapy, art therapy, play-therapy, teaching family model (TFM) parenting skills, Gottman relationship techniques (level 1 and level 2 certified). Diana continues to participate in continuing education classes and trainings in the mental health field, to ensure that her clinical skills remain effective and relevant.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
License Number: 9490518-3501
Master of Social Work (MSW) - University of Utah
Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Utah State University
Tamaira Shinnick, CSW
Therapist
Hi, I’m Tamaira.
Sometimes life makes sense. Other times, it gets hard in ways that are tough to put into words.
Maybe you’ve been feeling heavier lately and can’t quite explain why. Maybe you’re a teen that is feeling lonely, especially when it feels like no one really gets what you’re going through. Whatever life has put in front of you, I offer a judgment-free space and an empathetic ear to work through it. I draw on evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, IFS, and EMDR, along with creative options like Clay Art Therapy and Expressive Arts for when words aren’t enough.
Whether you’re a teen, a parent, or an adult carrying something heavy, my approach is the same. We go at your pace. Nothing about you is too much, and no question is too small. We’ll find what helps and leave behind what doesn’t.
Tamaira’s background: Tamaira has worked across the mental health and social work field for 15 years, working with children, teens, and adults. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Utah State University and a Master’s from the University of New England, and is a Certified Social Worker (CSW). Her training includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), person-centered approaches, and clay art therapy.
Certified Social Worker (CSW)
License Number: 14286067-3502
Master of Social Work (MSW) - University of New England
Bachelor of Social Work - Utah State University
Sage Neptune, CSW
Therapist
Sage is a Certified Social Worker (CSW) with a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Sage has worked in the mental health field for over 5 years across different settings, empowering individuals and families to manage life’s difficulties, develop healthy coping skills, and foster positive change. She provides therapy to adults, children, and teens, supporting clients through a wide range of life challenges.
Sage uses a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Strength-Based and Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She specializes in supporting clients of all ages through anxiety, depression, grief and trauma, with particular experience helping children and teens manage difficult emotions.
Sage is committed to ongoing professional development to ensure clinical skills remain current and effective. She believes in a collaborative approach to therapy, helping her clients build confidence, develop practical skills, and navigate life challenges.
Outside of the therapy office, Sage enjoys spending time with family, exploring nature, watching movies, staying active with sports and playing the piano.
Certified Social Worker (CSW)
License Number: 13768637-3502
Master of Social Work (MSW) - University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Social Work - Utah Valley University
COMPASSION - HOPE - HEALING
Our mission at River Oak Counseling is to provide compassion, hope, and healing in a safe and supportive environment.
At River Oak Counseling, we understand how exhausting it can feel to live with anxiety, depression, relationship stress, trauma, or the sense that life has become overwhelming. You may feel stuck in painful patterns, disconnected from yourself or others, and unsure how to move forward. Our therapists work with individuals, couples, and families to help you feel seen, heard, and valued while building the tools to heal, restore confidence, improve relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.
