Every Monday through Thursday for the past year, therapist Kennya Casiano-Barriga has divided her time at the Wasatch County Library, Wasatch County Health Department and Wasatch High School to offer free sessions to uninsured or underinsured locals.  Casiano-Barriga is a bilingual therapist wi th nonprofit Holy Cross Ministries. The Roman Catholic organization was founded in 1994 to serve “the poor, underserved and marginalized,” according to its website. Beyond mental health services, Holy Cross Ministries also offers healthcare case management, legal immigration services and an early education program. Casiano-Barriga sees clients older than 5. Though she offers sessions in English, nearly all of her 30 clients speak Spanish as their first language. She said that demonstrates the need for more Spanish-speaking therapists in Wasatch County, especially those serving low-income residents.  “In Summit County, there are a few (bilingual therapists offering free sessions) at the People’s Health Clinic, at Peace House and the Christian Center (of Park City). But there weren’t any directly in Wasatch County,” she said. Many of Casiano-Barriga’s clients are immigrants who grew up in Spanish-speaking countries. Clients often come into sessions to discuss language and cultural barriers, financial struggles or raising kids in a country they did not grow up in. Fear about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s escalated operations nationwide is also a common concern for documented and undocumented clients. “We hear these messages from community members that they just want to be safe, primarily for their kids, because there’s a lot of mixed-status families in the community,” Casiano-Barriga said. She added that some clients are afraid to leave their homes. That’s one reason why Casiano-Barriga also offers virtual sessions. In April, Casiano-Barriga saw a decrease in sessions after ICE agents arrested at least four people in Heber City. Several of the people detained, she said, appeared to be driving to work when ICE agents pulled over and arrested them. That has created anxiety for some clients about ICE agents arresting them when they are in public. Some people are refusing to go to work because of fear, intensifying their financial struggles, Casiano-Barriga said. “A lot of kids want to prioritize making money to help their families,” she added. “Some of them are looking to get jobs … but feeling limitations themselves, either due to their own (citizenship) statuses or their age.” As part of a larger organization, Casiano-Barriga can approach her clients holistically, addressing their questions about healthcare, food or housing assistance by referring them to other services within Holy Cross Ministries. For many clients, Casiano-Barriga is the first therapist they’ve ever seen, either due to financial limitations or a stigma around mental health. Casiano-Barriga, who is a first-generation Mexican American, said that stigma is especially common in “immigrant, Spanish-speaking communities.” “I experienced it myself growing up. ‘Depression isn’t real. You just need to get up, go to work and not even focus on that.’ Growing up, I’ve learned these things are real, and they are impacting us. We just didn’t give them attention before. If you did, you were kind of seen as the crazy one, the weak one,” she said. “It’s about breaking that barrier, getting them comfortable, so that they’re able to learn about why mental health is important.” Casiano-Barriga was raised in Midway. She was involved in Latinos In Action and student government at Wasatch High School. She graduated in 2021. She went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah in 2025. That’s when she learned about Holy Cross Ministries and applied to replace the therapist who was previously working in Wasatch County. As someone who has been on the receiving end of therapy and comes from a low-income, immigrant family, Casiano-Barriga said it is gratifying to serve clients who are in similar situations that she has been in. To schedule sessions with Casiano-Barriga, email [email protected]. Additional therapists and services can be found at hcmutah.org.  Wasatch Immigration Project also offers legal advice and representation for those navigating the immigration system. Learn more at wasatchimmigrationproject.org. The post Therapist offers free sessions to Wasatch County’s Spanish-speaking residents appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less