I Graduated!! ...What's Next

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I, Zach Duty, have completed a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Utah. It was a difficult 3 years but we got it done. I'm now practicing as a therapist and working toward licensure. My family and I are living in Cedar City and enjoying every day.

(We didn't have a graduation, so here is a throwback to when I got my associates)

As I watch the days fly by and see my kids growing up I am reminded of how fleeting life can be. I set a goal a few years back after my brother passed away(far left in the photo), to provide free therapy to this in need and now I am capable of doing that. I'm currently working 4 jobs(3 of them are very part time), I work full time doing community outreach for the government, I do a couple of hours a week of therapy groups at a local residential treatment center, I do individual therapy at a private practice, and I'm working with a non profit that subsidizes the cost of therapy. So, although our reach isn't that far just yet, this is a great step towards my goal.

I set the goal to become a therapist and provide free therapy because my brother needed some help and paying for therapy was a barrier to getting that help. He had other barriers, as most people do, but the cost was one of them. If I can help break down a barrier and make it just a little easier for someone to get the help they need, I'm totally willing to do that.

Other barriers may include the stigma around mental health treatment. That is where the non-profit comes in. The Overt Foundation is working towards breaking down that barrier by creating a platform where anyone can share their story and anyone can read the stories of others.

Check out    https://overtfoundation.org/share/ to share your story, or https://overtfoundation.org/stories/ if you want to read the stories of others.


We are all human and capable of making mistakes and experiencing challenges. Everyone has struggled and everyone has a story. Share it.