Room to grow,
heal, and thrive.
Therapy is about more than fixing problems. It is about making space to breathe, to understand yourself, and to move forward. I’m Kem McIntosh Lee, and River & Root is my practice for individuals and couples in Salt Lake City.
A free 15-minute call to see if we are a good fit. In person in downtown Salt Lake City, or online.
One therapist, fully present
Not a clinic of interchangeable counselors. A small practice, so you receive the attention you deserve.
Mindfulness that is lived
A 500-hour yoga background and years of practice, brought into the room.
Rooted in Salt Lake City
In person downtown and online by secure video, grounded in this place.
Three ways we might work together
A small, focused practice. Whatever brings you in, the work is shaped around you, not a program you have to fit into.
Steady, human, and built around you
No jargon and no pressure. Here is what you can count on in the room.
A river and a root
The name is how I think about healing. There is a current in all of us that wants to move toward health. Sometimes a fallen log blocks the flow, and the work is gently clearing the way. The root is what grounds you, the things that hold when life moves fast. Therapy tends to both.
The whole person, not the symptom
I treat you as a whole person, not a checklist of symptoms. The work blends talk therapy, mindfulness, and practical self-care so that change takes root in everyday life, not only in the session.
Grounded, compassionate, collaborative
My approach is steady and warm, focused on helping you move toward the life you actually want. You set the direction and I walk alongside you. No jargon, no pressure, just human attention.
Evidence-informed, used with care
I draw on approaches with real clinical grounding that many clients find help them build resilience and regain balance. They are practical tools, chosen for your situation, not a one-size-fits-all program.
Confidential and safe
Your privacy is protected. What you share in session, and the information you trust me with, stays confidential. Feeling safe is the starting point for everything else.
LCSW
Hi, I’m Kem McIntosh Lee.
I'm Kem, the therapist behind River & Root. I work with adults and couples carrying the quiet stuff — the anxiety, the resentment that hardened over years, the sense that something needs to change. The work is warm, unhurried, and entirely yours.
Being a small practice means real attention, a lot of listening, and tools you can actually use between sessions. There is more on how I got here, and how I work, if you would like to read it.
Starting is the hardest part. Here is how it goes.
No mystery and no commitment to begin. Every step is low-pressure, and you set the pace from the first call.
- 01
Reach out
Send a note through the contact form or pick up the phone. Tell me a little about what is bringing you in. There is no wrong way to start.
- 02
A free 15-minute call
We talk briefly, with no pressure. You ask anything you want, I answer honestly, and we both get a feel for whether I am the right fit for you.
- 03
Your first session
We slow down and get the whole picture: your history, what is weighing on you, and what you are hoping changes. You share only what you are ready to.
- 04
Steady, ongoing work
Together we shape a rhythm that fits your life and keep showing up, adjusting as you grow. Real change is cumulative, and the skills stay with you.
A small practice, on purpose
There are a lot of good therapists in Salt Lake City. Here is what makes this one different.
One therapist, fully present
River & Root is not a clinic of interchangeable counselors. It is me. I keep the practice small on purpose, so you get focused, consistent attention from the same person every week, who genuinely knows you.
Mindfulness that is lived, not bolted on
I bring a deep mindfulness background into the room, including a 500-hour yoga teaching certificate and years of personal practice. The stress-relief work is not a generic add-on. It comes from someone who actually lives it.
Real perspective on partnership
My couples work is informed by decades of my own marriage. I know how easily two people stop hearing each other, and how the way back is usually slower and kinder than you would expect. It makes the room feel less clinical and more human.
Rooted in Utah
This is a Salt Lake City practice, grounded in this place: the Wasatch, the Jordan River, the high-desert roots that hold through drought. The river-and-root idea is not stock nature imagery. It is the actual frame for the work.
Honest and transparent
No inflated promises and no guaranteed results. I am clear about who I am, how I work, and what to expect, including plain-language fees and a Good Faith Estimate, so there are no surprises.
“Empowering Your Mind, Elevating Your Life.”
The things people usually want to know
Ready when you are.
Reaching out is the first, hardest step. The next one is just a 15-minute call. No pressure, no commitment, and no cost.
In crisis? Call or text 988 any time, or call 911. This site is not monitored 24/7.