Leon H. Butler, PHD

Leon Butler, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at Intermountain Health's Primary Children's Behavioral Health in Taylorsville, Utah. He has spent his career helping people find insight and make lasting, healthy change. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and completed his doctorate at Auburn University in 2010, where his work focused on impulse control and substance-related education. He is the author of multiple journal articles and a co-author of a book chapter.

Dr. Butler brings a wide range of experience to his practice, having worked in community mental health, at Hill Air Force Base, and in corrections, and he built the behavioral health department at a previous clinic before moving into the hospital setting. He provides therapy for individuals, couples, and groups, primarily working with adults but also seeing patients as young as 14. He has helped patients navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship concerns, substance use, impulse control, and psychosis.

His care is grounded in a cognitive behavioral model, and he is trained in CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), and exposure-based trauma therapy. For couples, he uses the Gottman method. Dr. Butler also has extensive experience with psychological evaluations, from brief disability determinations to comprehensive testing for intelligence, personality, ADHD, and autism, using a variety of measures to bring clarity and shape individualized treatment. Patients can expect a psychologist who is both compassionate and direct, and who believes honesty with ourselves is where real progress begins.

Outside of work, Dr. Butler is an avid racquetball player, enjoys "old man" basketball, and follows college football and just about any other sport. He has been married for more than 25 years and has five children. He loves spending time with family and friends playing yard games, hiking, playing board games, and sharing a good meal — often something he has smoked or cooked himself.

Utah Mental Health Provider Disclosure Notice