Dr. Jakob Mauer

DSW, LCSW

I provide psychological and behavioral health services to teens and adults. Although I work with a diverse array of presenting issues, my career, education, and personal experiences led me to take an interest in the following areas:

Relationship Issues
LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Care
Identity Development and Exploration
Anxiety
Depression
Stress Management
Behavioral Plans
Life Transitions and Changes
Trauma
Grief and Loss
Disabilities (Learning and Physical)
Couples Counseling
Supervision

Therapeutic Approach

I strive to provide a warm, safe environment for my clients to explore their unique experiences. I utilize a strengths-based perspective that highlights client ability, fosters a strong client-therapist relationship, and emphasizes client-driven care. I view my clients through an intersectional lens, taking careful consideration into how larger structural issues such as classim, racism, cisheterosexism, etc. impact their presenting concerns. My therapy style is evidenced-based and eclectic, with the core of my clinical work being guided by the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and understood. My interventions may be pulled from: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy, Gottman Methods Couples Therapy, Interpersonal Process Therapy, LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy.

Education and Experience

I began providing mental and behavioral health services as an Intake Case Manager for youth group homes. I worked for AWARE, a non-profit mental and behavioral health agency in Montana. At AWARE, I witnessed how financial barriers, such as insurance approvals or denials, influenced whether families could obtain necessary medical treatment. This experience inspired my pursuit of a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) to assist individuals and families challenged with mental and behavioral health issues influenced by larger systems of privilege and oppression. I graduated from Walla Walla University (WWU) with my MSW. Enthusiastic about the idea of pursuing more education, and looking forward to advancing my clinical and teaching skills, I entered the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program at WWU and graduated in 2022. I have over nine years of direct work experience with kids (ages 5+), adults, couples, and families in diverse cultural and socioeconomic environments. In addition to my clinical work at Sandstone, I teach college courses to both undergraduate and graduate students, conduct and present research at national conferences on queer mental health, and supervise future social workers.

For more information on Dr. Jakob Mauer's research, click here.

Personal Interests

I am a queer outdoorsman from Montana who loves to try new foods, play board games with friends, and exercise. I grew up playing soccer and tennis, and competed as a gymnast throughout high school and college. During my undergraduate studies, I taught acrobatics to youth and adults at a small-town Cirque-style performance company. Hiking is another interest of mine, as well as doing a celebratory handstand when I reach the top of a mountain.