Alpenglow Counseling and Wellness

Hi, I'm Gina Shuster and I am a licensed mental health therapist in Utah and Michigan. I am passionate about helping you on your journey to better mental health and wellness. Throughout my career, I have had the immense privilege of meeting people who demonstrate more strength, grace and determination than most would consider possible. I have seen the limits of the human spirit tested and I have witnessed time and time again the triumph of that spirit. It would be my honor to walk alongside you as you experience your own triumph.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Utah and a Licensed Master's Social Worker in the state of Michigan. I am the founder and director of Alpenglow Counseling and Wellness, a mental health therapy clinic in North Ogden, Utah. I am available to see clients both in-person and via telehealth video.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children; exploring the beauty and wonder that is Utah. I also love to read, paint and bake.

What is an Alpenglow?

According to Wikipedia, “Alpenglow (from German: Alpenglühen, lit. 'Alps glow'; Italian: enrosadira) is an optical phenomenon that appears as a horizontal reddish glow near the horizon opposite to the Sun when the solar disk is just below the horizon.[1] “

Even though darkness is falling, there is a tiny window of time where the reflected glow from the setting sun is so bright that it makes the mountains look like they are on fire. This light doesn’t come from the mountains themselves, but the conditions around them. According to Wikipedia, “When the Sun is below the horizon, sunlight has no direct path to reach a mountain. Unlike the direct sunlight around sunrise or sunset, the light that causes alpenglow is reflected off airborne precipitation, ice crystals, or particulates in the lower atmosphere.”

Many times in life we feel like there is no light left inside of us to shine, and only darkness remains. At Alpenglow Counseling and Wellness, we want to remind people that they don’t have to “do life” on their own. Sometimes the most beautiful things happen when we let go and allow those around us to help us shine. Just like the mountain needs the sun, water, ice and other particles to form the perfect Alpenglow, people need the support of others, as well as the development of healthy coping skills, self-awareness, and healthy personal boundaries to help us shine our brightest. Alpenglow Counseling and Wellness is here to help you achieve just that.