Gateway Academy is excited to welcome Sam Verutti, LCSW, LAC, and David Tueller, MSW, to its clinical team. Both bring a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to adolescent and family work, and a passion for helping young people grow.
Sam brings more than thirteen years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and families across therapeutic environments, including wilderness therapy, community mental health, and school-based programs. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Utah, California, and Colorado. With training in DBT, CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy, Sam offers a strengths-based, relational approach grounded in authenticity and emotional safety. His work is driven by a desire to help students build internal motivation, regulate emotions, and strengthen family connections. Sam’s early career in adventure therapy continues to inform his clinical philosophy, emphasizing the importance of presence, grit, and growth through challenge.
David joins Gateway with over a decade of experience supporting adolescents in residential treatment, wilderness therapy, and group home settings. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from Capella University and is trained in CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and adoption-competent mental health care. David also brings expertise in the Safe and Sound Protocol, a powerful tool for regulating the nervous system and facilitating trauma recovery. His clinical approach integrates cognitive, somatic, and experiential modalities to foster self-awareness and promote long-term healing. David believes meaningful change happens when the mind and body are in alignment, and he works closely with families and teams to ensure integrated, individualized care.
Gateway Academy is thrilled to have Sam and David on board. Their warmth, professionalism, and diverse clinical skill sets make them invaluable additions to the team.
About Gateway Academy:
Gateway Academy in Draper, Utah, is dedicated to the healthy development and healing of adolescents and their families. We provide a safe and nurturing environment through five integrated programs: Therapy, Academics, Community, Outdoor Education, and Fitness. With integrity and respect, we help students feel empowered and valued, build healthy relationships, make thoughtful decisions, develop life skills, become lifelong learners, and achieve their personal best.