You Might Never Be Fully Ready: Why Try Therapy Anyway

The type of client that I work with are masters at avoiding. I say that with so much compassion because there is a reason why they avoid. They run on high anxiety and in order to function it sometimes feels like they have to avoid things that may trigger even greater unpleasant emotions. From a therapists perspective anxiety is often a symptom but it’s usually what people come to therapy to improve. We do some exploring and unpacking and sorting in the therapy room, and we uncover some things that need healing. It might be something in your past that happened that you’re still holding onto or a belief about yourself and the world that is unhelpful.

It’s normal to feel hesitant about trauma therapy.

When we find out what that is, there’s some hesitancy in wanting to work on it. In fact, we do this dance for a while where I invite my clients to start working on it and fully experience the emotions that go along with it, and they avoid it. They find excuses and reasons why now is not the right time and why something else less painful would be a better thing to work on. I honor it and make some space for it. This is scary. It’s even terrifying to think about confronting the real stuff and feeling the intensity of it all. I want my clients to know it may hurt now. It may be uncomfortable now. It may feel unbearable now. You might cry. Honestly, I might cry too sharing that moment with you. Is it worth it to experience the heaviness and the pain to finally be done reliving it over and over again? I think it is.

You might feel anxious about therapy, and we will begin when you’re ready

You may never really be ready to sit with the full intensity of the emotions along with the experience. I am sure there are plenty of things you have experienced in your lifetime that you truly were not ready for. Something will always come up that may give a persuasive argument for why it’s still not the right time. There’s never a great time. Ever. It will always be uncomfortable and painful until you do the thing.

I want you to know that your pain and suffering matter to me. I will always give respect and gentleness to you and your experiences. I will wait with you until you are ready. I might give you a nudge every so often about revisiting the thing you’ve been hiding from but it’s always going to be about you and what you need. I am a patient person and can wait a long time but I truly do want you to experience life on the other side.

Here’s some things to remember when confronting something painful in therapy:

1. Those painful feelings are temporary.

   They will eventually pass. They won’t last forever. No emotion lasts forever. It may mean it’s uncomfortable and painful in the moment but it will definitely end.

2. Your life will significantly improve as a result of working through it.

   I have never met a person who has regretted effectively addressing painful experiences and feelings. In the midst of it, it sucks but you will see your life improve as a result of truly dealing with it. It will make a difference in areas of your life that you wouldn’t even anticipate.

3. You will feel lighter and greater relief than before.

   You probably aren’t even aware of how your emotions and experiences impact you and your life. There seems to be a level of desensitization of pain and suffering. I assure you, you will feel relieved and feel the heaviness that you didn’t know existed slide off your shoulders.

Trauma therapy in utah can help you heal

It will never feel like the best time to address some of the worst things that have ever happened to you in your life. It’s normal never to want to talk about those things let alone relive them to some degree. Trauma counseling can make it so you don’t have to put so much energy into trying not to think about what happened. Treating your trauma can be temporary pain and discomfort that can have a big impact on the rest of your life so that you don’t have to keep experiencing it every day. Working with a trauma therapist is something you won’t regret, and I encourage you to give it a try.

Begin working with a trauma therapist in Utah

Thinking about what happened to you over and over again doesn’t have to be your life. You can find relief from the trauma you’ve been through. This Utah County Counseling Center has a trauma therapist who specializes in trauma and can help you. To begin therapy follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with trauma therapist in Utah

3. Begin healing from your past

Online Therapy in Utah

Maybe you don’t really have a lot of time in your schedule or you find going into a therapist’s office to be absolutely terrifying and anxiety-provoking, I totally get it, and that’s ok. I also know the value of therapy and want so badly for you to have the experience of finding healing and relief from your trauma. I offer online therapy in Utah so that you can have greater accessibility to a therapist and don’t have to worry about the commute.

Because of the convenience of online counseling, it allows me to provide therapy to anyone in Utah including Heber, Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, Logan, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

Trauma therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Northern Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided at Maple Canyon Therapy are eating disorder therapy, anxiety therapy, body image therapy, birth trauma therapy, and binge eating disorder treatment in Utah.

Why Therapy Sucks: A Therapist's Perspective

I’ve been preparing my Ted Talk in the form of this blog post for several weeks now on why therapy sucks. I hope you’re ready for this ;)

Why therapy sucks, according to a passionate therapist

We can hold two truths in regard to therapy. Well, we can hold many truths to therapy, but here are the two I’m referring to:

1. Therapy sucks.

2. Therapy is life-changing.

Both can be true. Both can be true at the same time and at different times. If you’ve read my blog, it’s cool if you haven’t, but IF you have, maybe you know that I’m incredibly passionate about the therapeutic process. I wish all 7.9 billion people on this planet would have access to or take the opportunity to go to therapy. There’s a reason why I have dedicated my career to being a therapist BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I love to see my clients find relief. I love providing a space for them to feel truly seen and validated. I love providing compassion. There’s nothing in the world that I would rather do than be a therapist.

Why therapy can suck

Therapy can be really hard. It sucks to be a client. I’ve been there, and I stand in solidarity with you. It sucks to confront the pain that you’ve been avoiding. It’s vulnerable to be open about the most personal things in your head in your heart. It is hard to finally let yourself feel your emotions. I know you do a great job trying to avoid those. The harsh reality about why therapy sucks is that healing is painful. It feels unbearable sometimes. Hopefully, at the same time, you feel safe and cared for because you truly are. It’s easier to pretend things are ok for a while until it doesn’t work anymore. That’s the part of therapy that sucks.

Therapy does help you feel better

Recently, I was processing with a client about the progress they had made in one year. We reflected on who she was a year ago and who she no longer struggled with. She teared up talking about how happy she is about the life she has now and that the experiences she has been through in the past no longer impact her in such a negative way. Therapy sucks and then before you know it you’re in the middle of it all, and it feels like freedom.

You can feel free, peaceful, confident, empowered, and have clarity

I remember driving in a taxi in Cozumel, Mexico, on the way to the beach. I recall looking out the window at some places that seemed scary and felt uncomfortable. It wasn’t where I ended up, though. I was just passing through. I ended up on a sandy beach with clear blue water, which was beautiful. Just because you’re traveling through some painful feelings in therapy does not mean that is where you end up. You end up somewhere incredible after you’ve gone through it.

There is nothing more that I want for you than for you to feel more confident in yourself, find relief from anxiety, and have less stress about food and your body. Therapy can help you improve your mental health all around.

Believe in yourself. Believe in the process, and in the midst of it all, be good to yourself.

Start anxiety therapy in Utah

If you struggle with symptoms of anxiety and don’t feel like you can cope with it, anxiety therapy can help. This Northern Utah Counseling Clinic has an anxiety therapist specializing in anxiety treatment. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a Utah therapist

3. Find relief from anxiety symptoms

Online Therapy in Utah

Not able to make time out of your schedule to travel to a therapy appointment? That’s ok I provide online therapy in Utah, so you can meet with an online therapist on your lunch break from the office or from the comfort of your own home. Therapy should be accessible and convenient.

I work with people online in Salt Lake City, Logan, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more.

Other mental health services provided in Utah County

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah County Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy, including trauma therapy, body image therapy, eating disorder therapy, birth trauma therapy, and binge eating disorder treatment in Utah.

4 Reasons Why You Should Attend Therapy Every Week

Here’s the bottom line of what I want you to know before I get started: I believe to make the most progress in healing, therapy is best attended on a weekly basis.

The therapy I do with clients is best done every week

This is something I share with my clients before we begin therapy to make sure this is in line with their hopes and expectations. Of course, I’m not everyone’s therapist obviously, and am not making specific recommendations a blanket statement for people I don’t see. However, for the type of work I do and the clients I work with I rarely recommend anything less than once a week. This is my preference and what I ask my clients to commit to here and here’s my why.

Reasons to attend therapy every week

1. Attending therapy every week allows deep work to be done.

   The more consistently you’re attending therapy, the faster you make progress. It allows you to make progress and feel greater hope about your situation. Hope is the magic elixir, and I want you to have a lot of it as much and as soon as possible.

2. You get better faster

   I have found in the past when I have worked with clients sporadically or only a few times a month, it leads to less progress. A lot less progress. Clients end up getting discouraged and stop coming to therapy altogether. The less we see of each other, the more reporting and catching up there ends up being in the time we have been apart. This is important in therapy but we also can’t jump into your reactions, emotions, or patterns when we end up spending the entire session updating on what’s happened.

3. Progress is made when we are able to consistently address your patterns and emotions

   A good balance is important and the best progress is made when we get to really look at your emotions and patterns. We need time not only to process what you are struggling with presently but to look back at past experiences that have led you to where you are now. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a therapist that enjoys doing deep emotional work. I hope you’re ready for that :).

4. If you are doing trauma counseling or EMDR, weekly therapy truly is necessary

   Another aspect I have noticed is when I’m doing EMDR and trauma work with someone is that weekly is optimal. It’s the humane thing to do to get through it as fast as possible. In fact, when doing trauma work, doing two sessions per week is supreme but we still can work with once a week. I find that we end up spinning our wheels in trauma work when it’s only twice a month as clients end up having their emotional wounds opened and closed without the progression toward healing.

The goal of therapy is not to need it forever

It’s also natural at some point for you to taper down on therapy. When you are making progress, you may need to come less frequently. We love to see that. I want that for you, and that’s what we are working toward. However, I see it happen too soon. You having a good week or a good month is amazing and shows you are managing things better. It also isn’t always time to quit attending therapy weekly. The frequency of therapy should be intentional and hopefully not as a way of avoiding what’s uncomfortable. I recommend weekly therapy for about 9-12 months before considering tapering off weekly.

I realize therapy costs money

I also acknowledge that therapy is an investment. Financially it is challenging for some people to do. I get it, and I assure you I have been there. I have paid out of pocket for therapy for a loved one for years and know it can be a sacrifice. I’ve also seen it make a huge difference. I am not here to persuade you to spend money on therapy. If it’s something you value and want to do, It has the potential to change your life in ways you never could imagine.

I’m here to help you make progress towards all your hopes and dreams as fast as possible.

Looking to start working with an anxiety therapist in utah?

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or anxiety, you don’t have to live like that forever. This Provo Utah Area Counseling Clinic has a mental health professional that can help you. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a caring therapist

3. Begin feeling better

Online therapy in Utah

Having the accessibility and convenience to meet with a therapist is important with your busy schedule. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Online counseling is equally as effective as in=person therapy but can be done while you’re still in sweatpants.

Online therapy allows me to work with you if you are located in Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more.

Mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

This Northern Utah Counseling Center provides a variety of counseling services. Mental Health Services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, eating disorder therapy, trauma therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, body image therapy, and birth trauma therapy.

Warmer Weather and Body Image Issues

When we think about winter in Utah, I think there is some mutual understanding that people’s moods can drop. The sun isn’t out, we are vitamin D deficient, the snow is difficult to drive in, and so on. We get each other for not liking Winter and for feeling a little more depressed. What may be a surprise to some is that my clients feel an onset of a new kind of emotional upheaval in the Spring and Summer. Depression and anxiety increase along with the temperatures.

Warm weather in Utah can lead to more body images issues

My clients have to wear fewer layers in the warmer months, and they hate it. Warmer months mean no layers to hide behind. It means shorts, tank tops, short sleeves, and worst of all, swimming suits. It also means seeing other people’s bodies in these types of clothes, which makes the comparison. Comparison, as we know, is a black hole where nobody wins. It’s a rough time for my lovely people.

The goal may not be to love your body but to feel neutral about it

My approach to body image in working with clients is often to refer them to resources in order to manage it better and focus more on getting to a place of body neutrality. However, I don’t like to spend sessions focusing on your thoughts about your body, but I like to go straight to the heart and go a little deeper It’s not just about you not having a thigh gap or hating your waist size. It’s that desire to hide and how you feel unacceptable to others. I think that goes a bit deeper than the number on your jeans, and we won’t get very far if we focus all of our attention on this.

The beliefs about your body are the problem, not your body

It’s the emotions and attitudes attached to how you feel about your body. It’s about those earlier experiences where you got the message that you needed to hide or change your body or else you aren’t acceptable. Somehow those have shaped your life, and now you have a rule that you can never wear shorts (insert another item of clothing), and that’s not fair. That’s what I’m here for. Not to battle you over if you can wear shorts or not but to help you heal from your unhelpful beliefs about yourself.

Body image therapy can help

You don’t have to keep living this way. You don’t have to spend your life avoiding the mirror or trying to hide your body. I don’t want you to feel ashamed of your body or force it into discomfort to change it. There are many things you might feel or think that you don’t have to keep dealing with. Body image therapy can help you learn to cope better and to address the underlying issues of why you hate your body. Surprisngly it’s not just about what you look like but what you believe about yourself that might be contributing to the problem.

Start working with a body image therapist in Utah

You can feel better about your body, but more importantly, you can feel better about what’s happened to you and who you are as a person. That truly is what counts. I know that’s hard to do on your own. I would that you’ve tried to feel better about your body on your own but haven’t been able to be successful. I want you to feel more at peace and at home in your body, and therapy can help. This Provo Utah Area Counseling Clinic has a body image therapist to help. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Complete online forms and schedule the first session with a mental health expert

3. Begin getting body image help

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

Body image therapy isn’t the only therapy service I provide at this Utah County Counseling Center. Other Mental Health Services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, EMDR and Trauma therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, birth trauma therapy and eating disorder treatment.

The Power of Therapy: You Can Feel Better

Since graduate school, I have been hyped about therapy. The therapeutic process is so incredible to me. I was spending my weekends searching on YouTube to somehow find a therapy session to watch so I could practice the skills I saw. I love good therapy. I also happen to be wildly passionate about bad therapy but that’s a song for another time.

I’ve been practicing therapy for seven-ish years, and I have certainly become more comfortable. I have moved on from Youtube videos to podcasts but because of my comfort, it had been a hot minute since I intentionally practiced more skills.

The other day I had a client running late as we as humans do at times, and instead of mindlessly scrolling I decided to be mindful. To breathe deeply and decide on my intention for the session. I landed on a skill I wanted to try and practice it all day in my sessions. It made a difference, and I was exhausted.

I know anxiety therapy can be overwhelming

It was a reminder to me that those clients of mine sitting across from me on the couch are also exhausted by setting new and unfamiliar intentions. They are showing up filled to the brim with anxiety and unsure if this is worth the risk. It’s an incredible honor to be the one that gets to be with these people. They are sharing with me some of the most personal and intimate details of their lives, and that deserves to be met with kindness and compassion. I know I say this all the time but those that I work with are incredible. They transcend the former versions of themselves into something nobody could ever imagine they would become. They try and try and try. They get discouraged and want to give up but then they try again. They show up week by week investing in themselves and little by little they end becoming a different version of themselves. I’ve watched this process happen over and over again yet even still, every single time, I’m baffled. After I watch them bend and become, we sit across from each other in awe of what has transpired. It’s magic. The therapeutic process is even more incredible than I ever imagined it as a graduate student.

Even though therapy is hard, it’s worth it.

This year is really teaching me to do some of my own work and to put myself in experiences where I can remember what my clients are feeling. Making changes is hard. Managing anxiety is hard. Trying to be a better therapist is hard but when it aligns with our goals and values it’s worth the risk and effort. It’s worth it because we transcend little by little.

Looking for an anxiety Therapist in Utah?

I fully believe in the power of therapy for all of my clients and you. I know if you are here, you’re probably struggling and want to feel better. Therapy can help you feel better. I know asking for help is hard for you, and this isn’t easy, but I know it will be worth it. This Northern Utah Counseling Clinic has an anxiety therapist who can help you achieve your goals. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a therapist for anxiety

3. Begin achieving your goals

Online Therapy in Utah

I know it’s already hard to reach out for help, and thinking about having to find time to travel to another appointment might seem overwhelming. I provide online therapy in Utah so that you can access a therapist as conveniently as possible. This can help you save time in your schedule while still achieving your mental health goals.

Counseling online means that if you are located in Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more, we can work together.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah County Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services Maple Canyon Therapy provides are body image therapy, birth trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, eating disorder therapy, and binge eating disorder treatment in Utah.

Online Therapy in Utah: 4 Reasons To Try It

Before the pandemic began, my practice offered online counseling. It was revolutionary to me to have this service to offer people, as helping people have access to therapy in this beautiful, rural state is something I care so much about. What motivated me to offer this service was that I wanted to serve people in Southern Utah with specialized therapy that I didn’t feel they had access to.

I attended SUU in Cedar City for my undergraduate degree, returned after my master’s, and took a job that is nowhere near what I do now but I love Cedar City. It’s home to me. I ended up leaving Cedar City to work at an Orem specialized eating disorder treatment center. Since my first eating disorder client as a graduate student intern, I wanted to get back to working with this lovely population. As I was driving home, it struck me during my commute. I can offer online therapy to those people in Cedar City! Once I fully understood how specialized treatment for disordered eating is required, I knew that it was really sparse in Southern Utah to have an eating disorder therapist. So I did it. As we know, the pandemic happened, and everyone started offering online therapy, and it became even more revolutionary to so many people.

Why You Should Try Online Therapy in Utah

I know some people have hesitancy about doing online therapy, and I get it. Some people feel in-person therapy is the clear winner. I do love in-person therapy sessions, and I actually equally love being an online therapist. Genuinely. I have seen breakthroughs working with clients when they are in the comfort of their own space. They can let their guard down and feel grounded with the things they have in their own homes. I love seeing my client’s pets and how they express themselves by decorating their homes. Honestly, I love it, and it’s amazing. Yes, there are computer glitches with the internet, and things freeze. It does happen. You will also see me with ketchup on my face as I did in my online therapy sessions today. Here’s to being human. However, humans' connection with each other still shows up even across computer screens.

Reasons You Might Like Online Therapy in Utah

1. It might be easier to be vulnerable Online

   I have said it before, and here I am saying it again but therapy is vulnerable. For some people, it’s easier to be vulnerable in the comfort of their own home in their sweat pants. They feel like they can share more openly about what they are struggling with and when you are willing to be vulnerable, you see more progress. Imagine having your dog cuddled next to you with your weighted blanket drinking something hot while opening up about some of your anxieties. Please tell me how that is not the superior way to do therapy ;). I have had people start meeting in person, switching to online, and making much greater progress in therapy. This really is the cat’s pajamas for some people.

2. It’s just as effective as in-person therapy

   If it’s a concern for you that online therapy isn’t as effective as being in person, I’m happy to tell you it’s not true. Online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy if you have a therapist who is familiar with and comfortable with using online therapy. As previously stated, I have been using online therapy for several years and feel comfortable and competent. I think it’s important to make sure the therapist you select is comfortable using online therapy in order for it to be a positive experience. Rest assured that online therapy will give you just as positive results as seeing a therapist in person.

3. It might save you time

   One of the barriers to people coming to therapy is trying to fit time into their busy schedules to make it happen. They know they need help, but when it’s in the middle of their workday, and they don’t have the travel time to make it happen. It’s a timesaver not to have to get in the car and travel somewhere. It also helps not to feel enraged when you’re stuck in traffic.

4. It makes therapy more accessible

   I don’t know about you, but if I am going to reach out for help, I want to know that the therapist I will see knows my problem. I don’t want to take the risk of not improving or getting the help I need when I really need it by seeing someone that doesn’t have the specialty or training I need. As I mentioned before, online therapy makes people in need of help able to access it much easier, no matter where you are in Utah. Gone are the days you spend several hours in the car to make it to an appointment. It is important that you can connect with your therapist and see them consistently to make improvements. Online therapy is an incredible option to consider if you don’t have a therapist in your city who you like and who knows your problem.

Online therapy in Utah is the way to go

Having greater accessibility to therapy, saving time, effective care, and feeling more comfortable going deeper are all reasons to try online counseling. You will be surprised at how well you meet your needs and achieve your goals with online therapy.

Online therapy in Utah also means that I can work with you if you are located anywhere in Utah, including Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. Geroge, Cedar City, and more.

Start working with an online therapist In Utah

Online therapy can treat various mental health issues regardless of what you are struggling with. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an online therapist specializing in treating mental health with online therapy. To begin online counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an Online Utah Therapist

3. Start feeling better

Mental Health Services Provided at Maple Canyon Therapy Services

This Northern Utah Counseling Practice offers a variety of counseling services. Mental Health Services Maple Canyon Therapy includes anxiety therapy, body image therapy, birth trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, and eating disorder therapy in Utah.

Having Hope and Doing the Work In Therapy

Hope. When’s the last time you felt that? When is the last time you felt it rush through your body and completely fill you up? If it hasn’t been anytime recently, I hope it’s right around the corner for you. You deserve that. Hope might be why you’re visiting this blog, this website, or looking for a therapist. I love that you’re here. No matter how big or small your hope is in this moment, It’s enough. You are enough.

As a therapist, I’m committed to working as hard as my clients

When I was a graduate student and practicing therapy for the first time (and highly anxious I might add), I was soaking everything up that my clients brought to the table. I could not believe how lucky I was to be doing this work and sitting with these people. It felt so sacred to be listening to such personal feelings and experiences. I felt so honored to be a part of these people’s lives and inspired by them. I made a commitment to myself that I would not ask my clients to do things that I wouldn’t do myself. I would continue to do work on myself and grow personally. 7 years later, and I truly feel the same humility and privilege to work with people as I did then. However, I started to slack on doing my own work and being willing to do the same thing I asked my clients to do. Recently, I recommitted.

What I’m doing as a therapist to improve

I’ve spent the last little bit journaling, meditating, and being more present with myself. All things that I invite my clients to try. There’s something about watching someone you work with hustle hard to find relief and healing, that really inspired me to do the same thing. It has meant so much to me to recommit to it. It has increased my compassion and empathy for those that I work with as they are trying so unbelievably hard to do the work. The work really is about much more than journaling and deep breathing but it certainly represents so much of what’s going on deep inside.

Why you should continue to have hope

Hope is powerful in your recovery. It’s powerful in your life. It impacts how you show up in the world. If I were to guess, I would bet you have a great deal of hope for others in your life. You believe the people in your life will have good things happen to them, and that they will be able to get the things they want to have.

1. Hope brings more positive well-being.

   Having hope helps people feel more positive about their life and the circumstances they may be in. People that have hope are generally happier than those that don’t.

2. People with a greater sense of hope handle stress better.

   People that have a higher level of hope know that stress ends and is temporary. They are able to handle stressful situations with a more positive outlook. Hopeful people are able to cope better overall.

3. Hope can be a buffer against anxiety.

   People that have hope tend to cope better with threats with less anxiety and stress than those who don’t. Hopeful people tend to be healthier than those that don’t. Feeling less hope leads to negative mood states.

4. Hope can be motivating.

   People that have hope and believe they can achieve or resolve a challenging situation do more often than those that don’t have hope. People who don’t believe in positive outcomes don’t get them as often as hopeful people.

I hope you’re finding hope wherever you are to keep going, to reach out, and to begin doing the work that will ultimately change your life You matter. You matter to so many people. The entire universe would not be the same without you here in it with us. I believe that completely.

Looking for an anxiety therapist in Utah?

If you are looking to work on yourself and improve your anxiety, anxiety therapy can help. This Northern Utah Counseling Center has an anxiety therapist that can help. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an anxiety specialist

3. Begin having hope and healing

Online Anxiety Therapy in Utah

I want you to have access to counseling, and I know making time out of your schedule to attend therapy isn’t always convenient. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. This makes it, so you don’t have to travel or commute to meet a therapist.

Utilizing telehealth counseling also allows me to work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with clients in Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more.

Other mental health services provided in Utah County

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah County Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include binge eating disorder treatment, EMDR Therapy, birth trauma therapy, body image therapy, and eating disorder therapy in Utah.

About the Author

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker in Utah and the owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah County. Ashlee is inspired by her clients in therapy and sees their strength and resiliency. She works with women who are willing to do whatever it takes to get better. Ashlee has a bachelor’s in psychology and a bachelor’s in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. She obtained her master’s in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee loves living in Utah and enjoyed her time in Cache Valley and Southern Utah.

4 Reasons Not to Apologize for Your Body

We live in a world of health challenges and an overall focus on changing our bodies. It’s the worst for those that I work with to try and deal with. They are already hyper-focused on their bodies and how much space they take up that any more focus on it is crushing.

Your body deserves kindness

What would the world be like if there was more focus on giving our bodies the respect that they deserve? You know, rather than trying to shrink them or berate them for everything they aren’t but to give them kindness instead. This is the year that I decided to set an intention of not making apologies disclaimers for my body. What my hair looks like, what clothes I’m wearing or not wearing is something that I want to spend my energy talking about or apologizing for anymore.

You don’t have to apologize for your appearance.

I want to remind you that your body and your appearance are not something you need to give an apology for. It’s not something you need to give a disclaimer about or try and make people comfortable with. Your body is a good body, and that may be part of your work in coming to terms with. Remember your body deserves to be protected from cruelty and unkindness and even when that comes from you.

Reasons not to apologize for your body

1. It puts too much focus on appearance.

   I’m sure you are keenly aware of women's crushing pressure to be thin, sculpted, airbrushed, and flawless. This focus on appearance is unhealthy and truly makes women miserable because it’s unattainable. If I know you, you don’t want to reinforce this to other people. Sadly, when we comment on our appearance in a derogatory way, it continues to perpetuate the importance of what our bodies look like. Our bodies are so much more than something pretty to look at.

2. Your body is about more than what it looks like.

   It might be hard for you right now, but I could think of so many incredible things about your body that have nothing to do with what it looks like. Your body allows you to experience wonderful things outside of appearance. It allows you to be with the people you love and to create memories and meaning in life. Your body deserves more credit than what it looks like.

3. Your body is good regardless of what it looks like.

   Your worth and value does not change based on if you’re wearing mascara or not. It doesn’t change based on what you wear or what you weigh. Your body’s purpose is not to look good but to be good. This means being whole, happy, and fulfilled comes from other things, not from your appearance.

4. Apologizing for your body is the opposite of empowering.

   When you apologize to your body, it disempowers you and those around you. It won’t be your intention, but the women around you may look at their bodies and search for what’s “wrong” with them. Historically women have had an unspoken bond over bashing their bodies together, and nobody leaves those conversations feeling hyped about themselves. You aren’t going to feel positive after criticizing your body or apologizing for what you look like.

Working with a body image therapist in utah can help

Having a positive body image and having respect for your body is absolutely achievable no matter what your size or weight. You deserve to be kind to your body even if you aren’t madly in love with it. I recognize wholeheartedly it is difficult to overcome negative body image. Maybe you’ve already tried it on your own, and it continues to impact your life negatively. Therapy for body image facilitates healing from the experiences that have led you to mistrust and hate your body. Body image therapy can help you gain more respect for your body and to focus on it much less. Dealing with body image issues can impact your life and your functioning. It’s not something that should be minimized or dismissed but deserves help from a professional.

Start body image therapy in Utah

You don’t have to keep living, hating your body. You find relief from self-hatred and insecurity. Body image therapy can help. This Northern Utah Counseling Clinic has a body image therapist specializing in body image therapy. To begin counseling for body image, follow the steps below:

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a Utah therapist

3. Begin to make peace with your body

Online Therapy in Utah

I know it’s hard to make time in your busy schedule to attend therapy, and I also know how big of a different body image therapy can make in your overall well-being. I want you to be able to do this for yourself. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. It’s safe and convenient, and I promise it’s equally as effective as coming to the office for therapy.

Online counseling allows me to work with clients in Salt Lake City, Logan, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more.

Other mental health services offered in Northern Utah

Body image therapy isn’t the only counseling service offered at this Utah County Counseling Center. Other mental health services offered by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, eating disorder therapy, birth trauma therapy, and EMDR therapy in Utah.

About the author

Ashlee Hunt is a therapist and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy near Provo, Utah. She has been working with women with body image issues since 2013. Ashlee loves empowering women to respect their bodies regardless of their body image or body size. She uses a Health at Every Size Approach (HAES) as a framework for being body positive. Ashlee has two bachelor’s degrees from Southern Utah University. A bachelor’s in psychology and a bachelor’s in family life and human development. She obtained her master’s degree in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee loves Utah and exploring its surroundings. She enjoys spending time outside with her dogs and taking walks through the River Bottoms in Spanish Fork.

Thanksgiving Thoughts From an Eating Disorder Therapist

It’s the Thanksgiving season, and I was just thinking about you. Perhaps it isn’t a happy holiday for you. Maybe holidays are difficult for you. Maybe this holiday is a fresh reminder of what you’ve lost or never had but have always wanted.

Thanksgiving is difficult for people with eating disorders

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or with your relationship with food, the strong focus on food is difficult. Food might feel complicated to you and being with family might be filled with dread and anxiety. Maybe due to the pandemic, you can’t be with those that you are dying to be with after months of isolation. Those are big feels to grapple with.

I just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you. I’m thinking about how eating around other people feels self-conscious to you and how food is full of guilt and embarrassment to you. I thought about giving you a list of a game plan of things to help you cope and get through it but for me at this moment that didn’t feel right. I want to just be with you, where you are at, and honor the feelings you have. However, complicated and tangled up they may feel. If you are dealing with fresh loss, or if it has been simmering for a while, I want you to recognize you don’t have to be grateful for that on Thanksgiving or any day. You can hate this holiday and want it to be over as fast as possible and maybe even like it moments later.

Grief and loss might feel stronger on Thanksgiving

Loss is complicated. Grief is complex. There are no good or right or pretty answers. I will not be here to be the gratitude police. Please don’t be the gratitude police for yourself or anyone else either. You can appreciate and have gratitude for what you’ve got in your life without being thankful for trials and adversity. Where you are at with things is right where you are supposed to be in that moment. Maybe the next moment it will feel differently. Maybe not. Ride the wave and know you're ok right where you are. Just know I’m thinking of you.

Be good to yourself.

Start eating disorder treatment near Provo, Utah

I know the holidays can bring on a lot of triggers and make your eating disorder spiral. You don’t have to keep living that way. Eating disorder treatment can help. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist that can help you manage eating disorder recovery. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a mental health professional

3. Begin eating disorder recovery

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah

I know how important it is when you are struggling with an eating disorder that you get help from a professional that understands how to help you in eating disorder recovery. I have helped many women recover from their eating disorders and want to help you no matter where you are in Utah. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Online counseling is safe, effective, and convenient. I assure you it’s just as effective as in-person therapy.

Online therapy allows me to work with you if you are located in Logan, St. George, Salt Lake City, Cedar City, and more.

Other mental health services provided near Provo, Utah

Eating disorder treatment isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Northern Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include binge eating disorder treatment, anxiety therapy, birth trauma therapy, body image therapy, and trauma therapy in Utah.

A Pep Talk From A Therapist

Sometimes I just get these moments where I am in complete awe and wonder at the work my clients do. It’s overwhelming and emotional to experience. 

As a therapist, I’m inspired by my clients

I love the work that I do because it doesn’t feel like work. I mean, the part where I have to get dressed, leave my house, and feel tired I’m the mornings-that certainly feels like work and always will. The part that doesn’t is the fact that it’s actually my clients working, searching, molding, and transforming. That feels like such a miracle to witness. You all do such beautiful and inspiring work. It’s such an honor to be with you. 

Why I love being a therapist

It is hard to imagine doing anything else with my life. I cannot even comprehend doing anything other than this. There’s nothing that compares to the meaning to sit with people in their struggle and watch them evolve. I don’t know if those that I work with ever really realize how strong and brave they are and how much of an impact they have on my life. There are many old-school therapeutic views (bye Freud!) that the therapist is some separate from the client they there can be no impact or influence. That is certainly not my reality. Those I work with unknowingly influence and change me. I’m thankful for it. I’m thankful to honor our shared humanity. 

A reminder to not give up hope in healing

Here is your reminder if you’ve forgotten, and I believe in you if you’re losing hope. There are many other people in your life that you will meet they will be thankful that you held onto hope. You’re gonna make it. Don’t you quit! We need you, and we want you here with us, where you belong. Your efforts are not in vain. My life is about watching people change. I’ve worked with different populations that didn’t want to change or were compelled to, so they didn’t lose it all. Even some of them changed, and so will you. If you want it, I’ll be yours. 

In the meantime, please be good to yourselves and give yourself compassion.

Looking for an anxiety therapist in Utah?

You don’t have to live in fear. Anxiety therapy can help. This Provo Utah Area Counseling Center has an anxiety therapist who can help. To begin therapy, follow these steps:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an anxiety specialist

3. Find relief from anxiety

Online Anxiety Therapy in Utah

I know taking time out of your busy schedule to come to therapy is not easy. It is easy to put off going to therapy because you don’t have time, and let’s be honest; you feel too anxious about trying to find a therapist’s office. This is why I offer online therapy in Utah. It’s convenient and just as effective as in-person therapy.

Working with a therapist online also means I can work with you if you are located in Logan, Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, and more.

Other mental health services near Provo, Utah

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only service provided at this Utah County Counseling Clinic. Other services provided at Maple Canyon Therapy include body image therapy, EMDR therapy, Birth Trauma therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, and eating disorder treatment in Utah.