What is the difference between sadness and depression? This is a question clients often ask me as a therapist in Utah County. Most clients I work with have a hard time admitting that they have depression and want to call it just sadness (Related Article: Depression Counseling). There seems to be a negative stigma with…

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Let’s talk about how to hold emotional space for your spouse. If you want to get closer to your spouse and create more emotional intimacy in your relationship (Related Article: Emotional Intimacy: What It Is And How To Get It), you will want to learn this skill. This is also part of creating crucial emotional…

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Relationship problems often come in the form of money. As discussed in other articles, money, sex (Related Article: Relationship Problems – Sex) and in-laws (Related Article: Relationship Problems – In-Laws) are potential issues for premarital and newlywed couples (referencing John Gottman’s work).    Let’s talk about how money can be an issue for married couples…

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Relationship problems come in all shapes and sizes. John Gottman has emphasized that there are three problems that marriages even newlyweds face: money (Related Article: Relationship Problems – Money), sex and in-laws (Related Article: Relationship Problems – In-Laws). As a Utah marriage counselor for nearly two decades, I have seen these issues again and again.…

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Are your behaviors coping or avoiding your emotions? There is a big difference, and if you know it, you can be more healthy. I’m often asked, as a marriage counselor, for a list of things clients can do to cope well. I have to tell them that I don’t have one because here’s the thing…

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Let’s talk about what to do about marriage problems because of anxiety. Anxiety can often be seen as an individual issue. However, this issue impacts not only you, but those around you. There are certain techniques that you can use to combat individual anxiety such as positive self-talk and diaphragmatic breathing (Related Articles: How To…

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Marriage therapy in Utah is becoming more popular. There are some recent trends that we have noticed as marriage and family therapists. I’d like to share them with you here so that you can take advantage of marriage therapy if you and your spouse need it, but are having a hard time getting in.  …

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As a Utah counselor, I often meet with individuals or couples who use this one cognitive thinking error: Polarized Thinking. It’s  something that you are probably doing, but don’t realize it. It hurts your mental health and causes relationship problems (Related Article: Tips For Relationship Problems). Let’s talk about what it is, how it can…

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Oh, what to do about relationship problems with in-laws?! This is one of the biggest concerns of pre-marital couples and newlyweds (Related Article: Pre Marriage Counseling Tips), along with money issues (Related Article: Relationship Problems – Money) and problems with sex (Related Article: Relationship Problems – Sex). It isn’t something that goes away later in…

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Let’s talk about how to improve your self esteem. How you talk to yourself matters and probably doesn’t get much attention. There are a few ways that you can improve your self esteem through noticing your self-talk and changing it for the better. As a Utah therapist, I’ve noticed some patterns that I’d like to…

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