Communication in Relationships

Good communication in relationships isn’t something that comes naturally to most people. It’s hard to communicate with your partner when you are hurt or afraid. Your natural tendency is to learn away from danger, or the source of pain in your life. This is how your ancestors survived over time. They were able to lean…

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Utah Telehealth Example

Utah telehealth is a great way to do counseling or therapy online. You can do telehealth for marriage problems, depression, anxiety, or many other issues. After providing counseling online, I have an example I’d like to share. I have changed the names of the client and identifying information to protect the confidentiality of these clients. …

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Pornography Use Is An Avoidance Issue, Not A Sex Issue

Many believe that pornography use is a sex addiction. I have heard many clients (usually male) tell their partners that if they would just have more sex with them that they wouldn’t use pornography. These clients seem to believe that pornography is a sex issue. It’s not, however. It’s an avoidance issue. Let’s talk about…

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How To Be Emotionally Healthy: Primary Versus Secondary Emotions

If you want to learn how to be emotionally healthy, you need to learn about the difference between secondary and primary emotions. In a past article you learned about the importance of recognizing, feeling and coping with your emotions (Related Article: Emotions 101: How To Be Healthy). Learning the difference between a primary emotion and…

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What You Can Do Before Going To Counseling

What can you do before you go to counseling? There is plenty to start with. Counseling for anxiety or depression in Utah is becoming more accepted, even though there are still stigmas attached to it (Related Article: Stigmas – Counseling For Mental Health Problems In Utah). Many people are finding help for their mental health…

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What Is The Difference Between Sadness and Depression?

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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Hold Emotional Space For Your Spouse

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 – Sex

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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Counseling Tip: Polarized Thinking Is Hurting You

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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