Having Hope and Doing the Work In Therapy

Scrabble game pieces spelling the word hope. This represents how as an online therapist at Maple Canyon Therapy, I provide eating disorder treatment, binge eating disorder treatment, and help for emotional eating in Utah.

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

A green journal, a pen, and a smaller book. This represents how as an eating disorder therapist at Maple Canyon Therapy, I provide anxiety treatment for performance anxiety, social anxiety, and postpartum anxiety in Utah.

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?

An open hand toward the ocean. This represents how as an EMDR therapist at Maple Canyon Therapy I provide trauma therapy, birth trauma therapy, and therapy for PTSD symptoms in women.

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

A photo of Ashlee Hunt LCSW. This represents how at Maple  Canyon Therapy I provide online therapy in Utah, EMDR for eating disorders, and body image therapy.

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.