7 Ways to Cope With Seasonal Depression

In Utah, it seems there are more people than we realize that are struggling with seasonal depression. It’s hard to admit that this is what you are experiencing and can be attributed to the winter blues. If you are powered by the sun, well, solidarity sister and your mental health can struggle in these cold, dark months. This is the time of year when it’s even more important to offer yourself a big, old dose of self-compassion.

Coping with Seasonal Depression is different than curing it.

Before I offer some ways to help you cope with seasonal depression, I want to make sure know these ideas are likely not going to cure your seasonal depression. For some people, they can take the edge off of a depressed mood just a little and for some, they help tremendously. No matter what I don’t want you to think anything is wrong with you if you’re still feeling a little low when trying these things out. I would also highly encourage you to see your primary care physician if your depression seems unmanageable. If you are having suicidal thoughts please go to your nearest emergency room, and tell someone you are struggling. Your life has meaning and value, you are cared about, and you have a purpose. Don’t try and deal with this alone. 

Alright, here we go….

7 Ways to Cope with Seasonal Depression:

1. Focus on comfort

This is the time of year to focus on keeping yourself comfortable. Surround yourself with cozy things. Keeping your body comfortable is one thing that can impact mood in a positive way. Wear sweaters, fuzzy socks, slippers, and stay under blankets when you can. If these type of clothes don’t make you feel comfortable, give yourself permission to wear what does. If your body has changed in the winter months, make sure you get clothing it feels comfortable in. Your body deserves comfort no matter what size it’s at. Take care of that cracked skin with lotion or take a bath in Aquaphor if you need to :) Again, be good to your body. It deserves care. 

2. Regulate your temperature

Make sure you are staying warm as the drop in temperature can influence a drop in mood. It’s the season of warm relaxing baths, space heaters, heated blankets, heated mattress covers, heated gloves, etc. Keeping the temperature low in your house might save money but it doesn’t always save your mental health. You don’t need the reminder that it's winter by freezing so consider this me giving you permission to bump up the heat in your house. Drink warm drinks and eat warm food. This might sound simple but a big part of emotional regulation can be shifting temperatures. If you find drinking a cup of ice water in the winter, improves your mood then do it. 

3. Notice days when you can spend time outside

There will be days when the sun comes out and the temperature isn’t as low. Those are the days where it’s important to prioritize time outside. It can be briefly walking the dog around the block, riding your bike through the neighborhood, or just sitting on the porch and feeling the sunlight. Even if the sun isn’t out and the temperature isn’t as low, getting fresh air is important for mental health. These moments outside can fill your cup a little until the weather consistently improves in the Spring. 

4. Get adequate light 

LIght helps in the production of serotonin and serotonin helps improve our mood. Light is also comforting and cozy. Keep your blinds and curtains open for when those sunrays do make an appearance. Lighting candles might allow for comfort and chase away a little darkness even if it doesn’t produce vitamin D. Therapy lights have been helpful to some people and you can even change out your lightbulbs for these types of lights. 

5. Find ways to do things you love indoors

For some people that live in the outdoors, wintertime feels like they can’t do any of the things they enjoy. It’s important to find things you love inside. If you live in the pool in the summertime. Check out the Provo Recreation Center or Clyde Recreation Center in Springville to get some swimming or hot tubbing. These places also have climbing or other sports to move your body, improving your mood. If you like gardening or yard work (bless your soul), get a house plant and focus on caring for those. 

6. Do the opposite

This is a skill for any level of depression or anxiety. When we are feeling depressed, we may not feel like doing anything. We may isolate, stop hanging out with friends and family, avoid going places or participate in things we know help our overall well-being. When you are in that space, the best way to help you get out of it mentally is just to do the opposite. Hang out with friends, tell people how you are feeling, socialize, and participate in an activity even when you don’t feel like it, especially when you don’t. You will be surprised what doing this can do to help your mood. 

7. Go to Therapy

Sometimes the colder months can be reminders of painful memories, or it may be hard to know how to cope with all your feelings. Therapy is meant to help you work through painful experiences and triggers. I recommend therapy to people all year, but winter can be a good catalyst for beginning the work to get better in all parts of your life. It can be helpful to talk with someone to be fully open about how you are feeling.

Looking to work with a Utah therapist?

You don’t have to keep feeling worn down by your emotions. Anxiety doesn’t have to be something you continue to struggle with. This Utah Counseling Practice has a Utah therapist specializing in anxiety treatment. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an anxiety therapist

3. Find inner healing

Online Therapy in Utah

I know it’s important to be able to attend therapy to improve your overall mental health. I also know that traveling to a therapy session is difficult when you have a busy schedule. this is why I offer online therapy in Utah. It’s safe, effective, and much more convenient than in-person therapy.

Telehealth means I work with clients in Salt Lake City, Cedar City, Heber, St. George, Logan, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

5 Things to Look for in an Eating Disorder Therapist

There have been times my clients have come into therapy after having seen someone that said they treated eating disorders, and it didn’t go well. They’ve left feeling discouraged and feeling defeated. These women have felt hopeless because someone that stated they treated eating disorders couldn’t even help them get better. As therapists, we really do care about people and want to help people. The truth is we don’t have the training and specialty to be doing that. Eating disorders require specialized treatment. If your therapist doesn’t have this treatment, you can end up getting worse. That’s not to say that a therapist can’t be helpful to you if they don’t have experience and training in eating disorders. However, to get the most comprehensive care there are things to look for in an eating disorder therapist. 

1.  A good eating disorder therapist, will not encourage you to lose weight. 

The goal of eating disorder recovery is for you to make peace with food and your body. A therapist that states they treat “obesity” or offers “weight management” likely isn’t your best choice for eating disorder therapy. Someone trained in eating disorder treatment doesn’t want any of their clients to continue to try and manipulate their body into being smaller than what it wants to be. No therapist out there knows what your weight is meant to be. Your body gets to determine that. Continuing to encourage weight loss in eating disorder recovery is harmful. I bet you might wish to lose weight and might even find it appealing to have someone state they can help you with weight loss. It’s ok that you still have those thoughts and desires, but putting the desire for weight loss on the back burner will help you get better much faster. 

2. An eating disorder therapist doesn’t look at food as an addiction. 

I’ve seen many people talk about being addicted to food or sugar. I’ve seen clients be treated for their eating disorders this way, which has not been helpful. Plenty of research backs up that sugar isn’t addictive, and food is not your addiction, either. I find my clients with Binge Eating Disorder get this approach the most. People with binge eating disorders don’t have an addiction to food. They binge because they have a long history of restricting foods, which results in binging behaviors. These people definitely don’t need the reinforcement that they can’t control themselves around food. Please don’t see any provider that makes you feel that way. 

3. An Eating disorder therapist will believe you when you say you have an eating disorder. 

An eating disorder therapist will believe you when they say you think you have an eating disorder or disordered eating. You are probably the first person that will try and minimize what you are going through. You’ll talk yourself out of getting help or thinking you have disordered eating for a long time before reaching out for help. If you meet a therapist that doesn’t think you have an eating disorder, that probably just means they don’t understand eating disorders or have the proper training to treat it. Your feelings and experience are valid, and you are the expert on what you know about yourself. Find someone that’s going to believe you and help you get better. 

4. An Eating disorder therapist will use a team approach

Eating disorders are complicated mental illnesses; usually, it won’t take just a therapist to help you get better. Often a dietitian and or a psychiatrist will be recommended to help in your healing. Therapists can’t do it all and will often rely on a dietitian's help in learning principles of intuitive eating, challenging your food rules, and helping manage physical symptoms. As a therapist helping clients recover from eating disorders, I focus on their emotions and underlying beliefs about themselves, their bodies, and food. The goal is to get you feeling better and recovering. It might take multiple people to help you with certain aspects of your eating disorder. 

5. A good eating disorder therapist will operate from a Health At Every Size Approach. 

Health At Every Size is an important aspect of eating disorder recovery. As referenced above, the goal is not for you to weigh a certain amount but to get your body to a place where it’s healthy regardless of what you weigh. Health At Every Size means acknowledging that every person’s genetics will influence their body size, and healthy behaviors are more important than a number on a scale. A certain weight doesn’t make you healthy. An eating disorder therapist should understand this approach and utilize it in helping you in recovery. 

You deserve to recover from your eating disorder. It takes work, and it’s certainly not easy. Recovering from your eating disorder isn’t something you should have to do alone and having a therapist with the tools to help you get there makes all the difference. 

Looking to start eating disorder therapy in Utah?

You don’t have to stay stuck in your eating disorder. Eating disorder recovery is possible. Ditch your eating disorder and make peace with your body and food. This Utah Counseling Practice has an eating disorder therapist specializing in eating disorder therapy. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Sign up for a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an eating disorder therapist in Utah

3. Begin therapy

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah

When you are struggling with an eating disorder, you want the assurance that you’re going to have a therapist that knows how to help you recover and has successfully managed to help others recover too. I know many parts of Utah don’t have access to a therapist with specialized training in eating disorder recovery. This is why I provide Online Therapy in Utah. This allows us to work together without you having to travel.

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

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

About the Author

Ashlee Hunt LCSW is a licensed therapist at Maple Canyon Therapy, located in Utah. Ashlee holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Family Life and Human Development, and a master’s in social work. Ashlee has extensive training and experience in treating eating disorders and has provided eating disorder treatment at all levels of care. She is passionate about helping women achieve eating disorder recovery. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she loves adding plants to her collection from Sun River Gardens in Orem.

8 Things To Expect From Me As Your Therapist

Some surprises are fun, and some really aren’t. Surprises like an unexpected snack from the gas station or free tickets to the Jonas Brothers concert. When it comes to your mental health and vulnerability, that’s gonna be a hard pass for surprises. Some of those we can work to manage and some of those neither you nor I can see coming in the midst of therapy.

In order to avoid any unexpected surprises, I want to give you as much information about me and what therapy is like with me before you jump in. Although I think we can safely assume, there is no way of fully knowing until you do the thing. Either way, I want to give you a good idea of what to expect from me as a therapist and the type of work we would do together. There are things I am really good at and some things that I’m not. I’m committed to you having the best experience possible in therapy. So in no particular order, let’s go.

1. I will not be telling you what to do.

   If you’re coming to therapy, I would bet you’ve tried to figure it out on your own. That is probably what you’ve tried time and time again. I can understand if you’re at the point where you would just want me to tell you what to do and are dying to let someone else take the wheel of your life. I understand this so much. I sometimes wish someone else could tell me what to do and make decisions for me as well. I can’t tell you what to do with your life and decisions though. I would have to be spending a lot of time with you, be in your brain, and know your relationships to the depth that you do but none of those are possible. You are the expert on yourself and your life, and I believe you in wholeheartedly. What I will do, is work really hard for you. I am committed and determined to get you feeling better. I assure you I will care about you and your life. My role is to make recommendations from a professional standpoint and share observations from an outside perspective. We are in this together, and I pinky promise to share things with you from what I am seeing and to give you options to experiment with.

2. I will work hard to make you comfortable.

   You coming into my office and sharing personal things about your life and asking for help is an incredible feat and takes an amazing amount of courage. My clients are the people I admire the very most in this world. I want nothing more than for you to be comfortable while doing the uncomfortable. I want you to be comfortable with me because that makes all of the difference. We are going to go at your pace and work on the things you want to work on. I will not be pushing you too far or too hard past what you feel like you can manage. I will certainly challenge you in ways and invite you to go deeper but if you don’t want to go there, we definitely aren’t going there. I am here for you in whatever way you want and want you to feel comfortable with the approach and process.

3. We will be exploring earlier experiences and maybe (definitely) childhood things.

   I really told myself I wouldn’t be this type of therapist, and I learned it’s because I hate when people have to relive that different brand of sadness that comes from going back to painful experiences. I have developed some distress tolerance skills because I have learned it’s absolutely essential for healing to go back to those experiences and memories and to reprocess them. I come from a psychodynamic perspective, which means I believe past experiences impact us more than we realize. Past experiences impact what triggers you and your present functioning. We often think those past experiences have nothing to do with our raging anxiety or people-pleasing but sometimes they do. The good news is the intention in talking about it is to decrease your pain and suffering around those experiences and to improve the symptoms you are struggling with not just for fun :)

4. I am committed to learning and improving as a therapist

   I would say every year I spent a substantial amount of time and honestly a lot of cash money focused on continually learning how to better serve you. As a graduate student, I was saving my pennies to pay for training so I could learn more about how to help the clients I was working with at my unpaid internship. The field of therapy and psychology is continually evolving and gaining knowledge, and I want to make sure to learn all I can to give you the best chance of healing that I can. My education taught me how to keep learning and growing because it all comes down to you getting good care.

5. I will encourage a lot of self-care and self-compassion

   What you are going through is hard. It’s not for the faint of heart to go to therapy and to look their pain straight in the eye. Self-compassion is going to be essential to your healing. You learning to be kind and gentle with yourself won’t be easy but we are going to work on getting you to the point of it being more natural. Self-care is going to be encouraged all the time but especially when you have a tough session. When you leave feeling a little raw or when you come into therapy feeling a little raw, your mind, body, and soul need some extra care.

6. I do recommend books, podcasts, and other resources.

   Many of my clients have done all they can on their own before coming to therapy. They’ve read self-help books, and it still wasn’t enough. They need something extra, which is why they are coming to therapy. When I recommend you read or listen to something, it’s not a replacement for therapy but is something that is meant to help you in addition to therapy. It can also be helpful for you to reach your goals by talking about some of the things you’ve learned or read in therapy. If you want to know some of the 10 Books I Recommend in Therapy you can click this link.

7. The type of therapy I use is based on research.

   If you’re my family, you think what I do is listen to people all day and hand out advice ;). What a lot of us don’t know is that therapists use researched ways of helping people in a session that you may not even notice. It’s important to me that you know that I am using things to help you that have been studied and proven to work time and time again by many trained professionals. It matters to me that you are getting the help that is going to work and help you feel better.

8. I am going to work really hard to help you get better

   I believe in you and your ability to have the type of life you want. I believe in you, and your ability to heal and overcome really hard things. I believe all my clients can really feel so much better. I didn’t invest years of education and money to do something I didn’t believe in. I work with clients I know I can help. I wouldn’t be working with you if I didn’t believe in you. I want you to know that I am willing to work hard and fight to help you get better. The clients I work with have hustle and heart and are at the point they will do anything to feel better. I want you to know I am in it with you and promise to do whatever I can for you to get out of the heaviness and hopelessness you might be in.

If you’ve read this post and think I’m the type of therapist you need right now, I would be honored to help. I know it’s hard to find someone you feel comfortable opening up with about some of the hardest things in your life. I am aware this may be vulnerable, and I will be delicate.

Looking for an eating disorder therapist in Utah?

You don’t have to keep struggling with your eating disorder. I know it feels like the cycle will never end when it comes to eating and food, but this Utah Counseling Practice has an eating disorder therapist specializing in eating disorder therapy who can help you make peace with food. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with an eating disorder therapist in Utah

3. Begin eating disorder recovery

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah

When you are struggling with an eating disorder, I know how important it is to have the reassurance that you are receiving treatment from someone that knows how to help you recover. Unfortunately, many parts of Utah don’t have an eating disorder therapist access. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. It’s safe, convenient, and allows you to connect with an online eating disorder therapist without traveling.

I provide eating disorder therapy to women located in Logan, Heber, Cedar City, St. George, Salt Lake City, and more.

Other mental health services provided in Utah

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

Self-Compassion: Why You Need It and 3 Ways to Practice It

It’s that time of year. The time of year where we are pressured to change our bodies and to get “back on track”. The message is to slim and sculpt all in the name of “health”. For me, this is the time of year where I want to check in with YOU on maybe having different goals that don’t involve manipulating your body into something or someone it’s not.

 At the beginning of the year, I posted this photo and told you 2021 was the year I was going to stop apologizing or making disclaimers for my appearance rather than trying to change it. My goal for all my clients and really every woman is to have much less focus and attention on their bodies. We can do that with the language we choose to use with ourselves and to others about our bodies. Our bodies don’t need another diet, fitness challenge, or calorie-counting app. They need kindness and self-compassion regardless of their size or weight. 

Self-compassion is the goal. 

Whether you are reading at New Year or not, this is for any time of the year. Rather than trying to change your body as a goal, try to focus more on having self-compassion. Those that I work with aren’t always hyped to work on self-compassion. What they worry about is that if they try being more kind to themselves they won’t achieve their goals. They believe part of what has made them successful is because they don’t give themselves a break. They fear that if they speak to themselves with more kindness, they’re going to end up lazy and unmotivated. 

You don’t need to be mean to yourself to be motivated. Let me tell you more about why that belief is not true. There is a woman Kristin Neff,  who has spent her life researching self-compassion, and she has found the opposite to be true. The more unkind and mean we are to ourselves, the LESS motivated we are. As humans, we are motivated by safety and gentleness. When we feel safe and comforted, that’s when we are most likely to be motivated and to do our best work. 

If you are truly being honest with yourself, have you ever felt truly motivated when someone else has been critical of you by pointing out your flaws and telling you that they don’t believe in you? Sure, some of us have an inner rebel that wants to prove people wrong but most of the time we don’t feel uplifted and motivated to do hard things when people speak to us that way. The same is true when you speak to yourself the same way. You will feel more stressed and less inclined to perform at your best. 

Self-compassion has positive benefits on mental health

Being mean and judgemental to yourself increases symptoms of anxiety and depression. Just the opposite is also true, being kind and compassionate to yourself can decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. There’s plenty of research that shows that those that are kinder to themselves are less anxious, sad, stressed, and perfectionistic toward themselves. People that are nice to themselves are actually happier and more positive. 

Self-compassion allows you to give more of yourself to others

The women I work with love to give to others. They don’t want to be seen as selfish and self-indulgent. They actively avoid trying to be this type of person. I know that they worry that being self-compassionate is selfish. Again, the opposite is true. The more we focus on giving ourselves self-compassion and kindness, the more capacity we end up having to be there for other people in the ways we want to. 

3 ways to practice self-compassion

1. Speak to yourself the way you would speak to a friend

   Maybe you’ve heard the statement, “Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend”. Those I work with would never even dream of talking to the people in their lives the way they talk to themselves, even those they don’t like. The compassion you give to others is the same compassion that you deserve to give to yourself. You know how to be kind to others, and you are good at it. Practice speaking to yourself the same way you would to someone you care about. 

2. Focus on connecting with others

   We live in so much comparing ourselves to other people. We notice where we fall short of others or how they’re better than we are. In the end, this never results in long-term fulfillment.  We can also feel like we are the only one that struggles or feels alone. Rather than isolating and comparing, focus on cultivating and connecting with others. When we find people that are safe to be real and vulnerable with, this helps us not only to feel less alone but is an act of self-compassion.

3. Notice your experience and give yourself validation

   Be honest with yourself about how difficult what you are going through truly is. Check in with how you are really feeling. You might be prone to minimize it and tell people, “I’m fine!” and that you’ll get through it. Maybe let yourself be honest with yourself that what you’re going through is hard. The way you feel isn’t sunshine and rainbows all the time; let yourself know it’s ok! Tell yourself you’re having a hard time right now, and it’s ok that you feel this way. 

Counseling will help you get to the root

You are worthy of self-compassion. You do deserve it. It doesn’t matter what anyone in your life has said to you or how they’ve made you feel, you do deserve gentleness, comfort, and safety. Your life will drastically improve with more self-compassion. Going to counseling can help you work through those past experiences that make you hard on yourself. Sometimes it is difficult to give yourself all the compassion you deserve when you haven’t been able to heal from the past. Some people have a lot of trouble with being able even to begin trying to be more kind to themselves. They can think of all the reasons why they don’t deserve to offer themselves self-compassion. Therapy can really help you dig into why it’s hard and ways to help you be more kind to yourself.

Ready to start anxiety therapy in utah?

Self-compassion is often an approach to dealing with the symptoms of anxiety. You can learn to manage your anxiety and be more self-compassionate, and anxiety therapy can help. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an anxiety therapist specializing in anxiety treatment. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a therapist for anxiety

3. Begin cultivating self-compassion

Online Anxiety Therapy in Utah

I offer online therapy in Utah for anxiety treatment. I know that trying to find time to take off work to meet with a therapist and this ends up being a reason to put off going to therapy. I love online counseling because it saves travel time and is just as effective as in-person therapy.

I work with clients all over Utah, including St. George, Cedar City, Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

10 Books That May Be Helpful in Eating Disorder Therapy

Before I share with you some book recommendations, I want to make sure you know this: self-help books are not a substitution for therapy. I know you may have read plenty, and it still wasn’t enough. My goal in sharing these with you is for them to help you throughout the therapeutic process or if you’re cruising this blog and just thinking about therapy but aren’t quite ready to take that step, to help you before you start. These are books I recommend over and over to my clients so I decided to compile them all in one hot spot for you to reference if you wish.

1. Intuitive Eating

“Intuitive Eating” is the book I need everyone on the entire planet to read. Intuitive eating for eating disorder recovery is the sweet elixir in helping people with an eating disorder or disordered eating make peace with food. If you want the short version of it, Whether you are a chronic dieter, struggling with restriction, binging, or food just feels complicated to you, you have gotta get your hot, little hands on a copy of this. The vast majority of us have moved away from being connected with our internal bodily cues when it comes to eating, and this book will help you get back to it. Intuitive Eating is often a goal we focus on in therapy.

2. The Anti-Diet

Before you are tempted to start another diet or lifestyle change with food, read “The Anti-Diet”. This book identifies some of the harms of dieting and introduces the concept of “diet culture”. “The Anti-Diet will challenge what you’ve believed about dieting and wellness based on scientific research.

3. Health At Every Size

“Health At Every Size” challenges the preconceived notion that thinness=health. This book utilizes scientific research to challenge what we have been led to believe about weight and being healthy. “Health At Every Size” is not only a book but is a movement to accept the body you are in regardless of size. This is the approach I utilize in therapy with my clients. “Health At Every Size” has a primary focus to develop behaviors that promote health outside of weight loss.

4. Life without ED

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or if you think someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, read “Life Without ED”. I have had many clients read this book and finally understand their eating disorder in a new light. They have had their parents, husbands, friends, etc. read it to help get more insight and awareness on what it is like to have an eating disorder This is an extremely helpful read no matter where you or your loved one are at in recovery.

5. More Than A Body

“More Than A Body” is a powerful read on body image. It will challenge some of the ideals you are holding onto about your body. This book offers an alternative perspective on recognizing your body is good regardless of how it looks. The authors have done extensive research on body image, and if you are looking to improve in this area, this book will help you with this goal.

6. Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind To Yourself

“Self-Compassion” is a powerful book for my people that struggle to be kind to themselves. I work with people who hold high standards for themselves and give themselves a hard time when they don’t achieve those standards. Rather than focusing on self-esteem, practicing being kind and compassionate to yourself is what this book offers. Self-compassion is a big part of the therapeutic work I do with people, and this book can be helpful in understanding how to do that more fully.

7. Body Kindness

“Body Kindness” is based on four principles 1. What you do 2. How you feel 3. Who you are and 4. Where you belong. This book provides a practical approach to connect and care for yourself. It provides exercises and prompts to help you understand your values and how to live them. Most of us need help being kind to our bodies, and this book will help you do it.

8. The Body Is Not An Apology

“The Body Is Not An Apology” Oh man this book! This book is a powerful book on really healing your relationship with your body. I love the questions and prompts in this book that challenges how you view your body and other people’s bodies. This is a must read for body image work and the majority of clients I work with struggle with their body image.

9. The Body Keeps the Score

“The Body Keeps the Score” is the trauma bible. This is a heavy and comprehensive book of research and case studies on how trauma impacts the body and the brain. I find this book can be pretty triggering to people that have experiences trauma so I don’t recommend diving headfirst into reading it. I reference this book at least once a day as a therapist because of how often the concepts are useful in the work I do with clients. If you have experienced trauma and want to learn more about yourself, I would consider reading this book when you are in the emotional space to do so.

10. What Happened to You

“What Happened to You” is another trauma-informed book written by Oprah and a psychiatrist and trauma expert, Dr. Bruce Perry. This book is a good alternative to “The Body Keeps the Score” as it is less triggering to some. Oprah shares her experiences of trauma while Dr. Perry helps break trauma down and make sense of behaviors, emotions, and reactions through a scientific lens. This book may help you understand more fully your behavior and yourself.

I hope these books are useful to you as you work in therapy. I hope they help you understand more about yourself and to begin being more kind to yourself.

Looking for an eating disorder therapist in Utah?

You don’t have to remain stuck in your eating disorder. Eating disorder recovery isn’t something you must try to figure out yourself. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist specializing in eating disorder therapy. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a mental health professional

3. Begin healing from your eating disorder

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah

I know it’s difficult to find an eating disorder therapist in many parts of Utah. In order to really recover from your eating you need the help of a professional who has the experienced training and expertise. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. It’s effective and convenient while helping you dive into eating disorder recovery.

Online counseling also means wherever you are in Utah we can work together. I work with clients in Cedar City, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake City, Provo, Heber City, and more.

If Christmas Isn't Very Merry: A Guide To Surviving The Holidays

It’s the week of Christmas and maybe you’re feeling some things.

Maybe you are feeling excitement and magic in the air. Maybe you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed with all you have to do. Maybe you are counting down the days until Christmas. Maybe you are counting down until it’s all over.

As an anxiety therapist, I want you to know your stress is valid

Whatever you are feeling, I want you to know it’s valid. If you are feeling increased depression despite everyone else’s happiness and excitement, it’s valid. In fact, it’s you I want to speak to. I want to offer you some tenderness and kindness if this time of year is hard for you.

I set up my Christmas tree really early this year. Like the first week of November early. Last December, I was pretty sick for a good portion of it so Christmas didn’t feel the way it usually felt so I was eager to set it up my tree. It was also my first year of setting up a full Christmas tree in my office so it opened up plenty of conversation about how people feel about Christmas.

You might dread the holidays while everyone else is enjoying them

For some people, the holidays are something to dread. The holidays provoke anxiety, painful memories, and trigger deep sadness. This may be difficult to manage when it seems like everyone else is happy and having a good time. I want you to know you aren’t alone.

Many have shared stories of feeling worthless, unloved, and lonely. Christmas time unleashes some unsettled emotions and experiences. Christmas was where some deeply rooted negative beliefs were born. I want you to know that even if you and I haven’t met yet, I’m thinking of you. I know you are out there, and I know you are struggling. You deserve to feel better and have the kind of holiday you want to have.

Healing those past experiences of pain takes work. Hopefully, you know that’s what therapy can help with and since it takes time, it likely isn’t going to happen in the next few days. I want to invite you to do some things to take care of yourself.

Ways to use self-care during the holidays

1. Take time to relax

   I want you to take some time this week to sit alone in something cozy, with a blanket and maybe a warm drink. Maybe in a rocking chair under a heated blanket or in your pajamas on your closet floor, it really doesn’t matter. I want you to take a few minutes and just breathe. I want to allow you to let your body relax and enjoy a few moments, and realize you are safe. You may want to take some time and journal how you feel. I want you to offer yourself some kindness for however it is you feel. You aren’t trying to change how you feel but to just notice without judgment. If you need to cry, allow yourself to do so. If you feel angry, allow yourself to be. Wherever you are, honor it.

2. Treat yourself

   You may be thinking of the perfect gift to buy for the people in your life. I understand it’s who you are to be thoughtful of other people and want to get it just right. This also may be a time to gift yourself something during an emotionally challenging time. Maybe cheap socks from Target or a cozy blanket from Costco. Can you tell me where I shop at this point? It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy, although I’m not stopping you if you decide to do that! Whatever you decide to get for yourself, let it be symbolic that your needs are just as important as everyone else you’re thinking of and putting thoughts into.

3. Take time to check in with someone you trust

   Whether this is your therapist, friend or a family member, it may be helpful to check in with someone you can trust. Find someone you know you can be open with and who will be supportive of you. This may be a good opportunity to share more about what you are struggling with and describe what you need from them. You can ask if they can provide you with support and set up a specific time to check in. Sometimes it’s helpful just to know someone else knows you’re struggling, and you can be open and honest with what you are struggling with. You are a human and need support and kindness from others. This doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re trying to take care of yourself.

4. Spend sometime outside

   I know, I know, it’s freezing weather outside in the state of Utah. It is not lost on me that it can be uncomfortable to spend lengthy periods of time outside in December. You don’t need to hike Dominguez Hill this winter, but taking just a few moments to stand outside and take a few deep breaths can be helpful. You can briefly walk your dog around the neighborhood in the warmest part of the day or stand on your back porch and look at the night sky for even one minute. Slowing down your breathing in the fresh air can reduce anxiety a titch. The change of temperature is also a grounding skill if you feel overwhelmed in a social setting.

Take care of yourself and remember to offer yourself the kindness and compassion you would to other people.

I hope when you are ready, you’ll come to therapy. I want you to be able to work through those negative beliefs and painful experiences that have bubbled up this time of year. When women come to counseling feeling like you do and are dealing with anxiety and trauma, I always recommend using EMDR. I want to give you hope and believe that you will feel better regardless of your struggles.

Begin anxiety therapy in Utah

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Anxiety therapy can help you manage all that you have to deal with in your life. This Northern Utah Counseling Practice has an anxiety therapist specializing in anxiety treatment. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a therapist for anxiety

3. Start finding relief from anxiety

Work with an anxiety therapist online in Utah

I know you are busy, and finding time to attend another appointment is hard. When you have anxiety, it’s difficult to think about finding the right place to go for an appointment, and sometimes it prevents you from reaching out for help. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Anxiety treatment online is just as effective as in-person therapy.

You can work with an online anxiety therapist if you live in Logan, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, Salt Lake City, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

3 Self-Care Destinations To Visit In the State of Utah

If you are a human who struggles in the Winter and finds it impacts your mental health, I want you to know that 1. you are definitely not alone and 2. there’s nothing wrong with you. The lack of sunshine and shortened daylight can decrease serotonin production in humans, and certain people are more vulnerable than others.

It’s important to utilize more self-care if you struggle with generalized anxiety disorder

I am certainly by no means suggesting that self-care is going to cure depression or anxiety. It can help you cope, get through it, and take the edge off. Self-care, most of all is an act of self-compassion, which is pretty critical when you are feeling low energy and lacking motivation.

Self-care isn’t about avoidance

I want to clarify what self-care really is and what it isn’t. Self-care is about being gentle and kind to yourself. It’s about taking space and time to connect with yourself and your emotions. Self-care is the act of listening to your needs and being present. Any self-care activity could be used to avoid regardless. It’s truly taking space to be more in tune with your needs. I want to emphasize that so hard.

Self-care isn’t about being selfish

My clients are pretty scared of being selfish. They are lovers and givers, and selfishness is something they’ll avoid at all costs. If self-care is selfish, they’re not going to do it. I want to provide some reassurance to you that self-care is not about having a desire to take from someone else or cause anyone any harm. It’s the opposite. It’s about replenishing your resources and your needs so you can show up for the people in your life the way you want to. You are a human, and there’s just no way around this ;). You have physical and emotional needs that are critical to listen to, and your body will make sure you do. While I’m going to recommend places to go to focus on self-care, what you do in these places is going to make the ultimate difference. Here are some self-care activities to try in these areas.

1. Meditation

   Meditation can be brief and still have a profound impact. I often recommend the “Insight Timer” app to download on your phone to help with guided meditation. They have a number of meditations and for different categories, and you can pick a time frame to meditate. This app is my favorite to help anyone get started with meditation.

2. Deep Breathing

   I recommend taking time while you’re outdoors to focus on your breathing. This isn’t a fancy activity but it actually has incredible benefits. Deep breathing slows down your heart rate and can help you think more clearly. It also overall has a calming effect on your body

3. Journaling

   There are so many incredible effects of journaling! This really helps with processing emotions. By taking time to journal, whether it’s using a pen and paper to journal or taking notes on your phone, it can help you identify and sort through emotions. Consistency with journaling can honestly change your life.

4. Mindful Movement

   Moving your body in ways that help you feel more present and kind to yourself is key. Mindful movement means being in touch with your body and noticing what feels mentally and physically good. Being gentle with your body’s limitations is also an important aspect of self-care.

5. Sleep

   Sleep hygiene for the win baby! Getting adequate, deep sleep is essential for mental health. Keeping your bedtime and wake time consistent helps ensure the benefits of sleep. Make sure to prioritize this as it’s critical for your human functioning.

6. Unplug

   Disconnecting from your phone and social media often is a healthy practice and a form of self-care. If you can unplug from using your phone and other electronic devices for even a few hours, you’ll find it may be helpful. Constantly being connected through social media, phone calls, texting, e-mail etc., can be overwhelming. Try and take a break if you can.

1. Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins, Utah

We all know if you have to survive a Utah winter, at some point you gotta travel to St. George for better weather. I love going to Snow Canyon State Park and hiking. I recommend the Petrified Dunes Trail because it’s my favorite. You could also consider renting an e-bike from Kova Rentals, and riding through Snow Canyon instead of hiking, or maybe do both? Whichever self-care adventure you choose, definitely follow it up with a meal at Viva Chicken in St. George.

2. Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah

Another Southern Utah destination, Zion National Park in Springdale. This place has some killer views and definitely can show you a good time. I love the Emerald Pools hike and would recommend it. You could also ride the shuttle around and see the views from the window if that’s more your style. The Weeping Rock trail is another short hike you could also try and not regret it. After you’re done with Zion National Park, I need you to do me a favor and eat at Oscar’s Cafe. I have never been before but have had many recommendations. Try it and tell me how it was.

Park City, Utah

You could take the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and enjoy the killer views. This could take up to 3 hours of your time. You could also take a walk down Historic Main Street if you are into art galleries and shopping. Utah Olympic Park is also a place to visit to learn more about skiing and the Olympics. Align Spa in Park City also offers massage services if you want to give your body some extra care.

Again, remember, regardless of where you are or what you are doing, the connection and compassion you give to yourself will make a difference. Recovery and rest are important self-care for you to show up for the people in your life the way you want to.

Anxiety therapy is worth trying

Sometimes you can do all the self-care in the world, and it still feels like something is missing. Self-care is important to incorporate into your life to reduce stress and make life more manageable. However, it isn’t a cure for mental health struggles. If you struggle with anxiety, therapy can be powerful at helping you be able to manage it more effectively. Working with a trained professional will make more difference than you may even realize.

Begin anxiety therapy in Utah

You don’t have to keep living life overwhelmed. Anxiety therapy can help you make life more manageable. This Utah Counseling Clinic has an anxiety therapist who specializes in anxiety therapy. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a therapist for anxiety

3. Begin finding relief from anxiety symptoms

Online Anxiety Therapy in Utah

When you struggle with anxiety, it can be hard to reach out for help. It’s scary to think about meeting with a therapist or even trying to find their office. I totally get it and want you to be able to go to therapy because I know it’s worth it. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Counseling online is just as effective as in-person therapy. Some people worry they won’t get what they need from the experience if they don’t meet in person. With technology, the experience is just as effective as in-person.

Working with an online therapist also means that we can work together if you are located in St. George, Cedar City, Heber, Logan, Salt Lake City, or elsewhere in Utah.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

Why I Became a Therapist

“Why did you decide to be a therapist?”

As often as I have been asked that question, I still stumble over my words. I don’t think I have ever fully unscrambled it in my brain before now. Let’s process it together now, shall we?

I decided to become a therapist in high school

I have this distinct memory of sitting in freshman English class and deciding I wanted to be a therapist. I didn’t know what a therapist was exactly. I hadn’t taken any psychology classes but knew it was a career centered around compassion and caring for others.

Later that year, I remember being handed an envelope with my name on it. Inside was a letter letting me know that in a school-wide anonymous survey, my name was submitted by students as someone they would trust in or confide in if they were struggling. This was shocking to me. I was not wildly popular but actually blended in. I was friendly to other people and had many acquaintances but not many really close friends.

That letter invited me to join about 15 other people who had been selected as “Natural Helpers” to receive training on how to help other students struggling with mental health. We went to a retreat and had monthly meetings. It was there that I started learning about eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles.

Helping people changed my life

It was life-altering to be a part of something that was focused on having a purpose, meaning and offering other people compassion. It helped me develop meaningful relationships. It also helped me feel more positively about myself to think that I was helping and caring for other people in need.

It’s crazy for me to think that as a 15-year-old, my career goal never changed. I went to college and diligently went through the course catalog and identified all of the classes I needed to take to graduate, and then I went to graduate school, and here we are now just doing the thing.

Having positive role models impacted my desire to become a therapist

I think another part that interested me here is how I grew up. I had compassionate parents and grandparents. They valued loving and caring for other people, which also became important to me. Another part is being a child was challenging for me, especially in my teenage years. While I don’t work with teenagers anymore, I never want anyone to feel alone or unloved.

I also remember having friends older than me and being told I was a good listener and gave good advice. Obviously, I know now that therapy isn’t about giving advice, but it made me feel that maybe being a therapist is something I could be good at.

Now almost twenty years later, I work with some of my favorite types of people. People inspire me with their determination to be better versions of themselves. People who continue to help me progress and improve myself as a person and as a therapist.

Start eating disorder therapy in Utah

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, you don’t have to keep living this way forever. This Northern Utah Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist who can help. To begin eating disorder therapy, 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

When you are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to work with someone that has the specialized training and experience to help you with eating disorder recovery. Many parts of Utah don’t have access to eating disorder treatment. This is why I offer online therapy in Utah. This makes it so you don’t have to travel to therapy appointments and can receive therapy in the comfort of your own home.

You can access eating disorder therapy if you are located in St. George, Cedar City, Heber, Logan, Salt Lake City, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

'Tis the Season of Giving Less: Signs You're Giving Too Much

While it is the season where we are focused more on giving, the concept of giving less to others is always relevant.

Overcommitting and serving others is something the people I work with struggle with all year long. It just so happens that this time of year, which is known as “the season of giving” so it’s extra hot right now. It may be the time of year where you give extra even though you really didn’t have much more to give.

You might be a giver all year long. Maybe you read that and don’t think it’s true because you could always be giving and doing more for other people. Can we be real with each other right now though? Sometimes all the giving, serving, and loving you do is at your own expense. If we want to be even more honest with each other maybe it’s happening a lot of times. I know you care about people and love to take care of others. Like all of us humans though, sometimes you don’t want to give to others but do so out of obligation, guilt, or fear of being a bad person.

There are negative consequences to giving too much to others.

By giving too much you become burned out and resentful. It might surprise you to know this is actually a normal and healthy reaction. You are meant to feel those emotions when you’ve given too much or you’ve been taken advantage of. Emotions are messages that communicate important things to us. You might feel angry when you are asked to do one more thing because you’re exhausted and haven’t had time to even catch your breath. Anger isn’t your enemy like you think it is but is actually designed to help you set boundaries and to say no so you can get back to doing what you love and care about.

If you aren’t angry, maybe your body is giving you other signs to slow and to be giving less to others.

Signs you need to be giving and doing less:

1. You’re feeling more tired than usual.

   If you find yourself feeling exhausted and don’t have the energy you are used to having, maybe it’s a sign you’re doing too much. Our bodies give us messages that it’s time to slow down by letting us know it’s giving too much. This is not a weakness of your body but is actually a sign your body is functioning and doing too much.

2. You feel irritable and angry about what is required of you.

   Let me reiterate again, it’s normal to feel angry and upset when there is either more asked of us, or we feel obligated to do more. These emotions let us know if someone has crossed our boundaries if we feel taken advantage o, and to do something about it. Yes decreasing and regulating these emotions are important for our relationships and well-being AND also looking at them as helpful and a message to us is equally as important.

3. You’re more prone to illness than before.

   If you’re noticing your body is getting easily and more often, it might mean you’re exerting too much of yourself. This is another sign from your body to do something differently. While maybe you aren’t doing anything physically taxing, it doens’t seem to matter to our bodies because the emotional toll is equally as exhausting.

4. You’re having trouble sleeping.

   Sleep really suffers when we are feeling overwhelmed or we have a lot on our plate. You may be having stressful sleep and vivid dreams or trouble falling or staying asleep altogether. This is problematic because our bodies require sleep in order to function but sleep is also significant to our mental health.

When we are feeling burned out and resentful, it probably means it’s high time to set some boundaries baby!

Boundaries are critical to keeping our mental health intact. Boundaries aren’t about keeping others out but rather keeping what we value and care about safe. We all need boundaries, and our relationships require boundaries to be healthy.

Ways to set boundaries:

1. Just say no

   You learned it in elementary school in your DARE program, and you learn it again now as an adult: just say no. You don’t need to offer explanations or justifications for your answer. You can politely just say no.

2. Turn down service opportunities

   Contrary to what you may be telling yourself, you aren’t a bad person if you turn down a service opportunity. It’s not your job to take care of everyone and everything. I know your value to take care of other people runs strong and equally as important is for you to take care of yourself.

3. Don’t attend every activity you’re invited to

   You may be invited to do and participate in a lot of different activities but you don’t need to say yes to all of them. Quality over quantity is what’s important. You don’t have to show up to family dinner every week. You don’t have to go to every game night or every sporting event. It doesn’t make you a bad person if don’t do it all. Choose what is most important to you and focus on this.

Remember your emotions are messages, not your enemies

The goal is not to change your feelings but to listen to them and act upon what they’re saying to you. If you’re going to end up resentful, do not give up. Consider before you commit to something, is it going to make you resentful? If the answer is yes, don’t do it. The goal is to show up for the people you love and care about in a genuine and authentic way. Giving isn’t always about having a “grin and bear it” attitude. I know relationships mean a lot to you, and you are great at them but don’t let it be at your own expense.

I’m going to say what I said before but in bold so you can have this message reiterated to you….

It doesn’t make you a bad person to say no

I understand if that goes against everything you’ve believed about yourself and being selfless. I think it can be easy to forget that you and your needs matter just as much as everyone else’s.

Quality over quantity is important when we have this value of giving. Take care of yourself and MAYBE practice letting other people take care of you. You’re doing the best you can and just as you like to give to other people, try giving back to yourself.

Working with an anxiety therapist can help.

If this all feels out of reach and difficult to do on your own, that’s ok! Therapy can help. There are probably reasons why this is difficult for you, and maybe you don’t even know what those are. The focus of therapy is to help dig into these emotions of guilt and anger and to get you feeling better about yourself. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, body image, trauma, or disordered eating, I would love to help. Therapy is meant to be a place to help you share what you are feeling and sort it all out.

Begin therapy for high-functioning anxiety in Utah

if you find yourself giving too much and being afraid to take a step back. You might have symptoms of high-functioning anxiety. This Northern Utah Counseling Practice has an anxiety therapist specializing in high-functioning anxiety. To begin counseling, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a therapist for anxiety

3. Begin finding freedom from fear

Online anxiety therapy in Utah

In an effort to make going to therapy more accessible to you, I provide online therapy in Utah. Online therapy is safe, convenient, and just as effective as in-person therapy.

Online Counseling also means that I can work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with clients in Cedar City, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, and more.

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy

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

What You Think You Know About Eating Disorders is Probably Wrong

I remember in a 9th-grade health class learning about eating disorders. I gave a presentation on bulimia that year also.  Maybe you can tell by now that my interest in eating disorders has existed for a long time. What I learned in health class that year left out a large population of people struggling with eating disorders, and when I think about it now it honestly crushes me. 

Eating disorders don’t just impact young, white women

If I could sum up what I was taught that year in two sentences it’s this: White women from teens to college-aged,  struggle with either starving themselves or throwing up after they eat. If you have anorexia, you will be severely underweight. 

Wrong. 

It devastates me to think of how many people in that class themselves or someone they loved didn’t feel included because it did not describe their symptoms. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how many people that definition excludes. 

Eating disorders exist in every age, gender, and race.

Yes women struggle with eating disorders and this is who I work with but men also experience eating disorders. Eating disorders aren’t just for white women. They are found among different races and ethnicities with both people that are quite young, and some that are older. Eating disorders don’t discriminate.

You cannot tell someone has an eating disorder based on what they look like

We have been led to believe that in order to have an eating disorder you are drastically underweight and lose your period. Here’s the truth, less than 6 percent of people with eating disorders are underweight. This means that 94 percent of people with eating disorders are in the “normal” weight range or “above normal”. The women I work with that have eating disorders or disordered eating, aren’t underweight most of the time. The majority of the time! I have said it here before and I will say it again… People of any and all weights can have an eating disorder, and it can be deadly without it looking like it is.

Weight COULD BE an indicator of an eating disorder but it’s not the most important one.

It’s one of many. It’s the behaviors that matter. It’s the emotional and mental struggle that matters. It’s the rigidity, the need for control, the hurt and pain. That’s what matters. 

I don’t want you to even hesitate to reach out for help because of what you think you look like or what you think you’re supposed to weigh to get help. I pinky promise you that I don’t care what you weigh nor am I even using weight to decide if you have disordered eating.

People with binge eating disorder may not believe their eating disorder is as valid as others.

Many of the women I work with struggle with binge eating, and they are suffocating in shame. To them, they didn’t get the “good eating disorder,” and what they don’t realize is that binge eating occurs as a result of restriction. It has nothing to do with self-control but because it’s your brain's natural response to being deprived of food for so long. Your eating disorder deserves treatment and helps like any other eating disorder. 

Eating disorder therapy in Utah can help

I imagine thinking about how to overcome your eating disorder on your own feels overwhelming. It’s difficult to try and do this alone, and you don’t have to. You truly deserve to be at peace with food and your body. You don’t have to keep feeling guilty about eating, and you don’t have to keep trying to shrink your body. Eating disorder therapy can help you make peace with food and your body. It doesn’t matter how bad you think your eating disorder is or isn’t, counseling can help you stop the cycle that you’re in. It’s hard to imagine life without your eating disorder, but I promise you can be happier than you’ve ever been without it.

Begin working with an eating disorder therapist in Utah

You can let your eating disorder go, but I know it’s hard to do it alone. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a caring therapist

3. Begin eating disorder recovery

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah

I know how important it is to have access to an eating disorder therapist who specializes in eating disorders and knows how to help you through eating disorder recovery. I realize Utah has many parts of the state without an eating disorder therapist, and this is why I offer eating disorder therapy through online therapy in Utah.

Online counseling means that no matter where you are in Utah, I can help you. This means if you are located in Heber, Logan, Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, and more, we can work together.

Other mental health services provided by Maple C/anyon Therapy

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

About the Author

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Utah and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy outside of Provo, Utah. Ashlee graduated from Southern Utah University with a bachelor’s in psychology and a bachelor’s in family life and human development. Her master’s degree is in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee has worked at an eating disorder treatment center in all levels of care but has enjoyed working in outpatient most. She enjoys helping women get the life they deserve and break free from their eating disorders. Outside of therapy, Ashlee enjoys exploring Utah and has enjoyed Tibble Creek up American Fork Canyon.