Blog
4 Tips To Successfully Co-Parent After A Divorce: Good Things Utah
Divorces are traumatic, painful, and messy; there are so many raw emotions to work through, but if children are involved, the most important priority for two adults is to work to make sure that their kids are well taken care of. Here are four tips to successfully co-parent following a divorce:
LDS Bishops' Interviews & Sexuality: Mormon Land Podcast
The #MeToo hashtag (and the subsequent exposing of many high-profile figures as sexual predators) has given us as a society a lot to grapple with. From a Latter-day Saint perspective, some are questioning how appropriate it is for bishops to be talking about sexual matters with young people (particularly girls). I recently sat down with former LDS bishop Richard Ostler to talk about these critical issues for the Mormon Land Podcast. Here are some highlights from our discussion:
4 Easy Ways To Strengthen Your Marriage: Good Things Utah
When we think of strengthening our marriage relationship, it's easy to think of big, dramatic actions, like going to therapy or buying expensive gifts for our spouse, but renowned marriage researcher Dr. John Gottman says that it's actually the little things that make all the difference. Here are 4 easy ways to improve your marriage:
Turning Envy Into Admiration: Studio 5
Social media makes it so that a lot of us regularly experience feelings of envy, resentment, and even shame, but by learning to reframe these emotions into admiration, you can be happier and even get closer to what you want.
Why Worry Isn't Love: KSL Mom Show
It seems we worry a lot, don't we? We worry about our husbands, we worry about our family finances, we worry about what's happening in the world, but perhaps most of all, we worry about our kids. And while worry is understandable (and certainly something that every mother has experienced!), it really doesn't do us any good at all.
Debunking Modern-day Motherhood Myths: KSL Mom Show
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lindsay Aerts of KSL's "The Mom Show" and share my thoughts about certain motherhood expectations that seem to permeate our society. I loved this topic, as it touches on so many themes that are important to me: Mormon culture, mental health, families, and social media. Here are some common modern-day motherhood myths debunked!
Assertiveness & Women's Sexuality: Mormon Sex Info Podcast
Sometimes Mormon culture seems to perpetuate the idea that women exist solely as a helpmeet or support person for others (namely their husband and children). We often define ourselves in relation to other people, and while it's wonderful to be focused on relationships, we may unintentionally begin to lose sight of own selves. When it comes
The Secret To A Happier Marriage: Good Things Utah
Recently, I was interviewed by "Good Things Utah" as to what is the secret to a happier, healthier marriage. And really, who doesn't want this kind of marriage? One in which both partners feel connected, valued, and loved. From my 20+ years of experience as a clinical counselor, I've found that fostering the skill of empathy can really make all the difference for couples.
Mormon Culture and The Problem of Assertiveness: A Thoughtful Faith Podcast
As a therapist, one of my favorite things to observe and write about is the intersection of religious beliefs and mental/emotional health. That's why I was so excited to sit down with Gina Colvin of "A Thoughtful Faith" podcast and discuss Mormon culture in terms of assertiveness, specifically challenges LDS women may experience when it comes to being assertive. Here are some of the main themes from our conversation:
How to Let Go of Labels: Studio 5
Have you ever noticed how much we label each other? Particularly as women, we tend to put each other in boxes: there's the Pinterest mom, the Amazon-Prime mom, the athlete mom, the working mom, the stay-at-home mom, and the list goes on. In life, we need to organize things to make sense of them in our brains, but it can be problematic when we try to categorize people as well. Human beings are multi-dimensional, and labels, even positive ones ("the pretty one," or "the smart one"), can be limiting. Here are some strategies to move beyond this and see each other as really people:
The 3 Communication Stances: Are You a Doormat, Sword, or Lantern?
There are three stances we can take when communicating in difficult circumstances. The lantern is the goal for all communication. A lantern values her own feelings and thoughts but is also mindful of and sensitive toward those of others. Individuals with a doormat stance often allow their own needs and feelings to be trampled on. Those with a sword stance are perhaps too vocal, even pushy, about their views, as they express them in ways that are harsh and alienating to others.
Normalizing the Challenges of Marriage: Elephant Talk Podcast Interview
Whether or not we admit it, everyone has problems in their marriages. Everyone. So many times, it seems that we think we're the only ones struggling in our relationship with our spouse, and this can cause intense feelings of shame and inadequacy.