Author Archives: ashleyf

By: Sarah Thorn

Introduction

Did you know that according to a study, 86% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies in some way (Hirschmann & Munter, 1995)? Body-image issues plague girls and women of all ages. Having a negative body-image causes low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. In this post, we will discuss what body-image issues look like, where it stems from, and how to help change our deeply held negative beliefs about our bodies.

What is Body-Image?

According to psychologist Amy Launder, there are four parts of body image:

• The way you visually perceive your body 
• The way you feel about how you look
• The thoughts and beliefs you hold about your body 
• And the things you do related to the way you look (diets, photoshop, tanning, etc.)

(https://www.amylaunder.com/blog/the-4-aspects-of-body-image)

What Does Negative Body-Image Look Like?

If you believe that your worth, happiness, and success is based on whether you look “good”, you are likely struggling with body-image issues. Often, women hold the belief that if they lose the weight, or get the nose job, or get the hair-extensions, they will finally be happy – only to discover they are just as unfulfilled as they were before. When we are seeking intrinsic happiness and fulfillment in extrinsic things (such as how we look), we will never find it. Many eating disorders are formed by striving to feel valued and worthy by looking a certain way and going to extremes to try to achieve their goals. 

Where Do Body-Image Issues Come From?

We are constantly bombarded with ads, images, and videos that are all centered on outer appearance. What clothes to buy, what serums to use on our skin, what hair products famous models are using, and on and on and on… Not only that, but we have filters, photoshop, plastic surgery, makeup contouring, and so on. Why wouldn’t a woman struggle with the way they look when they are constantly being told what to do to look better?

How Can I Change My Body-Image from Negative to Positive?

It is difficult to ignore all the societal messages we receive every day, that essentially tell us through their advertising that we are not good enough. However, it is possible to relearn what self-worth means, and to change our negative core beliefs about ourselves to positive. Listed below are eight things we can do to re-create our body-image beliefs:

• Appreciate all that your body can do
• Keep a top-ten list of all the things you like about yourself 
• Remind yourself that “true beauty” is NOT skin-deep.
• Become a critical viewer of social media and media messages
• Remember that your body is NOT an object, but an instrument 
• Remember that your body is good, regardless of how it looks 
• Wear clothes that are comfortable, and help you feel confident
• Surround yourself with positive people

#Remember 

It is all too common to base our worth on our outer appearance, but luckily, we have the power to change what we believe. Every second of every day is a new opportunity to start shifting our mindset from external validation to internal. Practice self-compassion and give yourself patience as you embark on changing your views about your physical appearance. You are so much more than a body!

Holiday Tips Catered to Your Attachment Style, Good Things Utah Segment

By: Ashley & Laurin, CEOs

VIDEO HERE!

What is“Attachment”?

We all have an innate desire to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging, we first begin to learn how to attach at birth from our two primary caregivers. This is essentially what sets the tone of how you manage and engage in relationships through adulthood.

What is an “Attachment Style”?

There are four basic styles of attachment: Secure (this is the goal), Anxious (clingy, needy), Avoidant (surface connection), Disorganized (I need you but don’t come too close).

Holiday Tips for Anxious Attachment:

• Maintain sense of self
  • People Pleasing habits may get in the way of wanting others’ approval, instead doing activities you love to maintain a sense of self.
• Practice Personal Boundaries
  • Controlled detachment to allow yourself to enjoy the emotional aspects of the holidays while not trying to control the outcome

Holiday Tips for Avoidant Attachment:

• Look for and focus on the elements you love about the holidays
  • Try not to overthink about the hesitations you may have about one thing or another, rather look forward to an individual you are excited to see, the festive foods, or the quirky holiday music.
• Plan social engagement/conversations.
  • If you know who will be attending the event, plan things you would like to know about them and have follow up questions, closing questions and perhaps some ways to excuse yourself (learn to organically lead and close conversations)
• Reward yourself with alone time
  • You may feel overwhelmed after socializing so much so plan to relax after you event and that may help you in feeling more motivated to go

Holiday Tips for Disorganized Attachment:

• Start small!
  • Plan to meet up with family before a bigger event, connect with someone you are comfortable with first at the party
• Remember to not accept your fears about what may happen as fact
  • Try to see yourself in a positive light, Fear: “I will be so awkward, nobody will want to talk to me”. Challenge the Fear: “People have talked to me at these events in the past, there is no reason why this time will be different.”.
• You do not have to do it all, Protect Your Mental Health
  • Use your best judgment to know if a certain event will be beneficial to you (and your family), it does not matter the pressure or guilt you may be receiving from others- make you a priority. 

To learn more about these things, how to better apply them, or how to apply these tips and tricks to help your kids and grandkids visit our website and read more on our blog.

We also offer in person and telehealth appointments to help individuals, couples and families to achieve their goals.

Overcoming Holiday Burnout

By: Kyra Littledike, CSW, Logan Office Therapist

Do the holidays not seem to be as magical as they once were? Do you feel more dread than joy as you watch the holiday decorations and festivities make their re-appearance?

It is no secret that the holiday season can be both a happy and overwhelming time for everyone. However, they can be more overwhelming and difficult for those who are struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief.

In preparation for the 2022 holiday season, we want to give you five tips to help you avoid holiday burnout so you can be more present and engaged with the ones you love.

Tip #1: You Can Say No

It is important to be realistic in the expectations you have for yourself and others in periods of increased stress. The holidays can demand more time and money than we may really have to offer. Though it is uncomfortable, it is okay to say no and set limits on what you can/are willing to do. It is okay if you cannot realistically attend the three holiday parties you were invited to or buy a present for every house in your neighborhood.

Tip #2: Take Breaks

Having more on your holiday to-do list and a jam-packed schedule full of holiday activities naturally steals away from downtime. Be intentional about scheduling some breaks, even if it is just to watch your favorite Christmas movie.

Time with family also increases during the holiday season. While this is a fun time to reconnect with those we may not see often, it can result in conflict and boundary violations. When anxiety or frustration may start to rise, take a ten-to-fifteen-minute break or walk outside to regulate.

Tip #3: Create/Maintain Traditions

Family and personal traditions bring a lot of excitement and meaning to the holiday season. Prioritizing meaningful traditions can help you in building connections and bring you closer to the ones you love. Choose to create and maintain traditions that spark joy and excitement within you. They will likely create memories that you will lovingly reflect on even when the season is over.

Tip #4: Take Care of Yourself

As the stress of the holiday season increases, self-care can quickly decrease. Staying emotionally regulated and completing the tasks and demands of the season are going to feel impossible if you are not fully rested, providing your body with the nutrition it needs, and staying hydrated. Even taking time to exercise thirty minutes a day, can help in improving mood, increasing motivation, and decreasing potential holiday weight gain.

Tip #5: Ask for Help

The holidays are more enjoyable when surrounded by the ones you love. Do not be afraid to reach out and ask those around you for help. We do not have to do things alone and often there is someone that is ready and willing to help; we just have to ask. The professionals at Connections Family Wellness are also here to help you in managing your holiday blues.

For additional information, you can contact us at (801) 871-5118.

We wish you a happy holiday season!

Hosted By Connections Family Wellness’ therapist, Grief Yoga® certified teacher, and sound healer Angie Shultz

Transforming Grief into Empowerment a healing experience using movement, breath, and sound. Why talking about grief may not be enough to heal it
Grief lives in the body. No matter how many times you tell yourself all the “right” things in your head, you may still feel loss lurking in your chest, the pit of your stomach, and the knots in your shoulders. The emotion stored in your tissues can keep you awake at night, disrupt your moods, and hijack your relationships. Movement can mobilize that energy and transmute it, allowing you to heal.

What if I’m not very athletic?

Grief Yoga® is for people of all ages and fitness levels. The goal isn’t to turn you into a pretzel or build physical strength and endurance. Instead, the focus is on emotional transformation. The movements can be done either from a chair or a yoga mat.

What can I expect at a Grief Yoga® class?

It’s not your typical yoga class! Grief Yoga® draws from many different traditions, including hatha, yin, kundalini, laughter yoga, and dance your yoga, and combines them in a way unlike any of the original forms. Every class is the opportunity for a deep emotional journey. We will use movement breath and sound to connect to your feelings of loss, witness and express them, and then shift into feelings of connection and peace.
Every class ends with a relaxing crystal bowl sound bath.
What is a sound bath?
There is no water involved! A sound bath is a form of healing in which crystal bowls of various sizes are played by an experienced practitioner. The patterns of vibration promote relaxation and stress reduction.

When are classes available?
Three and four-session packages of grief yoga are offered at regular intervals at ConnectionsFamily Wellness 965 S 100 W Suite 106 Logan, Utah. Call for the next start date. (801) 871-5118.
Offered by Angie Schultz, CSW, RYT-200, Grief Yoga® certified teacher, and sound healer

Hosted by Connections Family Wellness’ therapist and mindfulness expert Angie Shultz

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by hassles and obligations? Do your stress levels keep inching up as the week goes on? Do you sometimes find yourself checking out, or going through life on autopilot, just to get through the day? What if there were an easy, inexpensive way to check back in? To feel fully engaged with the people around you? To start really savoring your own life? Midweek Mindfulness at Connections Family Wellness could be just what you are looking for.

Is This Class for Me?

So, what does a mindfulness class look like? Midweek Mindfulness at Connections Family Wellness is a fun blend of practical techniques like guided meditation and conscious movement that bring you back in tune with yourself. Most class sessions also include a crystal bowl sound bath. It’s a great way to reset when the busy week has you feeling scattered or uncentered.

Why Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the state of being fully connected with your own inner and outer experiences. Because it helps with brain function and therefore productivity, many Fortune 500 companies have begun offering mindfulness-based trainings to their executives. Since it works equally well at helping reduce feelings of
stress, anxiety, and depression, it’s also a cornerstone of many popular approaches to mental health therapy. But the biggest pull of mindfulness practice for most people is that it helps them to feel more present, grounded, and joyful. It’s a practice for those who want to feel fully human.

What Else Can Mindfulness Help With?

Mindfulness has been shown in research to help improve sleep, reduce chronic pain, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and improve mood. It has been shown to help reduce aggressive behavior and increase compassion levels. It can even improve your ability to focus, enhance brain functioning, and increase the volume of gray matter in your brain. So be careful! Getting started with a mindfulness practice at Connections Family Wellness might just inspire you to bring mindfulness into your daily life, and that could have big results.

How do I Get Started?

Spaces are limited. Call 801 871 5118 to reserve your spot. Each session is only $10. Classes are held Wednesdays from 9:15-10:15 at the Connections Family Wellness Logan office: 10654 South River Heights Drive, Suite 106.
Offered by Angie Schultz, CSW, RYT-200.

Hosted By Connections Family Wellness’ therapist & teen expert Kyra Littledike

Learning to navigate life as a teen is hard and oftentimes confusing. Among the many difficulties teens face, low self-esteem is one of the most common and devastating. Struggles with self-esteem may leave teens feeling inadequate, misunderstood, and lonely. However, your journey to a healthier self-esteem does not have to be taken alone and can begin today! 

Connections Family Wellness is excited to help you in taking steps to boost your self-esteem this summer with our 8-week self-esteem group. Join us weekly as we complete many activities to strengthen participants’ confidence in boundary setting, assertiveness, positive self-talk, and self-care. Group participants will also work with group therapist on identifying and discussing the many internal and external influences that impact our self-esteem daily with emphasis on social media use.

Becoming a happier, healthier, more confident version of yourself is possible! Please call (801) 871-5118 to register and we look forward to seeing you at 6:00 PM 

Hosted by Connections Family Wellness with Guest Expert Steph Anderson

As thanksgiving approaches we wanted to create a space where we can gather in gratitude. When you think of gratitude what comes to your mind? Do you think of writing a list, a song from your childhood, a book, or something you are grateful for? 

As gratitude has been studied the research shows that people who live in gratitude are often more happy, peaceful and helpful contributors of society. These findings are lovely truths about gratitude. What the scientific research may not say is that gratitude is a power. It’s a power that offers change and transformation. Through the power of gratitude one can begin to change and transform the body and mind. Gratitude can heal. 

The Power of Gratitude Workshop is designed and created for you to experience and feel the power of gratitude. We will focus on gratitude for yourself, who you are, what you’ve accomplished and the beauty of your life.

You may experience joy and light when you walk away from this experience. Give yourself the gift of self love by expressing and feeling gratitude for yourself this November. 

Stephanie Andersen, an intuitive healing guide will lead this workshop along with ___. We will practice yoga, meditation, guided imagery and a gong bath. Bring your journal as you may want to record your experience.

If you are interested in signing up for this workshop you can call us at (801) 871-5118 or click here to book online.

Hosted by Connections Family Wellness with Guest Expert Steph Anderson

Do you feel anxious about your life, your job, your purpose? Are you afraid to make decisions and choices because you don’t know what is best for you? Do you fear sickness, death or the unknown? Are you worried you aren’t good enough to try something new? Do you feel stress in your body? Do you feel heaviness in your chest? Do you breath from your chest?

Anxiety is experienced and felt differently for everyone. It can be a fast heart beat, pressured or struggle breathing, racing thoughts about the same thing, heaviness in chest, inability to move forward or feeling stuck and nervous or jittery. Often times anxiety comes from our thoughts, our fears, our mindset. It can be tricky to see and know this as they are in our subconscious mind playing on repeat. 

Process and Release Anxiety and Fear Workshop is a 2 part workshop – to dive deep into healing, work on changes incrementally and build upon what we learn.

With intuitive healing facilitator Stephanie Andersen we will use the tools of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, guided imagery, gong bath and guided journaling, we will identify and release these fears and anxieties from the subconscious mind so you can live more freely in your true self. 

You will walk away with tools to use at home on a daily basis, greater sense of inner peace, ability to let go, and freedom to be your true whole self. 

Find inner peace. Find inner joy. Find your true self. 

If you are interested in signing up for this workshop you can call us at (801) 871-5118 or click here.