Technical School College Students With High-Functioning Anxiety & Perfectionism

Our world is built on tech. If our tech runs smoothly, our lives run smoothly (for the most part!).

If you are in technical school or college, thank you! Your work is needed!

In the technical world, things change fast, so there is constant pressure to stay up to date on the latest developments. This can be a challenge for someone already working in the field, but when you’re still learning and building a foundation while ALSO having to keep up to date with these changes, avoiding mental overload can be a real challenge.

The internal pressure to excel in speed and aptitude, to pass all your tests with flying colors, and to impress your teachers so you have the best shot at the best programs and job opportunities can be immense and intense.

This constant internal pressure and drive towards excellence can produce greatness. But it also exists on a precipice - the constant pull towards perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety.

At Inside Wellness in Utah County, we know there are many students from Utah Tech University, Utah College of Applied Technology, Mountainland Technical College, and other schools and universities who work hard to excel in their studies…but also have a more private struggle between aiming for excellence and perfection.

Identifying the line between excellence and perfection can easily become blurry, especially when you’re working hard, sleep-deprived, and mentally exhausted from maintaining constant focus on your studies.

If you’re feeling the push and pull of this struggle, you are not alone. Perfectionism is a common problem among high-achievers (which many technical university and college students are), and often goes alongside high-functioning anxiety.

Perfectionism involves constantly trying to be perfect and produce perfect results, rarely (if ever) acknowledging your successes or achievements, and never being satisfied with your accomplishments.

Although that might seem to be a fastback to professional and personal success, the problem is that perfection is impossible for anyone to attain. That’s not a challenge; it’s simply a fact. Excellence is possible; perfection is not.

This relentless internal pressure to be perfect can start to wear you down mentally, emotionally, and even physically. It can begin to affect your relationships, both personal and professional. It can affect you to such an extent that you lose your passion and motivation for your studies, which can make burnout and dropping out of school an every-present threat.

This spiraling cycle of obsessive thoughts and behaviors often results in high-functioning anxiety: someone who lives with anxiety but feels they are still able to function in other areas of the life.

Just living with this combination of perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety can make you feel exhausted and trapped, slowly sapping your enjoyment of life and your studies.

The good news is that these two challenges can absolutely be helped and improved. A licensed mental health therapist who specializes in helping individuals with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety will be able to gently and empathetically listen and guide you towards restoring balance.

If you currently live in the Salt Lake Valley, Salt Lake City, Holladay, Mill Creek, Murray, Provo, Orem, Lehi, Sandy or Draper, you likely have access to one of the most experienced and specialized therapy practices in the state.

Inside Wellness’ team of counselors specialize in helping individuals struggling with perfectionism, high-functioning anxiety, and eating disorders. Our therapists’ training includes therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), talk therapy, and other therapy approaches proven to help with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety.

If you are a technical university or college student in Utah and you know you need help to regain your inner balance, Inside Wellness can help.

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator who will help you find the therapist who will be the best fit for you

Undergraduate & College Students With High-Functioning Anxiety & Perfectionism

You’ve arrived. The day has finally come when you are taking the next steps and you can’t wait for all that the future holds for you. School, new friends, new freedoms & adventures await you!

The Drive For Excellence

You’ve crossed many hurdles already to reach this point in your education and moving into your professional life. You’ve already shown resilience, strength, problem-solving and decision-making ability, and determination.

As you start down the road to your chosen profession, you naturally want to do the very best you can. It’s common to feel intense internal pressure to learn everything you can, to pass all your tests with flying colors, and to impress your teachers so you have the best shot at the best programs and job opportunities.

This drive towards excellence can produce greatness. But it can also have a darker side - the slippery slope into perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety. Inside Wellness understands the dark side of the drive for excellence and our team of skilled therapists are here to help.

Perfectionism and High-Functioning Anxiety, A Slippery Slope

At Inside Wellness in Utah County, our team of skilled therapists work with many students from BYU, U.V.U. and University of Utah, and other schools and universities who work hard to excel in their studies…but also have a more private struggle between aiming for excellence and perfection. The line between the two can easily become blurry, especially when you’re sleep-deprived and mentally exhausted from maintaining constant focus.

If you’re feeling the push and pull of this struggle, you are not alone. Perfectionism is a common problem among high-achievers (which many undergraduates and college students are), and often goes hand in hand with high-functioning anxiety.

What is Perfectionism?

Perfectionism involves constantly trying to be perfect and produce perfect results, rarely (if ever) acknowledging your successes or achievements, and never being satisfied with your accomplishments. 

Although that might seem to be a fast track to professional and personal success, the problem is that perfection is impossible to attain. This relentless internal pressure to be perfect starts to wear you down mentally, emotionally, and even physically. It can start to affect your relationships, both personal and professional. It can affect you to such an extent that you become disillusioned and lose your passion and motivation for your studies, causing you to wonder why you even started down this road in the first place. Burnout and dropping out of school become constant, looming threats.

What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

In the pursuit of perfection, this spiraling cycle of obsessive thoughts and behaviors often results in high-functioning anxiety: a person who lives with anxiety but feels they are still able to function in other areas of the life.

The combination of perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety can make you feel exhausted and trapped, with your enjoyment of life and your studies slowly draining away.

You Are not Alone, Therapy for Perfectionism and High-Functioning Anxiety Can Help

The good news is that these two challenges can absolutely be helped and improved. A licensed mental health therapist who specializes in helping individuals with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety will be able to gently and empathetically listen and guide you towards restoring balance. 

Locations in Utah

If you currently live in Park City, Salt Lake City, Holladay, Millcreek, Murray, Sandy, Provo, Orem, Lehi, or Draper, you likely have access to one of the most experienced and specialized therapy practices in the state. 

Specializations in Treating Perfectionism and High-Functioning Anxiety

Inside Wellness’ team of counselors specialize in therapy for students struggling with perfectionism, high-functioning anxiety, and eating disorders. Our therapists’ training includes therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), talk therapy, and other therapy approaches proven to help with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety.

If you are an undergraduate or college student and you need confidential help to overcome perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety, Inside Wellness can help.

Begin Therapy for Perfectionism in Utah

Seeking high-functioning anxiety treatment can be the first step to being successful not only in school but also in life. Therapy for students in Utah is available with our team of well-trained counselors! Follow the steps below to get connected with someone who can help you successfully navigate the pressures and expectations of graduate school.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Services Offered at Inside Wellness

• Body Image

• Anxiety Counseling

• Eating Disorder Therapy

• Online Therapy in Utah

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator, who will work with you to find the right therapist match for you.

Medical Students With High-Functioning Anxiety & Perfectionism

If you’re working your way through medical school, chances are you wanted to join the profession because you care about and want to help people. Does that sound like you?

The Drive for Perfectionism

Naturally, you want to do the very best you can to help someone get well again, and to do that you feel intensely the need to learn everything you can, to pass all the tests with flying colors, and to impress your teachers and medical institutions so you can get the best position possible. 

This drive towards excellence can produce stellar, dedicated, well-informed physicians. But this drive towards excellence can also have a darker side - the slippery slope into perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety.

Finding Balance: The Struggle With Perfectionism and High-Functioning Anxiety

At Inside Wellness in Salt Lake County, we work with many students from the University of Utah, and other schools and universities who excel at their chosen field of study…but struggle to keep a balance between aiming for excellence and perfection.

If you’re suffering from perfectionism and aren’t sure how or if you want to achieve a greater level of balance in your life, you are not alone. Perfectionism is a common problem among high-achievers, and often goes hand in hand with high-functioning anxiety.

What is perfectionism?

Perfectionism involves constantly striving for perfection, rarely (if ever) acknowledging your successes or achievements, and never being satisfied with your accomplishments. 

The problem is that perfection is, by definition, impossible to attain, so this relentless pressure to be perfect starts to wear you down mentally, emotionally, and even physically. It can start to affect your relationships, both personal and professional. It can affect you to such an extent that you become disillusioned and lose your passion and motivation for your chosen field, causing you to wonder why you even started down this road in the first place. Burnout becomes a constant, looming threat.

What is high-functioning anxiety?

This ever-building cycle of obsessive thoughts and behaviors often results in high-functioning anxiety. That is, a person who lives with anxiety but feels they are still able to function in other areas of the life.

The combination of perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety can make you feel exhausted and trapped, with your enjoyment of life and your area of study slowly draining away.

Therapy Options in Utah

The good news is that these two afflictions can absolutely be helped and improved. A licensed mental health therapist who specializes in helping individuals with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety will be able to gently and empathetically listen and guide you as you move towards restoring balance. 

If you currently live in the Salt Lake Valley, Salt Lake City, Holladay, Mill Creek, Murray, Lehi, Sandy, or Draper, you likely have access to one of the most experienced and specialized therapy practices in the state. 

Inside Wellness’ team of counselors specializes in helping individuals struggling with perfectionism, high-functioning anxiety, body image and eating disorders. Some of our therapists’ training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), talk therapy, and other modalities proven to help with perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety.

If you are a medical student and you need some evidence-based, confidential help to overcome perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety, Inside Wellness can help.

Begin Therapy for Perfectionism in Utah

Seeking high-functioning anxiety treatment can be the first step to being successful not only in school but also in life. Therapy for students in Utah is available with our team of well-trained counselors! Follow the steps below to get connected with someone who can help you successfully navigate the pressures and expectations of graduate school.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Services Offered at Inside Wellness

• Body Image

• Anxiety Counseling

• Eating Disorder Therapy

• Online Therapy in Utah

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator, who will work with you to find the right therapist match for you.

Graduate Students With High-Functioning Anxiety & Perfectionism

Congratulations on moving on to grad school!

You’re no stranger to hard work to have gotten where you are today, and naturally you have your sights trained on achieving personal and professional excellence.

If you’re reading this article, though, you already know that there can be a darker side to striving for excellence. Maintaining mental balance while constantly trying to be noticed, to stand out, and to be the best can be tricky at. At Wildflower Therapy our skilled team of Therapists understand these challenges!

Perfectionism

Many graduate students suffer from perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety without even knowing there is a name for what they’re battling.

Perfectionism has been described as setting high standards and striving for flawlessness while also being highly self-critical. Does this sound like you?

High Functioning Anxiety

Perfectionism often goes hand-in-hand with high-functioning anxiety. Although high-functioning anxiety is not currently a recognized mental health diagnosis, it generally refers to people who live with anxiety but also function reasonably well in other aspects of their life.

Individuals who struggle with high-functioning anxiety often notice that their anxiety propels them forward rather than leaving them frozen in fear. On the surface, you may also appear to be successful, calm, and focused—the type of person who generally excels at work and life. However, that outer veneer may be very different to how you actually feel on the inside.

The Trade-Off

Perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety can rob you of inner peace and mental and emotional balance. Although they may propel you forward in your chosen career, they will eventually exact payment for their services, in the form of lost relationships, extreme stress, and dangerous mistakes. They can also cause physical changes, such as insomnia, eating and appetite changes, as well as a whole host of other issues.

Managing Perfectionism

It’s worth the effort to regain mental and emotional balance. Here are five tips to help you manage perfectionism:

1 - Practice self-acknowledgment and self-praise.

So much of perfectionism involves pushing for More, Better, without taking any time to acknowledge the accomplishments you’ve had or the effort you’ve put in. Next time you accomplish something, no matter how small, take a minute to say ‘Well done’ or ‘I did well with that’ to yourself.

2 - Set realistic goals.

Big goals are great, but it can be demoralizing to constantly be striving for a big goal that will be out of reach for years. Set the big goals, but then work backwards and set the mid- and short-term goals that build on each other and lead you to that bigger end goal. Setting and reaching goals has been shown to improve well-being and fuel future efforts.

3 - Acknowledge your strengths.

Western culture tends to focus on individual weaknesses and failings while glorifying other people’s successes and strengths. In reality, we are all a mixture of strengths and weaknesses. Don’t allow your weaknesses to drown out your attention.

Make a list of your strengths and then look for these in your efforts; you will likely start noticing them constantly as your strengths are what you use daily to be the best you can be. Acknowledge them and be grateful for them.

4 - Challenge your unhealthy thoughts.

While thoughts may seem to appear, unbidden, in our heads, they can be controlled and changed over time. When you have a thought that exhausts you or makes you feel bad, challenge it. Ask yourself, ‘Is this thought balanced?’ ‘Is it true or is it just my perception?’ ‘What would be a healthier way to think about this?’ Our brains are flexible and plastic, able to change and grow. With or without help, you CAN change your thoughts.

5 - Be gentle with yourself.

Graduate school is not easy; you fought to get here. Staying here and thriving is not just about hard work and focus; it’s important to care for your body and mind so they are able to continue supporting you as you work towards your dreams.

Take time to do something you enjoy, go for a walk in nature, listen to music, practice mindfulness, have lunch with a friend, watch a funny movie. Give your body even these short, restorative sessions and it will be able to give you the strength you need to achieve your goals.

Asking for Help: The Benefits of Therapy for Perfectionism and High-Functioning Anxiety Treatment

If you still find yourself struggling to regain your mental balance, don’t be afraid to reach out for extra support. Enlisting the help and guidance of a qualified mental health therapist can give you the boost you need to regain your balance.

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength to recognize you have a need and to ask for help with it. This is a strength that will continue to serve you as you finish school and move into your chosen profession. Perfection may not be attainable, but good, and even great, are possible. Especially if you allow others to help lift you higher than you could climb alone.

Begin Therapy for Perfectionism in Utah

Seeking high-functioning anxiety treatment can be the first step to being successful not only in school but also in life. Therapy for students in Utah is available with our team of well-trained counselors! Follow the steps below to get connected with someone who can help you successfully navigate the pressures and expectations of graduate school.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Services Offered at Inside Wellness

• Body Image

• Anxiety Counseling

• Eating Disorder Therapy

• Online Therapy in Utah

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator, who will work with you to find the right therapist match for you.

Why Online Therapy Is Better (If You’re A VBP)

We realize that these are two rather provocative statements. Firstly, how can online counseling possibly be better than in-person therapy? And secondly, what on earth is a VBP??!

The Shift to Online Therapy

Until relatively recently, online therapy (that is, therapy sessions conducted via video like Zoom) were relatively unheard of. They may have been used in particular situations - for example, if a client is on vacation but doesn’t want to miss their session - but as a whole, in-person therapy sessions were the norm.

As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic changed all that. Work meetings, lunch breaks, job interviews, concerts with friends, and, yes, therapy sessions all went virtual as everyone worked to stay safe and protect others.

Is online therapy effective?

What We Know

We learned several things about ourselves and our society as this prolonged change took place. We learned that most of us can work just as productively (sometimes more so) from home than we did in the office. We learned that it’s chatting with your friends that’s most important, virtually or in-person. And we learned that therapy sessions are just as effective virtually as in-person.

Online Counseling, Effective as In-Person

But how can that possibly be? I hear you say. Online counseling sessions involve two-dimensional people instead of three-dimensional, there’s no one to hand you tissues or let you in and out through an actual door. While these things are all true, the results are conclusive: online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy.

Benefits of Online Therapy

For most people, that means virtual therapy is no better or worse than in-person therapy; it’s entirely up to someone’s personal preference. Maybe they’re too nervous to do in-person sessions or battle a chronic health condition that leaves them vulnerable to infection. Or maybe they just prefer the experience of in-person therapy sessions.

Very Busy People, Ideal For Online Therapy

However, there is a group of people for whom online counseling sessions are absolutely, 100%, no doubt, simply BETTER: VBPs.

Very

Busy

People

If you are someone who is highly efficient, highly productive, and highly booked, taking an extra hour or more out of your day just to commute back and forth from a therapy appointment (PLUS the hour at the practice) is simply not an option for you or a good use of your time.

Benefits of Online Counseling in Utah

The thought of therapy may appeal to you, you may know you need it, but simply struggle to find the time to do it. In this case, virtual therapy sessions are the answer you need.

There is no commute time. No chatty preamble with the receptionist. No waiting in a waiting room, drumming your fingers and thinking of all the extra work you could be doing if you were still at your desk.

You simply schedule your session on a day and time that work for you, connect using the one-click link when you’re ready to join, have your session, and then get on with your day.

You will still have to take the time to schedule the session with your therapist. Which will take fifteen minutes or less, AND you get to schedule the day and time that works best for you to do that too.

So if you are a VBP (Very Busy Person), online therapy sessions may be the solution you haven’t had time to search for.

Begin Online Therapy in Utah

As a very busy person or VBP, it’s even more important to manage your time effectively. Taking care of your mental health does not have to take a back seat! We offer our online counseling services throughout the state of Utah for ease of access and convenience. Follow the steps below to get started on your self-care journey.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Mental Health Services Offered at Inside Wellness in Utah

• Body Image

• Anxiety Counseling

• Eating Disorder Therapy

• Online Therapy in Utah

How EMDR Can Change Your Beliefs And Your Relationships

The prevailing culture in Utah as a whole, Utah County, and the Salt Lake Valley places great importance on relationships.

Relationships are the foundation of nearly every aspect of our lives: from love relationships to work relationships to parent/child relationships to friendships to even unhealthy relationships. These relationships create a net of familiarity in our minds, a net that we hope will catch us when we fall, lift us back up when we stumble, support us in our daily lives, cheer us on as we reach for our goals.

Healthy relationships are vital to a peaceful inner and outer life. But often, negative or untrue beliefs that have amassed over the years about ourselves or others can create barriers and even conflict in one, some or even all of these relationships.

The way you view yourself affects more people than just you. How you view yourself affects how you present yourself and others treatment of and expectations for you. When belief systems are unhealthy, even if you don’t realize it, these WILL affect your relationships.

Often, the first place unhealthy belief systems draw attention to themselves is in a love relationship. This is often the closest relationship in your life, the one with the most vulnerability, trust, and lack of restraint. So it makes sense that the person with whom you are in a love relationship is often the one to first draw attention to incorrect beliefs you may have about yourself, them, or even other people.

This observation can be hard to receive without responding defensively. After all, in questioning deeply-held beliefs, it can feel like this person is tugging at your safety net. We build up our belief systems over time in response to our experience of different events. The purpose of them is to ostensibly protect us in the future if such a situation were to arise again. So any perceived rattling of this ‘safety net’ - your beliefs - can be unsettling and cause you to react defensively.

This is normal and completely understandable. If you can see that there may be some truth in your partner’s observations about you, what can you do to improve things so your relationship doesn’t continue to be affected and potentially broken down by these unhealthy beliefs?

EMDR therapy is a proven, powerful tool that helps individuals heal and recover from trauma in a safe, guided environment. At the same time, it gently helps you to challenge your beliefs and belief systems, carefully looking at each belief and asking yourself, ‘Is this belief really helping me?’ ‘Is this belief really true?’ ‘How might changing my belief change my relationship?’

EMDR accomplishes all this by helping you remove the burden of emotion that usually accompanies memories and even beliefs. In this less emotionally-charged setting, you are better able to look objectively at your beliefs and consider what’s working for you and what isn’t.

The eight phases of EMDR therapy build off each other, helping you identify beliefs you want to change, and helping you reprocess these into more accurate, positive belief patterns.

This relatively small investment of time can have a huge impact on your life, including in your closest relationships. When you believe things that are true and positive about yourself and others, you start to act and react differently. This has an immediate and noticeable effect on your relationships.

Countless people just like you have been helped to overcome trauma and unhealthy belief systems using the power of EMDR therapy.

If you are currently residing in Provo, Orem, Lehi, Draper, Sandy, Midvale, Murray, Holladay or the surrounding area, you have access to some of the most highly-trained specialists at Inside Wellness therapy practice.

Our EMDR specialists want to help and support you in your journey towards healthy beliefs, inner peace, and peaceful relationships. Call our warm Care Coordinator today to get started.

Can EMDR Change Unhealthy Beliefs?

EMDR has proven to be a powerful tool to help people heal from past trauma, whether recent or in the distant past. But can EMDR therapy help you to reshape your beliefs about yourself, other people, the world, and your place in it? Our online therapists in Utah can help answer these questions.

Your Belief System

Beliefs are powerful things. They form mostly unconsciously, one belief built on top of another, until you live inside a complex web of beliefs that control how you react to various life events, whether big or small.

Your belief system can impact your reaction to something as seemingly small as someone buying you a cup of coffee, to something as big as a relationship betrayal, and everything in between.

Many things go into creating our belief systems; childhood, all manner of past events and situations can contribute to how we perceive ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.

Our beliefs define and shape how we will react. When you combine that with trauma or series of traumatic events, the results can feel hard to predict. Much less to endure or challenge. After all, the purpose of our belief systems is to protect us from future harm. If we ‘know’ someone or something will act or happen a certain way, we can act to keep ourselves safe from that. At least, we convince ourselves that we can.

EMDR Therapy

This is one of many things that sets EMDR apart as a therapeutic tool. EMDR doesn’t just help an individual to change their reaction to memories of a traumatic event, it can also help you challenge and correct the belief systems that may have formed around the trauma, before or after it.

Healthy beliefs and belief systems are vital to a peaceful existence. If you believe things that are negative or untrue about yourself or others, it can impact your well-being, your inner peace, and even your ability to function. Challenging these wrong beliefs in a safe, guided space can be the key to reestablishing balance and equilibrium. How can EMDR help accomplish this?

EMDR therapy helps by reducing the emotional charge that often fuels negative beliefs. Without the weight of emotion pushing your reactions, it becomes easier to look objectively at your beliefs, assess whether or not they are true, and whether or not they are really serving you.

Changing Beliefs With EMDR Therapy

EMDR treatment helps to reprocess and formulate more accurate, truly helpful, and healthy beliefs. This can move an individual from constantly telling themself, “I’m worthless”, “No one really cares about me”, “Why try? I’ll only fail”, to more positive, accurate statements, such as, “I am lovable”, “I am capable”, “Why not me?”

The implications of changing these fundamentally negative beliefs to more accurate, positive beliefs can be massive. This change can impact a person’s daily life, interactions with others, thoughts about their future, their job prospects, even their physical health.

EMDR is a gentle, non-invasive, and structured approach to processing trauma and reprocessing belief systems. It has eight clearly-defined phases, each building on the next to help you achieve your ultimate goal: inner peace and the ability to live with yourself and others.

At Inside Wellness in Utah County, we are home to highly-trained EMDR specialists who want to help you through this journey of self-discovery and rebuilding. We work with many different individuals, including students and international students at nearby universities, such as BYU and the University of Utah. If you live in Provo, Lehi, Draper, Sandy, Bluffdale, Orem, Holladay, or really anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley and Utah County, we are here to help you.

Begin Online EMDR Therapy in Utah

Are you looking for EMDR online counseling in Utah? At Inside Wellness in Utah County, we are home to highly-trained EMDR specialists who want to help you through this journey of self-discovery and rebuilding. We work with many different individuals, including students and international students at nearby universities, such as BYU and the University of Utah. If you live in Provo, Lehi, Draper, Sandy, Bluffdale, Orem, Holladay, or really anywhere in Salt Lake Valley and Utah County, we are here to help you. Our counselors are highly-skilled and experienced professionals who can help you get the treatment you need from the comfort of your own home. Plus, our online counseling is convenient and quick to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Services Offered at Inside Wellness

• Body Image and Eating Disorder Therapy

• Anxiety Counseling

• Depression Treatment

Can EMDR Help All Kinds Of Trauma?

Trauma comes in all different shapes and sizes. What causes trauma in one person may not in another. Some traumas are massive and life-changing for a person, while others may be ‘smaller’ but still have an impact on daily life.

At Inside Wellness in beautiful Utah County, many of the individuals who choose EMDR therapy have experienced trauma of some kind. In our experience, EMDR is one of the best treatment options for healing from one or multiple traumas.

So-called ‘big’ traumas, such as sexual assault, abuse, divorce, death of a loved one, can be treated just as effectively with EMDR therapy as ‘smaller’ traumas, such as a car accident or ending a relationship.

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a powerful form of therapy that focuses on helping people recover and heal from all kinds of trauma, depression, anxiety, panic disorders, to name a few.

When a person experiences an event that it experiences as traumatic this can become ‘locked’ in the brain and body. The thoughts, feelings, sounds, body sensations, and other sensory elements that formed part of the original experience can start to repeat over and over, forcing the person to relive the trauma every time it is triggered.

It’s like part of the brain gets frozen in time, stuck reliving the traumatic event. Every time something happens that reminds the person of that event, it starts the whole chain over again.

Needless to say, this can be exhausting for the sufferer, and can lead to its own problems as the person starts to dread being triggered and having to relive the event again. This can lead to isolation, anxiety, compulsive behavior, and chronic fear.

The more conscious and analytical part of the brain can sometimes recognize that the reaction is out of proportion to the current reality. But when emotional and physiological cascade is triggered, the more rational side of the brain has no chance of stemming the tide. This tug of war between the rational and emotional sides of the brain show that they are not communicating properly. 

This is where EMDR therapy comes in. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, audible tones, and tapping to helps the two sides of the brain begin to communicate with each other, while simultaneously processing the triggering traumatic life event. This has a calming effect on the nervous system, as it is decreasingly stimulated to respond with the same heightened response it needed during the original event.

There are eight distinct phases to EMDR therapy. Phases One, Two, Six, Seven, and Eight appear similar to traditional talk therapy. Phases Four and Five involve the majority of the eye movements. Learn even more about EMDR therapy here.

What does EMDR accomplish?

Many people who work through EMDR therapy to process their traumatic experiences are so happy with the results that they begin recommending it to everyone they know.

When asked to describe their emotional and mental state after completing EMDR therapy, common words people use are: content, calm, peaceful, happy, relief.

Is EMDR as effective when treated virtually?

Virtual therapy sessions have become increasingly common in the past few years. Concern about infection, lack of available time, or other circumstances prompt many more people to seek treatment via telehealth or virtual video sessions.

Some people feel hesitant to try virtual therapy because they’re afraid they won’t be able to connect fully with their therapist or that there is some ‘magic’ to be found in a physical treatment room.

In our substantial experience working with EMDR and trauma, we have not seen either concern to be true. Working with an EMDR therapist virtually can be just as effective as working with the same therapist in person. EMDR works just as well when used virtually as it does in-person.

How can I find EMDR?

If you live in Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper, Lehi or Provo, or the surrounding area, or if you are going to school at the University of Utah or BYU, Inside Wellness has specialists trained in EMDR who want to help you.

If you have questions or want to schedule your first session ASAP, the first step is to schedule a time to chat with our Care Coordinator. She will help you find and schedule with the therapist who is best-suited to your individual needs.

Trauma can be life-changing, but so can EMDR therapy. If you’re suffering from a relived trauma, help is available! At Inside Wellness, you can find the support you need to heal and recover.

Begin Online EMDR Therapy in Utah

Are you looking for EMDR online counseling in Utah? We are happy to say that you've come to the right place. Here at Inside Wellness, we provide online EMDR therapy as well as body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, and anxiety therapy. Our counselors are highly-skilled and experienced professionals who can help you get the treatment you need from the comfort of your own home. Plus, our online counseling is convenient and quick to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.

2. Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.

3. Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!

Additional Services Offered at Inside Wellness

• Body Image and Eating Disorder Therapy

• Anxiety Counseling

• Depression Treatment

Is EMDR Like Hypnotherapy Hypnosis?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a proven therapy that helps the mind and body to work together to change thought patterns and deeply-held beliefs.

While this may sound similar to hypnotherapy, the EMDR and hypnosis are very different ways to treat the challenges that can result from traumatic life experiences. 

Hypnosis as it is used in psychology involves moving the client into a trance-like (or hypnotic) state where they are simultaneously very relaxed with heightened mental focus. While the client is in this state, the psychologist will try to guide the person towards a specific goal or change. Hypnosis is a controversial treatment. Its aim is to target suppressed traumatic memories and change the client’s perception of those memories. It also relies on the individual to choose to respond, which can be unpredictable. 

EMDR, on the other hand, requires the client to be entirely conscious and uses techniques that are proven to have biophysical effects. 

This therapy modality builds through eight stages, normally lasting 8-12 sessions. It involves the therapist helping the client to gradually remember events from the traumatic event or events that resulted in their current symptoms. During the later stages of the process, the therapist uses guiding eye movements while talking about the traumatic experience. This use of distraction and external stimuli allows the client to recall and reprocess the memories more easily, without repeatedly going through intense emotional stress.

Another key difference between the two forms of treatment are their end goals: hypnosis focuses on achieving a single goal, whereas EMDR has a much broader reach, helping the client deal with PTSD symptoms caused by trauma and its associated memories.

EMDR is more researched than hypnosis, particularly for treatment of PTSD. Over 20 studies have found EMDR to be effective in trauma treatment.

If you are suffering from the results of a traumatic experience, EMDR may be able to help you restore your mental balance and inner peace.

At Inside Wellness, we are proud to offer the services of EMDR-specialist, Angela Cox. Angela uses EMDR to help you process your trauma and regain control of your mental health.

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator to book your first session with Angela.

How Perfectionism Can Ruin Relationships

Perfectionism can be exhausting to live with - both for you and your loved ones. Trying to reach and maintain extremely high standards in relationships can lead to depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout. 

While high standards can be a positive thing, moving us to do our best in a task or activity, constant perfectionism can wear you down. It can lead to feelings of being trapped, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and isolation.

It can also insidiously wear down your relationships, as people start to feel it’s impossible to reach or maintain your high standards. This can lead to feelings of sadness and disconnection in both partners even when ultimately you both want to see each other succeed while simultaneously feeling connected.

Some stress and pressure can be good. But humans are just not equipped to cope with extreme or constant pressure and stress. It affects our bodies and minds negatively.

Perfectionism often begins with a series of negative thoughts or beliefs that become increasingly entrenched. The good news is that this same downward spiral of negative thinking can often be unwound back to its source.

A trained therapist who specializes in treating perfectionism in relationships will be able to help you work towards the mental balance and inner peace you (and your loved ones!) crave.

At Inside Wellness Utah, we specialize in a holistic approach to your mental health. Our perfectionism and relationship expert, Angela, specializes in helping you restore balance to your mental health and your relationships.

A common side effect of perfectionism is procrastination. Don’t procrastinate with getting the help you need to restore your mental health and relationships!

Schedule a call with our Care Coordinator today to book your first session with Angela.

Is Perfectionism A Form Of Anxiety?

At its most basic, perfectionism is the desire to be perfect as a person or in some area of your life (eg. work).

Unfortunately, Western culture does not nurture balance. We’re under constant pressure from the media and society, in general, to be perfect - or as close to it as possible - in pretty much every aspect of our lives. Often, we’re so used to living with this type of thinking that we don’t even recognize it as unbalanced.

This pressure can be very difficult to resist and succumbing to perfectionist thinking is an ever-present reality. However, perfectionist thinking can have some major negative impacts on mental health. 

While perfectionism is not on its own a form of anxiety, it can absolutely feed anxiety and anxiety disorders.

People with disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder can be even more vulnerable to experiencing issues with perfectionism.

Perfectionism usually happens as a result of trying to live up to an internally-created ideal, but it can also stem from fear of judgment or the perception of others. 

These negative thoughts and beliefs may begin to result in avoidance behaviors, isolation, and depression. Some people become so overwhelmed with the stress and constant demands of perfectionism that they become paralyzed by fear and negative thinking. 

If you are struggling with perfectionism, or perfectionism and anxiety, help is absolutely available.

With the help of a trained therapist who specializes in anxiety, perfectionistic thoughts can often be traced back to the originating core beliefs and challenged in a safe environment. There are also practical tools you can learn to help you cope with the effects of perfectionism.

Begin Addressing Perfectionism With An Anxiety Therapist in Utah

At Inside Wellness, we can offer you a safe space to work through these challenges with a trained expert. Our team specializes in helping clients with perfectionism and anxiety. We would be honored to help you work through the traumatic life experiences that can trigger perfectionism. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:

1. Schedule a call with our Care Coordinator to book your first session.

2. Meet with a caring therapist

3. Start learning to cope with perfectionist tendencies!

Other Services Offered at Inside Wellness

We understand you may experience a number of mental health concerns in addition to anxiety counseling. This is why we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health services. Other services offered include body image counseling, eating disorder therapy, and online Therapy in Utah. Feel free to visit our blog or FAQ to learn more helpful information!

Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorders

Frequent and regular exercise is seen as a good thing in our culture. And when done in moderation it certainly can benefit our physical and mental health.

However, Compulsive Exercise Disorder (sometimes referred to as Exercise Addiction) is different and is actually classified as a significant symptom of an eating disorder. It happens when a person is driven to exercise too much. Pretty much nothing will stop a suffer from exercising, even injury, illness, bad weather, or going out with friends.

Compulsive Exercise and eating disorders are often seen together. An individual with bulimia may exercise excessively as a way to compensate for binge eating. Or someone with an eating disorder may work out excessively as a way to compensate for eating “too much” food or certain types of food.

A person with Compulsive Exercise Disorder may exhibit some or all of the following behaviors:

• They won't skip a workout, even if they’re tired, sick, or injured

• They can't take time off from working out

• They may seem anxious or guilty when they miss even one workout

• They are constantly preoccupied with their weight and exercise routine

• They exercise even more after eating a lot or missing a workout

• They will eat much less if they can't exercise

• They give up seeing friends or other activities and abandon responsibilities to make more time for exercise

• They appear to base their self-worth on the number of workouts they complete and the effort they put into training

• They are never satisfied with their own physical achievements

• They may have irregular periods or stress fractures

This disorder can be completely exhausting for the sufferer. They may feel trapped in an endless cycle - and believe ‘just one more workout’ will make them ‘feel better’.

It can be difficult to diagnose Compulsive Exercise Disorder because what amounts to ‘too much exercise’ is so subjective. Often, it takes the sufferer recognizing and admitting to themself that something isn’t right and reaching out for help.

If you think you may be suffering from Compulsive Exercise Disorder, there are things you can do to help yourself. They could include:

• Eating 3 meals and snacks on days you do and don’t excercise

• Enjoy exercise by being active together with friends or family.

• Try to increase your flexibility around exercise by exercising for less time or intensity or frequency

• Try to find new ways to cope with and ease stress.

If you think that you might be exercising too much, talking to a licensed therapist trained in eating disorders and/or Compulsive Exercise Disorder can really help. They have the experience and tools to help you examine your thoughts and behaviors, and see where you could introduce more balance.

Inside Wellness Utah specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Our caring, empathetic team want to help you regain your balance and inner peace.

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator, who will help match you with the best therapist for you.

Is Binge Eating A Real Eating Disorder?

Western culture has created certain ‘rules’ in peoples’ minds that tell them certain things are ‘fact’, when, in fact, they are not.

Eating disorders have long been misunderstood, and Binge Eating Disorder is no exception.

There are people who think that a person ‘should just stop themselves from eating’ or ‘can’t you control yourself?’, when the sufferer of Binge Eating Disorder can no more stop themselves from eating as they can stop the earth from moving around the sun.

This is a disorder that can make the sufferer feel profoundly alone and isolated, and struggle to reach out for help because their experience has long been one of judgement.

Binge Eating Disorder is a very real affliction. Some of the signs that set this disorder apart include:

• Having a love-hate relationship with food & your body

• Chronic dieting or restriction followed by episodes of eating rapidly & feeling “out of control”

• Eating larger than normal amounts of food within a short period

• Repeatedly eating past fullness, to the point that you often feel sick

• Avoiding eating around other people due to intense fear of judgment from others

• Feeling intense shame about your behaviors

Binge eating disorder is can be present across the size, age, and gender spectrums even though no one talks about it.

If you or someone you love is suffering from Binge Eating Disorder, there is hope! Real help is available! You CAN get better from this affliction.

Inside Wellness Utah is a safe place where sufferers will find understanding, empathy, support, and expert guidance. Our specialist therapists want to help you recover.

Schedule a call today with our Care Coordinator, who will help match you with the ideal therapist for you.

How Can I Cure My Eating Disorder?

Lately you’ve been feeling more trapped than ever before. You are doing all of the “right” things to make your life happy & good, and yet underneath the happy moments or facade, you are exhausted.  Exhausted from scrutinizing your body, your grades, your conversations, your food, and just about anything your brain can come up with-and you feel like you are falling short. Your eating disorder may feel like a cage from which you can never escape.

You want to change your thinking about food and your body, but it just seems like an uphill battle, and honestly, you aren’t feeling up for that Mt. Everest vibe of a climb. It looks & seems impossible, and you’re not even sure if it will be worth it.  You want to sit down & give up, cry, or go on strike from trying so hard in every aspect of your life.  You’re ready for things to just click, to feel less anxious, and for your inner mean girl & eating disorder bestie to back down and leave you alone. If any of that resonates, eating disorder treatment in Utah is here — and this piece is for you.

Your Brain Says Recovery Isn't Possible. But Your Brain Is Not Always Right.

One of the most common things I hear each week is the fear that recovery isn’t possible and that the internal fight will never let up.  And I get it; you’ve been struggling with yourself & that inner critic for much longer than you care to count.  Our culture is swimming in diet culture land, and recently, people who never seemed concerned with their weight are suddenly experiencing body changes. 

It’s easy to believe that making peace with one's body, eating disorder or not, is just not possible.  There are only a few hills I’m willing to die on, and believing that recovery is possible is absolutely one of them.  There is hope, and it is absolutely possible to recover from an eating disorder, and if that feels like too big of a leap, then maybe you can hope that at the very least you can lessen its grip.

The first step is to admit that you have a problem.

This may seem obvious to you, and you may be thinking, ‘I’ve already done that - that’s why I’m reading this article!’  Disordered eating and eating disorders often start sooner than most people think.  Which makes sense, because exposure to dieting, body comparisons, and self-criticism has likely been present in small degrees long before it was obvious it had a strong hold on you.  Another hill I will die on is: No one chooses an eating disorder. Full stop.  This is not your fault, and I wish you didn’t have to put in the work of recovery even though you do.

I’ve yet to meet someone who, when they started doing certain behaviors, hoped to be in a state of constant fear, obsession, stress, moving through every day controlled by the presence or avoidance of food, mirrors, clothing, etc.  It can feel safe & predictable, but it is also the stuff of nightmares- that feeling when you are having a bad dream, and you are struggling to wake up & feel safe & centered again.   But admitting to yourself and being willing to admit the problem to someone who can help you are two parts of the same step.

And recovery happens one step at a time, so even reading this blog is a forward step.

Your Brain Learned These Patterns. That Means It Can Learn New Ones.

The behavior surrounding eating disorders is a set of behaviors and feelings that are very strong and very convincing.  What is also true is that feelings, even when they are SO strong and SO loud, are not facts. So yes, your brain is telling you so many fear- and shame-based things that you believe and feel like facts.  Our brains LOVE predictability, and so even fear or shame-based patterns can start to feel safe even if they are also causing harm. 

But the good news is that our brains are wildly capable of learning new patterns, gaining new tools, and feeling a sense of empowerment instead of the sense of control that the eating disorder provides. This is not easy and will take effort from you, but with the right guidance, tools, practice,  and support, it is absolutely possible to navigate your world without being pushed & pulled by an eating disorder.

To truly recover from an eating disorder, you will learn to:

• Listen to your body

• Listen to your feelings

• Listen to your thoughts that create those feelings

• Understand yourself

• Accept yourself

• Love yourself

I know that reading a list like this can kick up an array of emotions.  You may feel hopeful, you may feel overwhelmed, you may feel irritated, or you may believe that some of these things are not a problem.  And however you feel is okay; our feelings always make sense when we are looking through the lens of lived experience and where our nervous system is at the time.  So we start where it makes sense for you to start & what you think might help you most.  

Not Every Therapist Is the Right Eating Disorder Therapist — Here's What to Look For

The most effective way to see improvement is to enlist the help of a licensed therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Therapy is most successful when you find someone who truly gets how an eating disorder presents, where it’s straightforward, where it can be tricky. It’s very similar to choosing a doctor.  If you have the flu or something that’s common, you see a primary care doctor. If you are having knee problems, you see an orthopedic doctor.

You also need to choose someone who you feel like you can connect with over time.  Your eating disorder therapist needs to be an expert in the reasons you're seeking therapy; they need the tools that will best help you, and a personality style or way of interacting that is a good fit. If you are missing one of these elements, it may be time to pivot.  A good therapist will want you to be with someone who is a fit on all fronts, so it’s totally okay to ask for their help in pivoting. 

You need support- the right support, expert support, to help guide you back to health.

And eating disorders have a significant impact on both your physical health & mental health. Reaching out for help does not mean you have to agree to it right away, nor does it mean that you have to commit to a person(s) you think might be a good fit.  Contact a few providers and see who you think might work.  Call a few places and ask all of your questions.

When people reach out to us, we do a short intake call to see if we are a good fit for your needs on every front.  If you feel we aren’t, we are more than happy to connect you to someone who you think will be. Our goal is for people to get the help they need. There are many excellent eating disorder providers in Utah, and I’m confident you can find the best fit for you.  Schedule a call today with our intake coordinator, who will help you find the right therapist for you.

You Don't Have to Figure Out Eating Disorder Treatment in Utah Alone

Recovery is not a straight line. Some days the tools click. Some days the inner critic is loud, the feelings are heavy, and just getting through the day is the win. Both count. Both are recovery.

If you're reading this and wondering whether things can actually get better, that question itself is worth paying attention to. It means some part of you is still reaching. That part deserves real, specialized support — not just someone who sort of understands eating disorders, but someone who truly gets it.

Eating disorder treatment in Utah is here to meet you wherever you are in the process — whether you're just starting to consider help or you've been in the fight for a long time.

At Inside Wellness, we're here to help you get there.

• We are here to help — give us a call 801-699-6161 or visit us at insidewellness.com

• Learn more about working with an Eating Disorder Therapist in Salt Lake City, UT

• You don't have to keep doing this alone — support is closer than you think.

Other Services Inside Wellness Offers in Provo and Salt Lake City, UT

Eating disorders rarely travel alone. They're often woven together with anxiety, perfectionism, body image distress, and the exhausting pressure to hold everything together while quietly falling apart on the inside. At Inside Wellness, we offer more than eating disorder treatment in Utah. Alongside specialized eating disorder support, we provide body image therapy, anxiety therapy, support for perfectionism, online therapy, and therapy for burnout, all designed to address the full picture of what recovery actually involves.

Whether you're just beginning to reach for help, working through the harder layers of recovery, or trying to find a therapist who truly understands how eating disorders work, our team is here. You don't have to keep pushing through alone. With the right support, recovery gets to be something more than managing the noise. It gets to be your life.

Visit our blog or FAQ to learn more about how therapy can support your recovery and help you find your way back to yourself.

Help! I'm In My Thirties & I Think I Have An Eating Disorder

If you’re in your thirties and are concerned you may have an eating disorder, you are definitely not alone. 

In fact, it might surprise you to learn that eating disorders are actually most common in women in their thirties. 

According to a recent review, the majority of people reaching out for help are women aged between 25 and 35 years old. Not image-conscious teenagers, as you might imagine.

A large part of the reason for this development are our increasingly-hectic lifestyles. When you already feel out of control of your work or personal life, this can be a trigger (consciously or unconsciously) to take control wherever you can; in the case of an eating disorder, with the food you eat (or don’t eat).

There are many other possible triggers for an eating disorder - even when you’re in your thirties and feel like you ‘should be more stable.’ Just some of these triggers could be:

• Finishing college

• Starting a new job

• Going through a breakup

• Deciding to go on a diet

• Having a child

• Getting married

• Starting a significant relationship

Basically anything that unsettles you (even positively) or destabilizes your world can be a trigger for an eating disorder.

If you are in your thirties and think you might have an eating disorder, what can you do? The fact that you’ve sought out and are reading this article is a major first step - well done! 

An eating disorder is a serious condition that needs expert help and support. Reach out for support today from a licensed therapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders.

At Inside Wellness in sunny Utah, our warm and caring therapists will work with you to help you regain control of your thoughts, your relationship with food, and your life.

Schedule a call today with our friendly care coordinator, who will help you find your ideal therapist match.