Steve Eastmond

10/17/2024

A journey of healing begins with understanding the importance of finding the right counselor. Behind every successful therapy session is a story of connection and growth that shapes the path to wellness.

09/12/2024

Married couples often struggle in conflict, not because their needs are unreasonable or invalid, but rather because they do not realize that the way they ask for their needs to be met is interpreted as criticism by their partner. Next time you need something from you spouse, try asking directly for the behavior you Do want to see (what you need), rather than expressing what you don’t like (the current behavior).

09/11/2024

In my experience counseling married couples, I have learned that one of the sources of trouble in conflict is NOT that the needs that both parties have are invalid or unreasonable, but rather that the partners do not know how to ask properly for those needs to be met. Most people ask for what they need by expressing instead what they don’t like. That will always come off as a criticism. For example, if you say to your spouse, “I need you to quit sitting there doing nothing all the time,” that sounds like an attack and a criticism. What response do you THINK you’re going to get when you say it like that? Instead, engage your spouse by asking for your actual need to be met. Like this, perhaps, “Hey, would you mind helping me clean up the kitchen quickly so we can hang out?” The need in this case, obviously, is to get help around the house. But accusing your spouse of doing nothing all the time will get you a fight. Not help.

09/06/2024

We commonly hear from our clients how happy they are to actually learn some skills that they can take home and start putting into practice, rather than just going to therapy to talk. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who will listen compassionately. But having on top of that a therapist who can also teach you the tools you can use at home to start solving problems yourself with new insights is indispensable!

10/19/2023

Many people ask for what they need from their marriage partner by communicating what they don't like. FYI - that doesn't lead anywhere good. Read more below!

Often as a marriage counselor I have to spend a significant amount of time teaching couples the art of asking for what they need. Many couples in distress either have a history of not being able to ask for their needs (...

09/25/2023

As part of our FTC Educational Series, check out our Dealing with Difficult People 2-hour class. The next one will be on November 4th in our Lehi office seminar room. Register today and learn how to handle difficult people (I’ll bet you know at least one)!

09/13/2023

“Think of the things you must give up or let go of in order to forgive. The list might include things like the right to revenge or the expectation of an apology. It might even include having to give up an expectation that the person who hurt you will understand the pain they have caused.” Desmond Tutu

Most people don’t think about needing to learn how to forgive. Think about it! How would you answer someone if they asked you today something like, “How do I go about forgiving my ex-husband for being unfaithful?” What would be your answer?

In my experience, most people answer questions like that by saying, “You just do! You just forgive them.” Not helpful. That’s like trying to look up the definition of the word “discombobulate” in the dictionary and it says, “When something is discombobulated.” Trust me. We need to do better at learning how to forgive.

Visit our website at www.familytcc.com to register for our class to learn the pragmatics of how to forgive for good.

We're Here to Listen

09/11/2023

Since 2006 I have studied and researched forgiveness as a therapeutic tool we all need in order to heal from painful hurts others have committed against us. Forgiveness is not just a religious topic! I have taught classes on this subject for several years now at BYU Education Week. After having so many people who struggled with heart-wrenching offenses come up after the classes and tearfully tell me that they now finally knew how to forgive and move forward in their lives, I decided to create a new course that I could regularly offer to teach for anyone who wants to learn how to forgive for good. Here’s the information, or you can just go to our website for Family Transitions Counseling at www.familytcc.com for more information and to sign up. Hope to see you there!

01/24/2022

Take advantage of any opportunity to recognize your spouse!

01/17/2021