Worth It counseling+consulting

02/19/2026

ONE MINUTE RESET WITH ALLORA.

Breathing is often overlooked - but it is EVERYTHING.

02/18/2026

We tend to think of intuition as mystical or irrational. In therapy, we understand it as deeply informed pattern recognition.
Research in cognitive psychology shows that much of our decision-making happens outside conscious awareness.

Neuroscience supports this. The brain is constantly scanning for safety and threat, comparing present cues to past experiences. Structures like the amygdala can register subtle relational shifts before the rational brain has words for them. Your body often reacts milliseconds before conscious thought catches up.

Of course, intuition can be distorted by trauma, anxiety, or attachment wounds. That’s why therapy isn’t about blindly trusting every gut reaction. It’s about differentiating fear from wisdom.

When your nervous system is regulated and your past has been processed, intuition becomes less reactive and more reliable. It feels calm, not urgent. Clear, not chaotic.

Sometimes healing is less about learning something new, and more about relearning how to trust what your body has known all along.

02/16/2026

Did you grow up being taught to obey without question?

WATCH THIS.

02/14/2026

Research from John Gottman shows that stable couples don’t avoid conflict. They learn repair. They don’t eliminate differences. They manage them.

And attachment research from Sue Johnson reminds us that most fights aren’t about dishes or money. They’re about the question underneath it all:

“Am I safe with you?”
Here’s what we don’t talk about enough:

• Attraction fluctuates
• You will annoy each other
• You will misattune and miss emotional bids
• You will carry different attachment strategies
• You will need space sometimes
• You will have recurring arguments

None of that means your relationship is broken. It means you’re two nervous systems trying to build something secure.
What actually predicts longevity is not constant chemistry. It is emotional responsiveness. Repair. Shared meaning. The willingness to grow instead of keep score.

If we normalized the hard parts, fewer people would panic at the first sign of friction.

Healthy relationships are not the absence of tension.

They are the presence of repair.
And that is a skill.

02/12/2026

Most of what shapes our mental health lives below the surface.

Research consistently shows that thoughts, core beliefs, attachment patterns, nervous system responses, and past experiences operate outside of our immediate awareness. Studies in cognitive psychology estimate that a large portion of our daily thinking is automatic. Trauma research demonstrates that the body can store and react to stress long after an event has passed. Attachment science shows that early relational experiences quietly influence how we connect, cope, and communicate as adults.

What we tend to see on the surface are behaviors
Irritability
Shutting down
Overworking
People pleasing
Anxiety
Emotional numbness

What may be underneath
Unprocessed grief
Chronic stress
Shame
Fear of abandonment
Nervous system dysregulation
Learned survival strategies

When we only address the visible behaviors, change often feels temporary. When we gently explore what is underneath, healing becomes more sustainable.

If you are feeling frustrated with yourself for “overreacting” or “not handling things better,” it may be worth asking
What is happening beneath the surface
What is my body trying to protect me from
What story did I learn about myself in moments like this

Therapy is not about fixing what is wrong with you. It is about understanding what has been submerged for years and learning how to respond with awareness instead of autopilot.
You deserve support that goes deeper than the surface.

02/10/2026

Ma********on is a normal and healthy part of human s*xuality, yet it remains one of the most stigmatized topics in mental and s*xual health conversations. Research consistently shows that ma********on can support emotional regulation, stress reduction, improved sleep, and greater body awareness. It also helps individuals learn about their own arousal patterns and boundaries, which can strengthen communication and satisfaction in partnered relationships.

So why is it still so taboo? Much of the shame surrounding ma********on is rooted in cultural and religious norms that frame s*xual pleasure as dangerous, immoral, or acceptable only in limited contexts. Historically, ma********on was pathologized in early medical and psychological literature, reinforcing fear and silence rather than education. These messages are often internalized early in life and persist into adulthood, shaping how people relate to their bodies and desires.

Reducing this stigma starts with accurate education and open, nonjudgmental conversations. When we approach s*xuality with curiosity instead of shame, we create space for healthier relationships with our bodies, clearer boundaries, and more informed choices. Normalizing ma********on is not about encouraging behavior, but about acknowledging that s*xual self-exploration is a common, developmentally typical experience that does not indicate dysfunction or harm.

Sexual health is mental health, and conversations grounded in science rather than shame are an important step toward overall well-being.

02/10/2026

Sometimes life does not just feel heavy. It actually takes up space in our bodies and minds. When you are carrying the weight of the world you are not meant to carry it alone and there are ways to feel a little lighter.

Ground your body to calm your nervous system
Slow deep breathing such as four seconds in and six seconds out activates the vagus nerve and signals safety to the brain. Research shows this can lower cortisol and reduce stress.

Move in ways that feel good
Even short walks release endorphins and help the brain process stress more efficiently. Movement is strongly linked to reduced anxiety and improved mood.

Name what you are feeling
Labeling emotions engages the prefrontal cortex and reduces activity in the amygdala. Simply saying I feel overwhelmed can lessen emotional intensity.

Connect even briefly
A short check in with someone you trust can regulate your nervous system and increase resilience. Social support is one of the strongest buffers against stress.

Set small boundaries and honor them
Saying not now or I need a break creates internal space. Small acts of self protection help prevent burnout and emotional overload.

You do not have to feel light all the time. Feeling just a little more grounded today is enough.

02/06/2026

We’re welcoming new clients and offering a complimentary first session with Chantry Carter, LCSW for a limited time.

This introductory session is an opportunity to:

• Get to know Chantry his therapeutic approach
• Clarify what you’re hoping to work on in therapy
• Decide if it feels like the right fit

We believe finding the right therapist matters. This offering is designed to lower the barrier to getting started while maintaining the same level of care and professionalism we bring to every session.

Availability is limited. New clients only. Contact us today to book!

Text 801.477.7569
Call 801.404.3059
Email info@worth-it.com

02/05/2026

Talking about s*x can feel a whole lot more vulnerable than the act of s*x itself.

We are expected to have s*x and expect our partner to have s*x with us, but talking comes with a whole new level of potential rejection.

02/05/2026

Write us in for the ‘Best Of’ Utah Valley winner!

Vote for your favorite doctors and dentists! Your vote always counts in Utah Valley Magazine's annual Best of Utah Valley contest. Rules for voting are one vote per email address. Voting closes March 1. Happy Voting!

02/05/2026

Social media can name patterns quickly. Healing requires slowing down enough to change them. Research consistently shows that insight alone does not lead to lasting mental health change without behavior, relational repair, and nervous system regulation. Consuming therapeutic content can feel productive while quietly replacing the work itself.

Here are a few signs content may be turning into over-analysis instead of growth:

• Awareness without behavior change: studies on psychotherapy outcomes show that symptom improvement comes from practicing new behaviors and skills, not insight alone.
• Emotional looping: repeated self analysis can increase rumination, which research links to higher anxiety and depression rather than resolution.
• Parasocial regulation: learning language online can feel regulating in the moment, but attachment and trauma research shows healing happens through real relational experiences, not one way consumption.
• Avoidance disguised as education: understanding why you struggle can become a substitute for doing the uncomfortable work of change.

Therapy helps turn awareness into action. It creates accountability, nervous system regulation, and real time feedback that social media can’t offer.

02/04/2026

Holidays like Valentine’s Day amplify comparison because they are designed to be performative. Algorithms reward spectacle, not authenticity.

When we scroll, our nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a staged moment and a lived one. It just absorbs the message: everyone else is happier, more loved, doing it better.

Staying grounded means coming back to your body, your values, and your actual relationships not the ones being marketed to you.

You don’t need to win Valentine’s Day.
You just need to stay connected to yourself.