Influence Therapy & Coaching

07/01/2025

Super excited to have Sadie Miller join the Influence Therapy team! We've been planning on her for a long time. Congrats to Sadie on her recent graduation and starting up here! Here's what you need to know about her...

I grew up in West Valley City as the oldest of seven siblings. I earned both my undergraduate degree in Family Science and my Master’s in Social Work from Utah Valley University.

My clinical experience has primarily focused on treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns, with a particular specialization in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I’m also deeply passionate about perinatal mental health and am currently pursuing advanced training to better support individuals and families through the perinatal period.

I met my husband in junior high school, and we’ve been married for nearly six years. We have a sweet one-year-old daughter and two energetic dogs who keep life lively and full. Outside the therapy office, I enjoy traveling, trying new foods (especially sweet treats), watching movies and TV shows, and spending quality time with my siblings. As a deep-feeler by nature, I bring emotional depth, authenticity, and genuine passion into the work I do with clients.

06/04/2025

Earlier this week I shared about a recent presentation I participated in at a local mental health professionals conference.

The presentation focused on anxiety across the lifespan, and I spoke of middle adulthood. Anxiety in this stage of life often stems from shifting family roles, evolving careers, and concerns about societal instability. I explained that I often rely on Erik Erikson’s theory of human development, connecting adult anxiety to the psychological task of Generativity versus Stagnation, emphasizing the human need to feel productive and purposeful. When adults feel they’re no longer contributing meaningfully—whether as parents, partners, or professionals—it can lead to anxiety and self-doubt.

Now what to do about it...? My two favorite current approaches are a Values exercise and principles from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

I have loved using The Values Card deck (50+ cards) to give clients a chance to consider and select values they claim to hold in their lives. I then help them categorize these values and determine their core values as well as others that support them or are outcomes of living by those values. We discuss the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with espoused values versus the anxiety and frustration that may result from falling short of doing so. We can then look for life application to better align choices with values for a more integrated life.

I also love teaching the concept of Dialectics - the idea that two opposing things can both be true, especially in a world where black & white thinking can be so prevalent; and as humans we often default to it because of its simplicity. I help clients focus on "mindful" living - present, self-aware, grounded thinking and choices rather than being caught up in the future or the past. I highlight concepts like Radical Acceptance, which teaches us to accept what is and stay present rather than fighting and resisting what we cannot control. Other DBT concepts and skills often follow.

In a world that continuously delivers opportunities for anxiety, I believe we middle adults can best create calm and keep moving forward as we honestly and clearly identify our values and then make efforts to align our choices with them. And as we mindfully accept our circumstances and life events, as well as choices of others we cannot control, focusing instead on where we are and what we can do with what we have.

06/02/2025

I recently attended and presented at a local clinical therapy conference in Sandy called Generations. Joining colleagues I've shared my career with as well as new-found professionals, our panel presented about anxiety across the lifespan, and my focal point was middle adulthood. I have loved learning about the needs of adults as my clinical practice has grown over the past 9 months. Here are highlights of what I shared that I am seeing in adults with respect to anxiety:

1. Middle-aged women are largely concerned for their children, with the complexities of an era different from the one they were raised in.
2. Upper-middle-aged women are finding challenges as empty nesters and as their husband's lives and roles changes (such as with retirement).
3. Middle-aged men are indeed confronting a "mid-life..." I like to call it a "moment" rather than a crisis. I've felt it myself and I'm seeing it in numerous men. We've worked for awhile now in our careers, but have a long way to go.
4. Men are also feeling the weight of the world's problems, politically, environmentally, and like the mothers, for their children as well, to be raised in such an unsettled world.

With all this I have found myself learning into my Human Development bachelors degree and the theory of human development put forward by Erik Erikson.

What's happening for adults in this theory? They progress from the identity development task of adolescence to the need to form intimate relationships in early to mid-adulthood, and then to the stage of Generativity. Think about that! There's a driving human need to "generate": to be productive, to give something to the world. The opposite, posited Erikson, is "Stagnation".

Those are powerful words. Either generate or feel stuck. It's easy, then, to see why people in the four categories I mentioned above are feeling anxious! Generating can come from raising and rearing happy & healthy, achieving children, or of course from working in a job or career that creates a product that has value and meaning in the world. What happens when you feel you aren't as valuable in your work or to your children (as they leave home, for example), or spousal roles shift and change as time and family dynamics adjust, or it feels like the world is a crazy place to raise children... We question meaning, worth, value, and feel an unsettling sense of worry about the future (not to mention the present). We question ourselves.

What do we do about it? I'll share some thoughts about that in my next post...

05/14/2025

Ok, the truth is that Jake was one of the first to respond to my ad last Fall, and he was a quick and easy hire. We just didn't connect on the bio & pic for a little while. He's doing self-pay clients and mostly telehealth so far. So glad to have him on the team since late 2024 and to finally introduce him officially!

Hello I’m Jake, and I’m dedicated to helping you build the life you envision. From the very beginning, I focus on creating a sense of momentum and progress by addressing what is not working in your life.

Many people find it challenging to figure out the steps they need to take to move forward. However, we all share a common desire for things to be better. Whether it’s wanting to have more fulfilling relationships, to be a better parent, or partner or to manage life better we all strive for personal growth. Unfortunately, this desire can sometimes turn into an inner critic, leading to anxiety, depression, self-criticism, and dissatisfaction. I’m here to help you navigate these challenges, create positive change, and build the life you want.

I have a particular passion for helping couples and families overcome communication barriers. I’ve also helped many individuals with ADHD and anxiety know how to navigate life. My expertise is not limited to these areas; I can help with depression, shame, and life transitions.

Please reach out; it would be an honor to have the opportunity to work with you and support you in achieving your goals.

05/09/2025

I am so fortunate that Mike Johnson found his way to Influence Therapy! He is an exceptional human with incredible experiences that will contribute significantly to our work! Welcome, Mike!
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Mike is a retired Navy Officer with 25 years of active duty. Joining the Navy right out of high school, Mike pursued his education earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree in counseling psychology through night classes.

Throughout his naval career, Mike's assignments often aligned with his expertise in mental health therapy. He spent four years as the senior counselor on a staff of 8 counselors in the Navy’s second largest Counseling and Assistance Center. During his time there Mike designed and implemented 2-week 8 hour 5 days a week outpatient program. Mike received a Navy Achievement Award following his tour of duty there.

Following his time in the Navy, he has also:
- Revamped a 30-day inpatient correctional custody program increasing a 34% satisfactory return to duty program to a 97% satisfactory completion rate. During this time he also instituted the navy’s first female correctional custody program with similar satisfactory completion rates.
- Volunteered with the San Diego County Juvenile Division as a Volunteer in Probation mentoring young people incarcerated for various violations.
- Established a newly authorized Family Service Center at a major naval base providing individual counseling, marriage and family counseling and interviewing and hiring civilian counselors.
- Provided individual counseling and marriage and family counseling for LDS Family Services in remote locations.
- Worked in a private practice providing individual counseling, and marriage and family counseling for those under court order to be in counseling.
- Worked as a wilderness guide/counselor for a youth wilderness rehab program.
- Worked for an agency specializing in court ordered cases of drugs, DUI, and domestic violence working with both the perpetrators and the victims of domestic violence.
- Volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children and a victim’s advocate for su***de, homicide, domestic violence, and unassisted death cases.

His experience and knowledge has enabled Influence Counseling and Coaching to put together a comprehensive NOJOS Level 3 program designed to provide individuals participating in the program and their families with what they need to overcome their challenges and ensure a united and happy future.

05/06/2025

Meet Emma! Another new member of the Influence Therapy Team with a cool background, education, and experiences!

Emma is currently an Associate of Marriage and Family Therapy. Prior to pursuing a master’s degree, Emma received her Bachelor of Science degree in physiology in 2020. Her background in biology gives a unique perspective on the mind-body connection, which she incorporates into sessions to help clients best understand their bodies and therefore their behaviors.

Emma has had many opportunities to work with children and teenagers, most recently working at a residential treatment center for adopted youth. It was there that Emma saw the deep need for marriage and family therapy and decided to pursue a master's degree in the field.

While studying at Liberty University, Emma chose a focus on how to provide meaningful Christian counseling that incorporates evidence-backed science interventions through a faith-focused lens. Emma is a compassionate Christian therapist dedicated to helping individuals and families better understand their faith and further develop their relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Providing biological, psychosocial, and spiritual insight, with specialized knowledge in the science of relationships, clients will receive a holistic approach to their therapeutic journey.

04/29/2025

Influence is excited to welcome yet another therapist to our team, our first official Intern! Get to know Jenna:

As the daughter of two first responders, Jenna has always felt like it’s in her nature to care for and help others. Jenna has experience working with married couples, individuals struggling with faith, families experiencing crisis, adolescents in residential treatment, and athletes (she was formerly an assistant high school track and field coach).

She strives to hold space for others and creates a nonjudgmental therapeutic environment that promotes growth and healing. She believes in a person-centered approach that tailors therapy to each individual’s unique needs.

Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and she is completing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of the Southwest.

Jenna’s hobbies include exercising, playing basketball, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, three children, and two cats. She attends Utah Jazz games, Utah Hockey Club games, and concerts as often as she can and feels passionately about enjoying life.

04/25/2025

I'm pleased to introduce another really cool and high-caliber therapist joining the Influence Threrapy team! Meet Jake - a former collegiate gymnast who has *sprung* onto the scene and is now using his *flexibility* to help *flip* and *turn* people's lives around. (Too much?😉)

Jake has always been fascinated by the mind and the intricacies of human relationships. Deeply empathetic by nature, he is passionate about understanding people’s challenges and walking alongside them on their healing journey. Jake specializes in treating unwanted po*******hy use, OCD and anxiety, and trauma/PTSD. He is also currently expanding his expertise in working with ADHD. Jake has experience working with individuals of all ages and tailors his approach to each unique person.

Jake approaches therapy with warmth, compassion, and a strengths-based lens. His integrative approach includes mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inner Child/Parts work, and nervous system regulation techniques. He is committed to treating clients holistically—respecting where they are and what they are ready and willing to work on. He is also completing his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) and enjoys weaving aspects of yoga and breathwork into sessions when clients are open to it.

Outside the therapy room, Jake is a passionate musician who loves to sing and play the guitar, piano, and drums. A former elite and collegiate gymnast, he now turns to yoga and meditation for movement and grounding. He loves sunshine and finds inspiration and peace in the outdoors, always grateful for nature’s variety and beauty.

04/24/2025

Influence Therapy & Coaching is gearing up to start working with a very specific population of teens. It’s a group of youth in need of help, support, and learning. Based on some choices they have made, they can be pretty harshly judged, dismissed, and even disdained. It’s uncomfortable to think about and talk about for most of us. To be honest, this is a new realm for me professionally.

I am talking about youth with “problematic s*xual behaviors”, which is the currently accepted and hoped-for terminology, whereas in the past they have been called “juvenile s*x offenders”. While it’s true that s*xual behaviors don’t occur without victims, it is not only the victims who need help. Very often, these are kids who do not fully understand the behaviors they have engaged in. They may also misunderstand and misperceive social behaviors, norms, and boundaries generally. They may be victims themselves or have had these kinds of behaviors modeled for them by the adults in their lives.

In a world - in a state - where respected public figures such as judges and fire chiefs are suddenly arrested for s*xual crimes against children, I feel the significance of working with teens (who are children, really) to help them understand, become educated, and learn healthier choices, skills, patterns, and boundaries of relationships so they can be successful and leave such behaviors in the past. And the data shows that most of them do. In the information-gathering phase of this next venture, I have found the other professionals working in this arena to be incredibly compassionate, helpful, open, and welcoming.

I am excited to have Influence become a provider to help and support these kids and their families. Maybe you know someone who could use this kind of help? I’d be happy to talk about it.

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/former-judge-fire-chief-accused-of-child-s*x-abuse-appear-in-court

04/18/2025

ADHD - big topic! We've been talking a lot about it in our home the past couple weeks after deciding it's probably playing a big role in the lives of some of our family members in & out of our home.

The photo from our home is my wife talking with our teenage son about the pictured book, "ADHD is Awesome". I got such a kick out of that moment: She's talking about ADHD and he's balancing a pillow on his feet as he listens...maybe? 😄

I'm so thankful my brother shared this book with us - we are finding it to be an incredibly accessible, fun, and informative (non-scholarly) approach to better understanding ADHD, with a slant towards what makes it a strength and capability-enhancer rather than focusing on the "disorder" aspect, with its stigmas and challenges.

Of course it is challenging. But it can also be empowering when understood and harnessed. Honestly, we're just beginning our journey of understanding it on a personal level within our home. )It's always different addressing things in a therapy office from doing it in your own home.😉) And to be more honest, I'm only in the introduction to the book, but I can tell I'm going to love it. So I'm going to recommend it already. I'll report back when I've finished.

04/15/2025

Yesterday I met Austin Peterson, President of the Belong Youth Conference. I am impressed and I believe this is a great opportunity for youth trying to navigate their identity within the LGBTQ+ realm to find a safe space to belong.

Want a fun and affirming summer activity? 🤔 The Belong Youth Conference offers LGBTQIA+ teenagers and allies a space to belong while equipping them with tools for resilience and spiritual well-being in an identity-affirming and religiously-neutral environment. Learn more and register today via the link in our bio!

04/10/2025

Meet Alyssa - newest therapist to join the Influence Therapy team!

Alyssa received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Case Western Reserve specializing in mental health with adults. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati in Social Work and has a minor in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Alyssa has experience working in community mental health, private practice, case management and in the group home setting. She works with adults and teenagers and enjoys working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship issues, motivation and s*xual assault. She strives to create a warm and welcoming space in sessions where she can establish trust and strong relationships with her clients.

She recently moved to Utah from Ohio to be closer to the mountains for different adventures such as climbing and backpacking. Alyssa has been climbing for more than 5 years and was a trip leader in college for the UC Mountaineering Club. She has also worked in the outdoor industry at a gear shop, climbing gym and as a trail crew member in Colorado.

Some of her other hobbies include reading, running, yoga, cooking, baking, and going to concerts. She is passionate about environmental activism, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues.

Welcome, Alyssa!