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Ask Julie: I’m Caring for Mentally Ill Adult Brother

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Ask Julie, Emotional Health, Family, Mental Health, Relationships, Relationships & Emotional Health, Special Needs, Therapy on January 30, 2012

Q: If something was to happen to me my brother would not be able to survive.  I need help. My mother adopted my brother at 13 whom is 21 now.  He had been foster care since he was 2 years old.  They labeled him as mentally ill.  We would hit is head on the wall, more »

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Ask Julie: How Bad Is It For A Grown Woman To Move Home?

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Family, Grief & Loss, Relationships, Work on December 26, 2011

Q: I recently got laid off, and right now my rent is almost due.  My brother thinks that if I can’t find a job I should move home, actually scratch that, he thinks I should be home even if I have a job. My mom passed away a month ago, and he’s afraid that my more »

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Ask Julie: Will My Therapist Have To Tell My Parents When I Cut Myself?

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Ask Julie, Depression, Family, Parenting, Parenting & Children, Relationships, Self-esteem, Therapy on December 19, 2011

I am 14 and recently my parents have discovered I struggle with self-injury. After discovering this, they are going to send me to see a therapist to help with the issue. They, of course, know I struggle with self-injury, but I would prefer if they did not hear about it if I tell the therapist more »

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Don’t Be Afraid To Set Boundaries: Studio 5

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Emotional Health, Family, Media, Parenting, Relationships, TV Segments on December 9, 2011

Does the fear of offending friends or family members keep you from setting boundaries? It’s a timely topic with the holidays fast approaching. Therapist, Julie Hanks, says it’s ok to set boundaries, even if you offend someone.   Q: Why are we afraid to set boundaries that might offend someone? You might mistakenly confuse boundaries more »

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My Turn On “The Couch”: Psych Central

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Depression, Emotional Health, Family, Media, News, Private Practice Toolbox on December 7, 2011

PsychCentral.com’s Margarita Tartakovsky, MS recently interviewed me for a new series featuring therapists  called “Clinicians on the Couch. She was delightful to interview with. Check out her body image blog  Weightless. So…if you’re interested in knowing what I wish my clients knew, what psych books I’m reading, what’s surprised me about being a therapist, how more »

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Moms, How do you answer the question, “Is there really a Santa Clause?”

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Family, My Life, TV Segments on November 11, 2011

How do you answer the question, “Is Santa Clause real?” How far have you gone to keep your kids believing in Santa? How old were you when you find out the truth about Santa? Who told you? Please post questions, comments, and funny stories below. I may use them in an upcoming Studio 5 TV more »

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Technology Milestones For Kids | When Should Kids Have Cell Phones, Facebook, Game Consoles?: Studio 5

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Family, Mental Health, Parenting, TV Segments on

Hi-Tech Parenting: When Should Kids Have Cell Phones, Facebook, Game Consoles? Under pressure to let your kids go hi-tech? Get expert advice on when to let children have a cell phone, open a Facebook account and more. Studio 5 Contributor and therapist, Julie Hanks, has tips to help you manage kids and technology. 1) At more »

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Encouraging Creativity in Your Kids

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Family, Parenting on November 9, 2011

1) Model a creative life Let your kids in on your own creative outlets. Whether it’s creating an online scrapbook, journal writing, floral arrangements, card making, playing flute, etc.  My kids have grown up seeing me write songs and perform in concerts. Because I’ve continued to develop my creative side, from as young as 18 more »

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8 Surefire Ways To Emotionally Mess Up Your Kid

posted by admin in Emotional Health, Family, Parenting, Therapy on November 8, 2011

8 Surefire Ways To Emotionally Mess Up Your Kid 1) Shut down all emotional expression If your child expresses anger, sadness, fear be sure to make fun of them, tell them not to feel, and dismiss their emotions. Withhold love whenever they express emotion, especially vulnerable feelings. Another tactic is to express more intense emotions more »

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Will 1 Year Wait Period Before Divorce Save Marriages: KSL TV News

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Communication, Family, Marriage, News, Parenting, TV Segments on October 25, 2011

KSL’s Brooke Walker asked me to weigh in on the recent proposal from the Institute for American Values suggesting to lawmakers a mandatory divorce waiting period. In my clinical work with couples I’ve found that couples often seriously consider or file for divorce because they have lost hope of reconnecting with their spouse and think more »

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Having A “Favorite” Child Isn’t Such A Bad Thing: KSL News

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Family, News, Parenting, Relationships, TV Segments on October 8, 2011

In his new book “The Sibling Effect”, Jeffrey Kluger says that whether they want to admit it or not, every parent has a favorite child. I think he’s right. A parent may naturally “click” with one child over another or may find one child easier to understand. What’s important is that parents to do what more »

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Kids & Consequences-5 Questions To Ask Before Rescuing: Studio 5

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Family, Parenting, TV Segments on September 28, 2011

5 Questions To Ask Before Rescuing Your Child From Natural Consequences The only source of knowledge is experience. – Einstein Being a “good parent” usually means being involved in your child’s life and “doing” things for your child, like volunteering in school, attending their sporting events, and teaching them values and skills. Allowing your child more »

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Have Playgrounds Become Too Safe?: KSL TV News

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Family, News, Parenting, TV Segments on September 24, 2011

Can a playground be TOO safe and stifle kids imagination, or stunt development? Remember the tricky bars, carousel, really high slides, and gigantic monkey bars? A recent NY Times article on this topic suggests that eliminating all risk may not be in your child’s best interest. Watch what I have to say about it here…

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Ask Julie: Why Am I Afraid To Grow Up?

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Ask Julie, Emotional Health, Family, Relationships, Therapy on August 31, 2011

Q: I’m a 25 year old male. I’ll just start off by saying that opening sentences take me sometimes hours to write (this one took ten minutes).  The same goes for my life – I just can’t seem to get anything started:  Job applications, writing routines, relationships with the opposite sex, you name it. The more »

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Ask Julie: Why Does Dad Favor My Brother?

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Ask Julie, Family, Parenting on August 28, 2011

Well, I’m 15 and I’m really sad because my brother always gets everything he goes and sees my dad and gets £30 or more of him every time he gets money for stuff as well everyday and when I go and see my dad all i get is a £5.  My brother also got a more »

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Is Your Child “Overbooked”?: KSL 5 News

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Family, Parenting, TV Segments on August 22, 2011

The Overbooked Child Good parents sign their kids up for dance, sports, music, art, and language lessons, right? In a recent NewYorkTimes.com arti cle Alina Tugend says, “…in an effort to give their children everything, some parents end up not just depleting financial resources, but also their own emotional energy.” Exposure to early opportunities, classes, more »

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Settling the Household “Chore War” in Your Marriage: Fox 13 News

posted by admin in Family, Marriage, Media, News, TV Segments on August 14, 2011

Do you and your partner fight about whose turn it is to do the laundry, load the dishwasher, or put the kids to bed? Julie Hanks, LCSW, Director of Wasatch Family Therapy is here to help couples understand and setting the chore war. Division of household chores is among the top sources of conflict for more »

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Sexual Abuse Collection: Mormon Women Project

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Counseling, Family, Mental Health on August 12, 2011

Several months ago I stumbled onto an amazing website called Mormon Women Project that tells stories of Latter-day Saint women around the globe. Founded by a Neylan McBaine, I contacted her to congratulate her on the site, and let her know that I’d love to help her efforts in any way that I can. Neylan more »

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Surviving Back to School Shopping with Tweens & Teens: Studio 5

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Advice, Family, Media, Parenting, TV Segments on August 11, 2011

Need help finding clothes to fit your standards and her style? It’s just one of the challenges moms face when shopping with “Tweens” and teens. Here are my tips to help help you resolve your shopping struggles, before you hit the stores. 1) Money Pam: “I would like to ask how I can make my more »

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Ask Julie: Husband Sexually Abused our Daughter

posted by Julie Hanks LCSW in Ask Julie, Family on July 28, 2011

Three days ago I found out that a year ago my husband sexually abused my daughter. I don’t know what to do I love my daughter very much and I love him I will protect her at all costs, I have put locks on her door locks on the bathroom and she is not left more »

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