Many adults assume getting a mental health diagnosis requires a psychiatrist, a referral, and a long waitlist. The truth might surprise you. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Utah, Dax Johnson is legally authorized and clinically trained to diagnose most mental health disorders using the DSM-5 — no psychiatrist required.

Telehealth has made therapy more accessible than ever — but there are real advantages to sitting in a dedicated therapy space that a screen can't fully replicate. This post explores the specific benefits of in-person therapy and who tends to get the most out of showing up in person.

You don't need to have the right words or know exactly what you need before your first therapy session. But a little preparation can help you get more out of it from the start. This post covers what to expect, what to think about beforehand, and how to show up ready to make the most of that first conversation.

Depression lies to you. It tells you nothing will help, that you've always been this way, and that there's no point in trying. This post explains how therapy directly challenges those lies — and what the research shows about which approaches are most effective for healing from depression.

Anxiety isn't just worrying too much — and it isn't something you can simply think your way out of. This post breaks down how therapy actually addresses anxiety at the root, what approaches work best, and what changes when you finally get real support for what your nervous system has been carrying.

For many people, faith isn't something they want to set aside when they walk into a therapy room — it's central to who they are and how they heal. This post explores what faith-based Christian counseling actually looks like, how it integrates with evidence-based therapy, and who it's designed for.

If you've never been to therapy before, the first session can feel intimidating — especially when you don't know what's coming. Here's an honest, practical breakdown of what actually happens in a first therapy session so you can walk in with less uncertainty and more confidence.

Finding a therapist is easy. Finding the right therapist is harder. This post breaks down exactly what to look for — beyond credentials and availability — so you can find someone who is actually a good fit for you and the work you want to do.

A lot of people try therapy, feel like it isn't working, and give up — without understanding what actually makes therapy effective. This post explains the real reasons therapy works, what the research shows, and what separates therapy that creates lasting change from therapy that doesn't.