Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. A free 15-minute phone consultation is available for anyone considering working with Lionheart Counseling LLC.

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The consultation is a chance to briefly share what's bringing you to therapy, ask any questions you have about the process or approach, and get a feel for whether this feels like the right fit — with no pressure and no obligation.

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Many people find that one conversation is enough to know whether they want to move forward. If it feels like a good match, we'll schedule your first full session from there. If for any reason it doesn't feel like the right fit, that's okay too — finding the right therapist matters, and we'd rather you find the right person than feel pressured into something that isn't working for you.

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To schedule your free consultation, reach out through the contact page or send an email directly to dax@lionheartcounselingllc.com.

Finding the right therapist starts with looking for someone who specializes in what you're actually dealing with — not just a generalist who covers everything. The more specific their focus, the more likely their approach will feel tailored to you rather than generic.

Beyond specialty, the therapeutic relationship matters enormously. Research consistently shows that the quality of the connection between a client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes. You want someone whose style feels like a genuine fit — honest, present, and actually invested in your growth.

At Lionheart Counseling, a free 15-minute consultation is available so you can get a feel for whether this is the right fit before committing to a full session. There's no pressure and no obligation — just an honest conversation to see if we're a good match.

Your first session is primarily about getting to know you. We will discuss:

• What brought you to therapy

• Your goals for counseling

• Important background history

• Any questions you have about the process

The goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where you feel comfortable sharing at your own pace.

My approach is warm, honest, and direct in equal measure — I lead with grace, and I bring genuine care into every session.

That means you'll be fully heard and never judged in this space. Whatever you've been through, whatever you're carrying, whatever you're ashamed of — this is a room where you can set that down and be honest at your own pace.

At the same time, I'm not a passive presence. I'm genuinely engaged in your growth — which means I'll offer honest perspective when it's helpful, notice patterns worth naming, and gently challenge you when I think you're selling yourself short. Not to be hard on you, but because I actually believe in what's possible for you.

Therapy with me is a real relationship. Many of my clients tell me that working with someone who sees them clearly, challenges them with care, and consistently believes in their potential — even when they can't — is something they haven't experienced before. That relationship itself is part of the healing.

I use four primary evidence-based approaches: EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) — chosen based on what each person needs and what will get to the root of what's keeping them stuck.

At Lionheart Counseling LLC, we commonly help adults struggling with:

• Self-sabotage and patterns that keep getting in the way of the life you want

• Negative core beliefs — deep, persistent thoughts about yourself that feel completely true but aren't

• Trauma and PTSD

• Anxiety and chronic stress

• Depression and low motivation

• Panic attacks

• Grief and loss

• Life transitions and burnout

• Relationship struggles rooted in past experiences

• Emotional regulation and overwhelm

If you've been carrying something that keeps showing up no matter how hard you try to move past it, you're in the right place.

Self-sabotage is the pattern of getting in your own way — often without fully understanding why. It might look like pulling back from relationships just when they start to feel real, talking yourself out of opportunities before you've even tried, repeating the same cycles in different situations, or destroying things that are actually going well.

It rarely feels intentional. Most people who self-sabotage are frustrated by it and desperately want to stop. The problem is that willpower and awareness alone usually aren't enough to break the pattern — because self-sabotage almost always has a root.

Underneath most self-sabotaging behavior are beliefs formed by past experiences — often painful or traumatic ones — that taught you something about what you deserve, what's safe, or what's possible for you. Those beliefs drive behavior from the background, often without you realizing it.

Yes, therapy can help — and significantly. Approaches like EMDR, IFS, and CBT are specifically designed to get to the root of those underlying beliefs and patterns, process the experiences that created them, and help you build a different relationship with yourself. Real change is possible. Not just managing the pattern differently — actually changing it.

Therapy works by helping you better understand your thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns. With the guidance of a trained therapist, you learn new skills to regulate emotions, challenge negative thinking, and respond to stress in healthier ways.

Over time, this creates lasting changes in how you experience yourself, relationships, and life challenges.

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help people process traumatic or distressing memories.

During EMDR, guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation help the brain reprocess difficult experiences so they become less emotionally overwhelming. Many people find that memories that once felt intense or triggering begin to feel more distant and manageable.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It's built on the idea that the mind is made up of multiple "parts" — different aspects of yourself that developed for specific reasons, often to protect you from pain.

You might recognize some of yours: the inner critic that tells you you'll fail before you've even tried. The perfectionist who can never do enough. The part that numbs out when things get hard. The self-saboteur that pulls back right when something good is about to happen.

These parts aren't flaws — they developed to keep you safe. IFS helps you understand what each part is protecting, build a compassionate relationship with it, and help it heal so it can stop working against you and start working with you.

At the core of IFS is the belief that you have a Self — a calm, wise, compassionate center that was never damaged by trauma or difficult experiences. The goal of IFS therapy is to help that Self lead, so your parts can finally relax and heal.

IFS is particularly powerful for self-sabotage, negative core beliefs, trauma, shame, and the inner critic.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress.

CBT focuses on building practical skills that help you challenge unhelpful thoughts and develop healthier behaviors and coping strategies.

Two of the most effective and research-supported approaches for trauma are EMDR Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS) — and at Lionheart Counseling, we use both.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional intensity and stop showing up so powerfully in daily life. Many people are surprised by how much lighter they feel after EMDR work, even after years of carrying something heavy.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) complements EMDR by helping you understand and heal the protective "parts" of yourself that developed in response to trauma — the inner critic, the part that shuts down, the self-saboteur that pulls back when things start to get good. Together these approaches address trauma at both the memory level and the identity level.

The right combination depends on your specific history and goals, which is something we'll explore together from the beginning.

Yes. Research consistently shows that therapy can be very effective for treating anxiety and depression. Evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy help people learn practical strategies to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that contribute to mental health struggles.

The length of therapy varies depending on your goals and the challenges you're working through. Some people benefit from short-term therapy lasting a few months, while others prefer longer-term support as they continue personal growth.

Most people begin therapy with weekly sessions. This allows enough time to build momentum and work consistently toward your goals. Over time, sessions may become less frequent as progress continues.

Yes. Therapy is confidential, which means what you share in sessions stays private. There are only a few legal exceptions, such as situations involving immediate risk of harm to yourself or others. Or if you are involved in legal matters and the court subpoenas session records.

Finding the right therapist starts with looking for someone who specializes in what you're actually dealing with — not just a generalist who covers everything. The more specific their focus, the more likely their approach will feel tailored to you rather than generic.

Beyond specialty, the therapeutic relationship matters enormously. Research consistently shows that the quality of the connection between a client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes. You want someone whose style feels like a genuine fit — honest, present, and actually invested in your growth.

At Lionheart Counseling, a free 15-minute consultation is available so you can get a feel for whether this is the right fit before committing to a full session. There's no pressure and no obligation — just an honest conversation to see if we're a good match.

Absolutely. You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people attend therapy for personal growth, stress management, relationship issues, or simply to better understand themselves.

Feeling nervous about therapy is completely normal. Opening up to someone new can feel intimidating. Therapy moves at your pace, and your comfort and sense of safety are always the priority.

That’s completely normal. Many people come to therapy unsure where to start. Your therapist will guide the conversation and help you explore what’s been weighing on you. Therapy is a collaborative process, and you don’t need to have everything figured out beforehand.

One of the strongest predictors of success in therapy is the relationship between the client and therapist. When clients feel safe, understood, and supported, they are more able to explore difficult experiences and make meaningful changes.

Starting therapy is simple. You can reach out through the contact form on the website to schedule an initial consultation or ask questions about services. Taking that first step can be the beginning of meaningful change. You can also email me directly at: dax@lionheartcounselingllc.com

Lionheart Counseling LLC services the wide Salt Lake area of Utah and is partnered with the office of Living Waters Counseling LLC, located in Murray, UT. Additionally, we offer Telehealth video therapy services throughout the state of Utah.

I offer both in-person and online therapy. Some people find it more engaging to be physically present in my office. While others prefer to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes.

Lionheart Counseling LLC may accept certain insurance plans depending on coverage and provider participation. Because insurance networks and policies can vary, it is recommended that clients contact Lionheart Counseling LLC directly to verify whether their specific insurance plan is accepted. Clients are also encouraged to check with their insurance provider to understand their mental health benefits, including coverage, copays, deductibles, and any referral requirements. If insurance is not used, private pay options may also be available. With that being said, both offices that Lionheart Counseling LLC is partnered with currently accept multiple insurance plans, such as:

• Select Health

• Aetna

• Cigna - Effective 7/15/2026

• Medicare

• United Healthcare-Optum

• DMBA

• BCBS - Effective 7/25/2026

• EMI

• U of U

Yes. Lionheart Counseling LLC offers self-pay (private pay) options for clients who prefer not to use insurance or who may not have mental health coverage. Many people choose self-pay for greater privacy, flexibility in treatment, and the freedom to focus fully on their care without insurance limitations or restrictions on diagnosis, session frequency, or treatment approach.

The current self-pay rate is $100 per session. Choosing self-pay means no insurance company is involved in your care. You and your therapist determine what you need and how your therapy unfolds.

If you have questions about self-pay or want to get started, reach out directly and we'll make it simple.

Each appointment is reserved specifically for you, and when a session is missed without adequate notice that time cannot be offered to someone else who may need it. Out of respect for the therapeutic process and everyone's time, the following policy is in place:

Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice and no-shows are charged the full session fee of $100

This fee applies regardless of insurance coverage — late cancellation and no-show fees are not billable to insurance and are the responsibility of the client.

If something comes up, please reach out as soon as possible. Life happens outside the office for both the client and clinician that causes last minute emergency schedule changes, and there is always grace for genuine emergencies. Open communication goes a long way, and exceptions can be discussed when circumstances genuinely warrant it.