We’ll be meeting every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7 - 9 PM at Real Caring Integrative Therapy, 535 East 4500 South #D280. Question? Call me at 801-853-8744 ext. 109.  Or better yet, email me david@realcaring.org.    RSVP as soon as possible, space is limited. 

Some of the ugliest parts of substance addiction and recovery may be due to a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. I’m talking about aggressive behavior, depression, suicidal ideation, memory problems, and impulsivity. Captain Joseph Hibbeln, MD, Acting Chief of the Section on Nutritional Neurosciences at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland has dedicated his career to spreading the word about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for helping people live healthier lives.

Omega-3’s in Addiction/Recovery

It is common for addicts to become malnourished as a result of their continued addiction and lack of self-care, which has a detrimental affect on their mood and behaviors. It is hypothesized that this state may catalyze and perpetuate their addictions. Researchers at University of Pittsburgh found that generational deficits of omega-3 within families can produce more mental health problems in children/teenagers, making them more susceptible to addiction. Second-generation rats with omega-3 deficiencies showed higher rates of anxiety and hyperactivity, learned at a slower rate, and had impaired problem-solving skills (Bondi et al., 2013), meaning that some adolescents may be pre-disposed to addiction because of their omega-3 deficiency.

Addiction is often referred to as a means of self-harm, or “slow suicide.” Research on suicide prevention has indicated that low omega-3 levels are associated with higher rates of self-harm, depression, and impulsivity (Garland et al., 2007). Others also found that low concentrations of DHA are linked with 62 % higher suicide risk (Xie & Innis, 2009). Dr. Hibbeln notes that low levels of omega-3s deplete the amount of dopamine that is available in the brain. Dopamine is involved in all things pleasurable, including getting high. When dopamine is low, it can “cause addicts to seek more and more drugs to get high, worsening their addiction,” says Hibbeln.

The concept of self compassion is new to psychology (first article published in 2003), but it is easily understandable by most.  Disclaimer: Just because this is easy to understand does not mean it is easy to do. Most Americans are not taught to be self-compassionate, but rather self-critical, which means the transition to becoming more self-compassionate can be difficult, but it is completely worth it in the end.

Kristin Neff is essentially the "creator" or founder of the term self-compassion, so she is an expert on this subject. She is a pioneer in Eastern psychology, such that she took several philosophical principles from Buddhism (East) and applied it to psychology (West). She speaks about self compassion in a four part series on youtube.  

These videos are short and very informative.  I also love that she makes mistakes and fumbles in the videos, but keeps going with a smile, which is the very essence of self-compassion. She breaks down each of the three components of self-compassion in a way that is very easy to understand and immediately applicable to your daily life. 

By Dr. Stephanie Voigt, Psy.D.

Dr. Voigt is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in family therapy, behavior problems with children, and psychological evaluation for children under 12.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama XIV

We learn best by experience right? 

Wise Women is an experiential Dialectical Behavior Therapy group.  This is a group that is designed to allow women to come together and support each other while experiencing the valuable skills needed to build a life worth living and not just surviving.

Women have a unique way of responding to the many demands placed upon them.  We often neglect ourselves to care for others.  Eventually, we become overwhelmed and our ability to listen to our intuition is compromised.  In Wise Women, you will meet other women who are on a similar path.  Together, you will:

- learn and master skills of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness
- experience a profound connection with other women who are dealing with the same struggles that you are.
- learn to balance meeting your own needs and meeting the needs of others

Each week, the group takes on a life of it’s own.  The group creates itself based on the needs of the women who attend each week. 

Dr. Stephanie Voigt and Alison Watts, ACMHC have extensive experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, experiential therapy and women’s issues.  Stephanie and Alison are both down to earth and easy to talk to.  They bring the evidence-based skills of DBT to you in a way that you will grasp them and make them your own.  

You may choose to come to Wise Women on Mondays at 5:30 - 7:00 PM or Wednesdays at 12:00 - 1:30 ... or both!  Wise Women groups are located at:

Real Caring Integrative Therapy
Professional Plaza
535 East 4500 South #D280
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107

Groups are affordable at $30 each week or $100 for 4 weeks.  For registration or more information, please call us at 801-853-8744.  You may also email Stephanie at stephanie@realcaring.org.

You may download a flyer here.

Do you struggle with meeting your child’s emotional needs? Are you feeling like your child is just plain out of control?  Would you like to talk with other parents who are experiencing the same thing?

Parenting from the Inside Out is not your average parenting class.  This is a group that is customized to the needs of the parents who attend.  It is designed to allow you to support each other in your own unique struggles.


In this group, you can expect to:

- learn and master new methods and techniques
- develop new parenting philosophies
- develop self-care habits to strengthen you

Group facilitators, Dr. Stephanie Voigt and Dr. Nancy Kimmerly, have extensive experience in behavior management, neuroscience, and theories about how families function.  Using evidence-based strategies, Stephanie and Nancy offer down to earth advice that you can apply right away.

Group is held every Monday 12:00 - 1:30 PM at:

Real Caring Integrative Therapy
Professional Plaza
535 East 4500 South #D280
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107

Groups are $30 each week or $100 for 4 weeks.  For registration or more information, please call us at 801-853-8744.  You may also email Stephanie at stephanie@realcaring.org.

You may download a flyer here. 

Do you ever feel like your child might be a monster or the devil in disguise? Do you ever feel ashamed for how you have treated your child in anger? Parenting is tough. Tough on the parent. Tough on the family. And, sometimes, tough on your kids.

A colleague recommended this video to me about Conscious Parenting based on the book, The Conscious Parent by Dr. Shefali Tsabary.   She quotes staggering statistics:

·      1 in 10 children over age 8 are unhappy

·      1 in 5 have a mental health concern

And she notes that with kids, the relationship between a parent and a child is key to helping them be healthy and happy. You get this relationship through the small moments of care and nurturing that happen on a daily basis.

However, like I said, parenting is tough. Kids are the biggest trigger of your own insecurities and vulnerabilities. As much as you want to love them, sometimes your own emotions take over. One way to approach this parenting gig, is to see it as a journey of self-evolution, one where you take those triggers and turn them into learning opportunities – about yourself. Taking an honest look at yourself through mindfulness and conscious awareness can help you and your children live happier, healthier lives.

By Dr. Stephanie Voigt, Psy.D.

Dr. Voigt is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in family therapy, behavior problems with children, and psychological evaluation for children under 12.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama XIV

We’re all excited this week as we move into our new office this weekend and will be seeing clients there on Monday, November 4th. We appreciate all of our clients and are looking forward to having a peaceful environment for everyone to enjoy.

With easy access to I-15 and 700 East, we hope this central location will be convenient for our clients who are located everywhere from Ogden to Provo.

Our new location is located at:
Professional Plaza
535 East 4500 South
D280
Salt Lake City, UT 84107

Call us at 801-853-8744 if you have any questions.

Nov. 8 UT NASW Fall Professional Education Series workshop with Shannon McQuade, LCSW.  Join me Friday, Nov. 8 at the  University of Utah College of Social Work for the Utah NASW Professional Education Series. Participants will get 3 CEU’s for the presentation. You don’t have to be a social worker or an NASW member to participate.

I'm a Person, Not a Borderline, Shannon McQuade, LCSW
Friday Nov 8
1:00 pm-4:00 pm
3 ceus    $40 member/$55 non-member/$25 student-retired member

The chaos we observe in Borderline Personality Disorder stems from a profound sense of identity confusion.  Diagnosing the personality does not help matters.  In this workshop, clinicians will learn how to use temperament analysis as a framework for understanding the person behind the disorder.  This holistic approach offers important answers for both clients and clinicians, inspiring an authentic therapeutic relationship that is essential to engaging in treatment.

Register here

Set your calendars for August 9th from 11 – 1 PM.  As it turns out, I have more information to share about how to approach personality disorders in a way that works more effectively, using an integration of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Jungian Typology. Over the past 8 years, I have been using and refining this method, which has turned out to be an effective way of helping clients identified as having Borderline Personality Disorder.  This method helps clients to understand themselves and claim/reclaim their lost identity.  I’ve seen this approach engage clients in therapy by giving them hope for something more than just a set of coping skills.  When the “why” questions of the personality can be effectively answered, clients can see beyond the immediate pain and understand that it’s possible to build a life worth living.  If you cannot make it to the lecture, I will be posting an online presentation that will cover both Parts I and II.

Come visit the Real Caring booth at this year’s Pride Festival happening May 30 – June 2 at Washington Square. This year’s theme “Gotta Be Real” says it all. Real Caring is all about being who you truly are. We’re proud to support the LGBTQ community here in Utah and we’re honored to be a part of the festivities this year! For more information about the schedule of events and tickets, visit utahpridefestival.org