Education

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with credentials to practice in both Washington and Utah. I received my Bachelor’s (History) and Master’s (Marriage & Family Therapy) degrees at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. My graduate education included intensive and specific training with distressed couples, sexual issues, and anxiety-related mental disorders. I have also received training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) method out of the Solterreno Mindful Academy in Alicante, Spain, specialized OCD training through the IOCDF’s Training Institute and the leading Acceptance Commitment Therapy lab in the nation, and am certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, an effective and gentle technique used for treating trauma. I’m currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Utah State University.

Experience

My clinical experience spans many settings, including large group practices, a sex therapy clinic, and my own private practice. I am an approved supervisor in Washington State and Utah and provide training and supervision to associate and intern therapists. I have provided specialized training in OCD and related disorders at nationally-ranked graduate programs and in smaller clinical settings. I work mainly with clients who want help with anxiety, OCD, marital issues, sex-related issues, and challenges related to spirituality and religion.

I employ, train, and supervise other therapists across the country through a clinic that my husband and I founded and manage together: Azure Counseling.

Research & Writing

I am committed to providing my clients with quality care that is backed by solid research—I won't just throw my opinions at you. I have authored and coauthored several academic articles, including an award-winning study on sexuality. My research has been showcased in the Journal of Sex Research, IGI Global, PsyPost, Psychology Today, KUTV, and the Salt Lake Tribune. I have presented my findings at academic and educational conferences around the country. As a PhD student, my research has explored how religious couples experience power in their marriages.

I also wrote a book, Sex Educated: Letters from a Latter-day Saint Therapist to Her Younger Self, published by BCC Press with the goal to help women learn to love and celebrate their sexuality.

Speaking & Community

In addition to my work as a therapist and author, I stay active in promoting mental health, healthy sexuality, and happy marriages in my community. I have guest lectured in college courses at multiple universities, contributed to podcasts, led marriage workshops, and spoken at public events. I volunteered for two years as a mental health consultant for the Barcelona mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while my husband and I lived in Spain.

Here’s a recent podcast episode from Faith Matters where I discuss religious OCD, also known as scrupulosity:

OCD Isn’t What You Think It Is — A Conversation with Bonnie Young

Professional Associations

I belong to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP), the Mormon Mental Health Association (MMHA) and Psychology Today.