Julia Bernards, MS, LMFT
Julia Bernards, MS, LMFT, was born in California and grew up in Orem, UT; Seattle, WA; and Nashville, TN. She came back to Utah for college and earned a B.S. from BYU in 2000, focusing her studies on Family Science, Psychology and English and graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also met and married her husband of 22 years. Julia’s passion for strengthening families became personal as she spent the next 15 years raising four wonderful children in Provo, UT and Bentonville, AR. An unexpected turn of events brought her family back to Provo in 2014, and she felt called to go back to school to study Marriage and Family Therapy at BYU to continue her path in pursuing her passion.
She received her Masters degree in 2017 and is currently working on her PhD. As part of her graduate programs at BYU, Julia taught a course in Marriage and Family Therapy models, supervised student therapists, and is assisting with a research practicum focusing on LGBTQ+ students at BYU. Her dissertation is a qualitative study on LDS family’s processes in coming to accept a transgender child. In the last few years, three of her children came out as queer and Julia has been joyfully learning how best to support them.
Since 2015, Julia has seen clients at BYU Comprehensive clinic, Compassionate Connections Counseling, Alliance Behavioral Psychology, and at Flourish. She has found joy in continuing to strengthen families, couples and individuals, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. As a therapist, Julia focuses on the good in everyone she meets and believes in their inherent power to heal. She helps clients align themselves with their values and connect with their capacity for courage, clarity, curiosity, creativity, and calm. Julia creates a safe space for every part of a person and helps clients see themselves and others with compassion. Joining you in your journey to discover, regain, or strengthen your self and your relationships is a joy for Julia.
In addition to providing therapy, Julia participates in LGBTQ+ affirming community groups and gives community presentations on family topics and coming to love and accept our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in the LDS faith. She has also written articles for a variety of publications on strengthening families. Julia takes great joy in her own family and feels privileged to get to work with so many others.
*Not Currently Accepting New Clients*
Locations: Telehealth Only
Areas of Interest:
Couples
Families
Adolescents
Young Adults
Trauma
LGBTQ+ Issues