Everett Uhl - media contacts

Site: Everett Uhl Therapy

Email: euhl@committed-action.com

Instagram @everettuhltherapy

In this conversation, I interview Everett Uhl, a licensed marriage and family counselor, about her role as a therapist. We discuss the importance of authenticity in therapeutic practices, the need for action-oriented approaches, and some critiques of traditional therapy models, especially in relation to religious influences.

I loved how Everett emphasized the significance of understanding human experiences in context rather than through rigid diagnoses, and of course, I’ll always cheer on an advocate for integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into one’s practice, with Everett combining it with the Bowen family systems approaches.

A Few Highlights

Authenticity in therapy fosters a genuine connection with clients.

Therapy should empower clients to take action, not just vent.

Understanding context is crucial for accurate diagnoses.

Expectations of therapy should be realistic and not solely focused on validation.

ACT encourages clients to make choices and move forward.

Rigid definitions in Christian counseling can lead to harm.

Secular therapy provides a safe space free from religious judgment.

Therapists should be aware of their biases and dual relationships.

The future of therapy should embrace flexibility and critical thinking.

Chapters

00:00 From Conservation to Counseling: A Journey of Purpose

04:38 Therapeutic Approaches: Authenticity and Action

08:48 The Role of Therapy: Beyond Venting to Empowerment

12:46 Understanding Human Experience: Context Over Diagnosis

17:02 Critiquing Therapy: The Need for Realistic Expectations

21:25 Integrating ACT and Family Systems: A Holistic Approach

25:49 The Impact of Religion in Therapy: A Critical Perspective

30:18 Navigating Secular Therapy: A Personal Commitment

34:41 The Future of Therapy: Moving Beyond Rigid Models

39:24 Conclusion: Embracing Change in Therapeutic Practices

Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, who conducts secular marriages, memorials, and many more meaningful life-affirming celebrations.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Education in primary, junior, and intermediate grades.

Raised as a freethinker, Steve has been married to a Christian for over a decade. He and his wife, Cindy, believe in the importance of bridging the gap between believers and non-believers.

Their two young children are being raised in an interfaith household and are free to choose their own path.

He serves as an Ambassador for Humanist Canada, Recovering from Religion, and Sunday Assembly.

In 2024, Steve was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for significant contributions to his community in Windsor/Essex, Ontario, Canada.

Book Description:

Humanism from the Heart by Steve Ghikadis is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to build bridges of understanding in a world divided by conflicting beliefs. Through personal stories and candid reflections, Steve shares his transformative journey—from struggling with religious apathy and growing resentment to embracing secular humanism, a philosophy rooted in empathy, reason, and meaningful connection.

Diagnoses are a frame of reference for looking at behavior, and therefore often limit us to understanding one another and ourselves. 

When it comes to gun control, the focus on mental health by both sides is accurate, but not for the reason either thinks.

If we want to effect change, then we need to step away from limiting stories about our behavior, and into how we expand a person’s flexibility in the face of interpersonal difficulty.