Kimberly Anderson joins Jennifer White in this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Kimberly shares her journey of becoming an advocate and therapist for the LGBTQIA community which includes her coming out as a trans woman as an adult. She shares her thoughts on the relationship of the LGBTQIA community and Mormonism and advice to bishops and leaders on how to address individuals who come out as transgender.
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Melody Anderson joins Jeff Lundgren on this episode of Mormon Mental Health to discuss how trauma presents in men based on their core values and beliefs. Having recently presented at a domestic violence conference, she talks to Jeff about how trauma presents itself, why it does and what men who deal with trauma can do to start the healing process. She includes resources.
To connect with Melody directly, you can email her directly at melodyjoyd@gmai.com.
To help keep Mormon Mental Health alive past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Jenny Black joins host Jeff Lundgren on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Jenny grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a rule-following member. While researching the church for a family member that left the church, she experienced a faith crisis. Through the process she gave herself permission to change her priorities which was the hardest thing for her. This is her story of her faith transition and how she saw the divine hand of God throughout the process. She shares some tips on things someone can do who finds themselves going through a similar faith transition experience.
You can find out more about Jenny at theeverythinghousewife.com.
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Natasha is excited to have colleagues begin hosting episodes of Mormon Mental Health. This is to allow for more diverse voices and to bring you, the listener, more content.
One host will be Jeff Lundgren.
Jeff is currently getting his licensing but is already participating in the field. He is a member of the Mormon Mental Health Association.
To find out more and see what Jeff is up to, please visit:
http://www.jefflundgren.com/category/advocacy/
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Natasha is excited to have colleagues begin hosting episodes of Mormon Mental Health. This is to allow for more diverse voices and to bring you, the listener, more content.
One host will be Jennifer White.
Jennifer White is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has been employed professionally in the mental health field since 2005. She is proficient in helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Jennifer works with clients in a variety of environments, such as in the office, in-home, or online.
She is well known for creating a safe environment where clients share without the fear of being judged. Jennifer has a gift to help clients achieve their highest potential.
Jennifer enjoys being committed to the therapeutic process and is passionate about supporting her clients to heal, grow, and learn. She has a great love for people and respects different perspectives and cultural experiences.
Jennifer received a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University and a Masters Degree in Social Work at Brigham Young University.
You can find out more about Jennifer by going to:
https://www.symmetrysols.com/jennifer-white
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.
From The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.
Jennifer Limones joins Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health to discuss the recent training the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints released for abuse training and protection of youth and minors. Jennifer, having taken the training, shares her insights with Natasha about the training and, although it’s a step in the right direction, she validates some of the fears of it not being run by a third party, that there is no accountability as to what was involved in the training through trauma-informed lens, and of course, nothing is being done about one-on-one worthiness interviews.
To find out more about a program Jennifer feels is a more healthy approach, you can check out “Darkness to Light” by Stewards of Children by going here: https://www.d2l.org/education/stewards-of-children/
You can find out more about Sam Young’s movement, “Protect LDS Children” by going here: https://protectldschildren.org
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/mormontherapist/2019/04/president-nelson-im-having-a-trust-crisis.html
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/mormontherapist/2019/06/waves-a-response-to-painful-rhetoric.html
To order Natasha’s book, “One Family, Two Views”, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/One-Family-Two-Views-Mixed-Faith/dp/1724860100/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=one+family%2C+two+views&qid=1563153488&s=gateway&sr=8-1
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Jimmy Bridges presented the following at the MO/KAN AAMFT Conference held in Kansas City, March 22, 2019.
It is titled: Therapeutic Considerations for Queer Clients with Conservative Religious Upbringings
What does it take to be queer and Christian? Clinicians working with queer clients consider the contextual factors of societal discrimination often involved in presenting problems. When queer clients come from conservative or fundamentalist religious upbringings, presenting issues and mental health can often be associated with deeply held religious beliefs. Clinicians grow in clinical competence with queer-religious clients by considering their own personally held narratives about religion, gender and sexual minority identities, and the intersection of both. This presentation will present findings from an original research project with a group religiously conservative and queer-identified adults.
Jimmy Bridges, MS, LMFT is a doctoral student in the couple and family therapy program at Kansas State University. His research looks at the experiences of sexual minorities from conservative religious settings, particularly within Mormon communities, and feminist consciousness- raising processes for majority identity holding individuals, clinicians, and researchers.. Jimmy maintains a clinical practice at Symmetry Solutions LLC out of Wichita, KS.
Please consider donating to Mormon Mental Health by going to: mormonmentalhealth.org.
Jimmy Bridges joins Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Recently Jimmy presented at a conference. His presentation was titled, “Queer Clients with Conservative Religious Upbringings: Therapeutic Considerations.” Natasha and Jimmy discuss his presentation and dig a bit deeper into his research and conclusions.
Jimmy Bridges, MS, LMFT is a doctoral student in the couple and family therapy program at Kansas State University. His research looks at the experiences of sexual minorities from conservative religious settings, particularly within Mormon communities, and feminist consciousness- raising processes for majority identity holding individuals, clinicians, and researchers. Jimmy maintains a clinical practice at Symmetry Solutions LLC out of Wichita, KS. You can find out more about Jimmy by going here: https://www.symmetrysols.com/jimmybridges
Natasha will be present at some events coming up including:
Thrive 2019: Find Healing & Joy Beyond Mormonism
June 7th-9th
http://thrivebeyondmormonism.com
Transitioning Mormons Annual Cruise
July 17th-24th
https://www.ccruiseplanner4fun.com/rw/view/83268
Sunstone Symposium
July 31st-Aug 3rd
https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/2019-salt-lake-summer-symposium/
2019 Oklahoma City, OK Mormon Faith Faith Crisis Workshop
September 13th – September 14th
https://donorbox.org/2019-oklahoma-city-faith-crisis-workshop
To help keep Mormon Mental Health alive past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
In episode 168, Natasha was joined by Kevin Kloosterman, a trained RO-DBT Therapist. RO-DBT is a more recent therapy model and Kevin shared his thoughts on the model. You can find the episode by going here:
https://www.mormonmentalhealth.org/168-kevin-kloosterman-and-ro-dbt-therapy/
In this episode, Kevin is back along with Thomas Lynch, the founder of RO-DBT. They are joined by Erica Smith Lynch, who happens to be Thomas’ wife. The group discuss the beginnings of the treatment, how Kevin became involved, and what it is which includes that it is a trans-diagnostic treatment approach with roots in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
Thomas Lynch is a professor Emeritus at the school of Psychology at the University of South Hampton. He was the director of the Duke Cognitive Research Program at Duke University until 2007. Currently he is the director of Emotion and Personality Biobehavioral laboratory at the University of South Hampton. He’s been the recipient of large research grants from different sources including the National Institute of Health. He is also the recipient of the John M. Road’s Psychotherapy Research Endowment and a Beck Institute Scholar.
RO-DBT and Thomas Lynch as the founder are recognized internationally. You can find out more about Thomas, including his publications by going here:
http://www.radicallyopen.net/about-the-treatment-developer/
Erica Smith Lynch is the Chief Executive of “Radically Open” and the director of treatment development and training for RO-DBT. She’s been a part of the development of this model since 2008 and has been working alongside Thomas in training therapists.
Kevin Kloosterman has been a former bishop and served on the board of the Mormon Mental Health Associations (mormonmentalhealthassoc.org). To find out more about Kevin, you can go to his website: https://relationquest.com/about-us
They reference DBT and its founder, Marsha Linehan. You can find out more about her by going here:
https://behavioraltech.org/about-us/founded-by-marsha/
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Natasha was recently a guest on Braxton Dutson’s “Birds and Bees Podcast.” Braxton is a LCSW and Certified Sex Therapist in Salt Lake City, Utah. He works at The Healing Group and can be found here:
About the episode:
Masturbation, There are a lot of euphemisms for the word that makes many people uncomfortable to talk about. Let's face it, many parents are worried about what it means if their child masturbates.
If you are a parent who wants to be able to support your child in building values around masturbation while also avoiding shaming them then this episode is for you. Braxton and Natasha Heifer-Parker, MFT, CST are here to help dispel myths, talk about values, talk about masturbation, and to support parents in creating a value-centric view on masturbation. This is especially supportive for those who live in religious communities and practice themselves.
Many of us have grown up in a religious setting that explicitly or overtly teaches values about masturbation. It is difficult to be able to follow these values while also addressing the reality that the majority of children are participating in self-soothing/masturbation practices.
In this Episode we explore:
The question "when does masturbation usually start?"
Speaking to values when addressing masturbation
Different approaches to conversations about masturbation with your child.
Avoiding shame when having these (multiple) conversations.
Creating "I Do's" in what you value, VS following a "to Do" list.
Historical views of Masturbation and how they affect us now.
Identifying what we want for our children as a sexual being later in life.
Offering a value-centric view on Masturbation in religious communities while addressing the ways we can best support our children.
Natasha Helfer-Parker, MFT, CST speaks with Braxton about being able to explore these topics, address uncomfortable situations, and improve your understanding about "The M word."
Listen on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcXBM6GS-Pfk9CB6ctmvLLg
Leave Birds and Bees an iTunes review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/birds-and-bees-podcast/id1201131540?mt=2
Leave a Stitcher Review https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/braxton-dutson/birds-and-bees-podcast
Birds and Bees Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/birdsandbeespodcast
Listen from our webpage Birdsandbeespodcast.com
Read more at https://birdsandbeespodcast.libsyn.com/#8HRf8D8XJYV090ou.99Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmations, and Laurie Lee Hall, SVP, join Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They join and discuss the impact of the reversal of the “exclusion policy”.
They focus on the approach that Affirmations uses:
For more on Affirmations, please go here: https://affirmation.org
Kevin is a father of 5, dentist in Arizona, engaged to his fiancé.
Laurie Lee is a previous bishop and stake president which ended when the brethren found out she was transgender. She is an architect with a private practice in Salt lake City and Tennessee.
Several things were referenced in the podcast including:
John Bonner’s essay on the policy and what the church could have said:
https://www.facebook.com/john.bonner1/posts/10158390319904942?hc_location=ufi
Affirmations Reaction to the policy:
Stories and Reactions of the November 2015 Policy Reversal
Local Chapters of Affirmations: https://affirmation.org/chapters/?fbclid=IwAR3CAV7YzUgTQhSlMSAYmbD4RNs3dNokAeAE8Xj8T6hqHGU0QTS05JD9BY4
Upcoming Affirmation Conferences and Events:
To keep the podcast alive past 2019, please donate at https://www.mormonmentalhealth.org
In this episode of Mormon Mental Health, Natasha is joined by Fabian Markez, J. Fernando González Díaz, Luis David Trujillo & Joaquín R. Busseporp who are all members of the South American Affirmacion organization. The interview is in Spanish as Natasha feels it’s important to hear voices in Mormonism other than the classic USA voice.
To keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please become a subscriber at mormonmentalhealth.org.
In this episode of Mormon Mental Health, Natasha is joined by Sara Hughes-Zabawa, Jennifer White and Lisa Butterworth as they discuss the recent reversal of the 2015 exclusion policy surrounding children with LGBTQ+ parents not being baptized and participating in other aspects of the church.
The 4 approach the policy from a clinical perspective and how LGBTQ+ folks were affected in 2015 and now. They also address:
1) Holding space for those serving the community,
2) The complex feelings happening because of the reversal, and
3) Strategies to approaching general conference in healthy ways.
Sara recommends Greg Prince’s new book, Gay Rights and the Mormon Church:
https://www.amazon.com/Gay-Rights-Mormon-Church-Consequences/dp/1607816636/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=greg+prince&qid=1555947771&s=gateway&sr=8-1
You can see him speak in his work here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcnVagLY-lM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1Q6or1NvFrRVDMPMUjf2Nhm8viQP4H7ANaIsFY9tC6coVI31aXPSqYfcI&app=desktop
You can find out more about the Family. Project by going here:
https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/?fbclid=IwAR2PVWFUF3tCe703UlIfmou4zi6plVxzfZP1QsRfUv0w6VZw77b8zCqsVZk
Sara Hughes-Zabawa, LSCW, lives in Montana specializing in trauma and specific women’s issues. She is a wellness coach and therapist with Symmetry Solutions.
https://www.symmetrysols.com/sara-hughes-zabawa
Jennifer White, LCSW, specializes in helping people with depression, anxiety, sexuality concerns, trauma, and faith transitions/journeys. She offers coaching/consultation and therapy services to individuals, couples and families.
https://www.symmetrysols.com/jennifer-white
Lisa Butterworth, LPC, NCC, is a wellness coach and therapist with Symmetry Solutions as well as the founder of the Feminist Mormon Housewives.
https://www.symmetrysols.com/lisa-butterworth
http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org
Dr. Jana Reiss and Dr. Benjamin Knoll recently released a book about a survey they performed and the results, specially about Millennials. The book started 2011 when Dr. Reiss was interested in childhood and adolescents within Mormonism. But it then changed when Jana became interested in how those children are as adults, how the religion informed them and how those teachings in childhood might affect adult retention and religiosity. She then created a survey which was to see if there was intergenerational change and difference within the Mormon community itself. The book is a result of the survey.
You can find out more about them and the book by going to: thenextmormons.org
Ricky and Larry Siegel join Natasha to discuss cannabis and stereotypical myths surrounding its use. Recently a journalist came out with an article (soon to come out with a book) about the “truth” about marijuana. Ricky and Larry go through its arguments, debunking them with science and data. In fact, their data suggests that there are far more positives that come from the plant than negatives.
The original article can be found here:
https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/marijuana-mental-illness-violence/
You can find out more about the Siegels at modernsextherapyinstitutes.com.
Please visit https://www.natashaparker.org/ for upcoming events. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Zac Erickson, Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, joins Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. He shares his experience with ADHD and how he now helps those who have been diagnosed with this condition. He goes into detail about the 3 subtypes, how diagnoses are made, how to help those struggling, including parenting tips and what kind of treatments are available.
Zac practices individual and couple therapy and specializes in ADHD. He is a member of the Mormon Mental Health Association.
Please visit https://www.natashaparker.org/ for upcoming events. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.
On this episode of Mormon Sex Info, Matt Fullmer joins Natasha to share his experience going through “Sex Addiction Treatment,” coming from the Mormon Tradition. He shares his experiences with the treatment as the church ramped up its porn rhetoric, why the treatment didn’t work for him and why he’s now better off realizing that this type of treatment is not clinically sound nor effective.
To find a certified sex therapist in your area, please visit: AASECT.org
Please visit https://www.natashaparker.org/ for upcoming events.
Recently Elder and Sister Redlunds did a talk in Hawaii for young adults regarding faith, doubt and doubters. Mike Hancey joins Natasha to discuss their reactions to the talk and how damaging it can be to those going through a faith crisis or transition.
Mike recently resigned from the church. He shares his experience going through his own personal crisis and why this talk was the catalyst to resign. He also shares his thoughts on what he would tell the Redlunds if he could.
The original talk can be found here:
Natasha and Mike discuss the gospel essays the church has recently started to come out with. You can find the links here: https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng
Please visit https://www.natashaparker.org/ for upcoming events. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.
RO-DBT focuses on growth within three core components: openness, flexibility, and social connectedness. The goal of RO-DBT is to help individuals develop new ways of thinking and behaving that promote openness to social and environmental feedback, feelings of social safety, and ultimately the ability to form genuine connections with others. This is done through a series of skills training classes and individual therapy sessions that focus on self-enquiry, empathy, and warm acceptance of emotions, thoughts and behavior.