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Mormon Mental Health Podcast

Supporting mental health within the Mormon community.
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Now displaying: Category: Faith Transitions
Sep 30, 2018

Summer Meyers joins Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Summer is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. As an Art Therapist she focuses on creativity as healing. Summer shares her story with Natasha about her experience with Mormonism and why she was led to be an Art Therapist as well as her experience as an Art Therapist with a particular project with clients. To view the drawings, please go here: goo.gl/g4PWs2 

Summer can be reached at summer@pacificmft.com or at 424-254-9188. She has a web presence at pacificmft.com/summer-myers and a soon to be completed website at summermyers.com. Her full research project can be found at https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/321/

 Please consider donating to Mormon Mental Health to keep the podcast going past 2018. To donate, please visit mormonmentalhealth.org.

Jun 12, 2018

In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crisis, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years.

According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression.

 

Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt

Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health

Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit”

 

Natasha will be in Houston the beginning of July and will be attending the Sunstone Symposium at the end of July where she will be presenting multiple sessions as well as have a booth that she encourages all to stop by. For more information, please visit her website: natashaparker.org

OR

https://www.mormonstories.org/houston/

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/2018-salt-lake-summer-symposium/

Thank you to all that have donated to Mormon Mental Health. To donate, please go here and consider becoming a monthly supporter: www.mormonmentalhealth.org

 

Jun 12, 2018

In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CSTand John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crisis, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years.

According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression.

Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt

Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health

Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit”

 

Natasha will be in Houston the beginning of July and will be attending the Sunstone Symposium at the end of July where she will be presenting multiple sessions as well as have a booth that she encourages all to stop by. For more information, please visit her website: natashaparker.org 

OR

https://www.mormonstories.org/houston/

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/2018-salt-lake-summer-symposium/

Thank you to all that have donated to Mormon Mental Health. To donate, please go here and consider becoming a monthly supporter: www.mormonmentalhealth.org

 

May 15, 2018

Kristyn Decker joins Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Having been the child of polygamous prophet, Kristyn shares her journey of being part of a polygamous group and also her post-fundamentalist life. She shares her experience with sexuality as a fundamentalist, her experience going on the show “Sister Wives” and then Natasha and Kristyn dive into the doctrines used to keep people dedicated to the group.

Kristyn is the author of “Fifty Years in Polygamy: Big Secrets and Little White Lies”:

https://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Years-Polygamy-Secrets-Little/dp/145255000X

Other references referred to in the episode include:

Lindsay Hansen Park’s “Year of Polygamy” Podcast which you can find at yearofpolygamy.com

You can find out more about “Sister Wives” by going to tlc.com/tv-shows/sister-wives/

As always, please consider donating to Mormon Mental Health by going to mormonmentalhealth.org 

May 8, 2018

On this episode of Mormon Mental Health, Natasha is joined by Karin Franklin Peter who is a Community of Christ minister and serves on the Council of Presidents of Seventy. Natasha and Karin discuss Karin's personal spiritual journey in the church, the reaction by members in the church and current changes taking place.

Natasha sums up the episode by mentioning some of the mental health practices that Karin and the Community of Christ employ that both Mormons and non-Mormons alike can learn from.

For more information on the Community of Christ, please visit their website:www.cofchrist.org

Karin also hosts a Community of Christ podcast, Project Zion Podcast. To find out more, please visit: projectzionpodcast.org/tag/community-of-christ/

Thank you to all that have donated to Mormon Mental Health. To donate, please go here and consider becoming a monthly supporter: www.mormonmentalhealth.org

Natasha Helfer Parker runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions and writes at The Mormon Therapist for Patheos: Hosting the Conversation of Faith. She also hosts the popular podcasts, Mormon Mental Health & Mormon Sex Info and creates the sex educational resource, Sex Talk with Natasha.

Mar 3, 2017

Natasha Helfer Parker and Lisa Butterworth, both mental health professionals, have a rich discussion about the role of both emotion and logic when it comes to how we think through positions we take, beliefs we have and communication styles we engage with others on. This is particularly relevant in understanding dynamics relating to faith transitions, political differences, racial and other types of discrimination and differing moral priorities. We tend to make assumptions that we think and behave from a place of critical thought and self-awareness. Not so much. Emotion and subconscious factors play huge roles in motivation for movement towards anything we lean into. Natasha and Lisa delve into how understanding that both of these human traits are pivotal towards individual and relational growth helps us have more empathy for self and others.  

Lisa Butterworth, LPC, NCC has a masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Idaho State University, primarily working with issues of relational health, faith transitions and journeys, women's issues and sexuality. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â¹She is the founder of the popular Feminist Mormon Housewives website and support group.

The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Jul 28, 2015
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Verlyne Christensen, a psychologist and a member of the Mormon Mental Health Association with a private practice in Alberta, Canada.  Her focus through her graduate studies focused on multicultural counseling – and she chose to study…
Feb 12, 2015

This week the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has once again been in the news in regards to the excommunication of one of their own: this time it’s John Dehlin of Mormon Stories – only months after the excommunication of Kate Kelly of Ordain Women.  There have been lesser, yet still painful ramifications (losing callings, not being able to attain temple recommends, disfellowshipment, etc.) for members of the church on a global level as we struggle with both historical, doctrinal and social issues we may not all agree on.  This is having a significant impact in many stake, ward and family systems – with frustration, anger and relationship struggles becoming unfortunate, yet common happenings.

On the evening of the news that John Dehlin was excommunicated, Natasha Helfer ParkerJennifer Finlayson-FifeJoanna BrooksDan Wotherspoon, and Brian Dillman got together via Skype audio chat to discuss various ways they personally cope with the kinds of distress such things cause, and perspectives that help heal them in times of difficulty. Their sharing is this podcast episode, which is being co-released by Mormon Matters, Rational Faiths podcast, and Mormon Mental Health podcasts. How might we experience and understand our anger in healthy ways? How do we not let our emotions get the better of us and block out wider perspectives that likely would serve us better for the long haul? Can historical and sociological frameworks help us see these recent events in greater context, help us understand ways to move forward rather than repeat negative cycles? Are there larger spiritual or existential framings that can help us make peace with the tensions life and the many things we care about seem to constantly call upon us to bear?

In a section led by Joanna Brooks, she refers to and describes this chart:
Violence Cycle

A poem for my brothers and sisters

Please listen and then share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Many thanks to The Lower Lights for the beautiful bumper music and to Brian Dillman for audio production of this podcast.

Jan 28, 2015
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews a top-notch panel, Lindsay Hansen-Park, Kristine Haglund, and Dr. Kristy Money for a panel discussion regarding the psychological, relational and cultural repercussions Mormons currently continue to wrestle with as they attempt to make sense of their…
Jan 15, 2015
Given the new show that has recently aired on TLC, My Husband’s Not Gay, Mormon Mental Health Podcast wanted to rebroadcast the interview Natasha Helfer Parker did in October 2010 for Mormon Stories. In this 3-part series Natasha interviews one of her earliest…
Jan 15, 2015
Given the new show that has recently aired on TLC, My Husband’s Not Gay, Mormon Mental Health Podcast wanted to rebroadcast the interview Natasha Helfer Parker did in October 2010 for Mormon Stories. In this 3-part series Natasha interviews one of her earliest…
Jan 15, 2015
Given the new show that has recently aired on TLC, My Husband’s Not Gay, Mormon Mental Health Podcast wanted to rebroadcast the interview Natasha Helfer Parker did in October 2010 for Mormon Stories. In this 3-part series Natasha interviews one of…
Dec 5, 2014
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Lorena Tobon, who grew up as a faithful and extremely dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia.  From an early age she found herself falling in love with other women…
Nov 26, 2014
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Lorena Tobon, who grew up as a faithful and extremely dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia.  From an early age she found herself falling in love with other women…
Nov 10, 2014
John Larsen has been a controversial figure within the Mormon internet community due to his podcast Mormon Expression, which often irreverently criticizes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  At the same time, he has much experience dealing with…
Aug 1, 2014
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Eri Hayward; her parents, Ed & Keiko Hayward and her boyfriend, Mike.  They discuss Eri’s journey as a transgender woman within the construct of growing up in an active Mormon family devoted to their faith.  Eri…
May 6, 2014
The sequence in this last piece of the interview was spliced incorrectly – so when you think it ends, it doesn’t.  We are working on correcting this as soon as possible. Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Chelsea Weidmann regarding having been…
May 6, 2014
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Chelsea Weidmann regarding having been sexually assaulted on several occasions in her life – the youngest being during nursery at church.  They discuss openly some of her experiences – so please be aware that this interview…
May 6, 2014
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Chelsea Weidmann regarding having been sexually assaulted on several occasions in her life – the youngest being during nursery at church.  They discuss openly some of her experiences – so please be aware that this interview…
Jun 15, 2013
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Heidi Nielson Packard originally from Mesa, AZ, who currently lives in Georgia.  She is from a large, faithful Mormon family, went to BYU-Provo where she met her husband and now has 4 children.  She is currently…
May 31, 2013
This is a rebroadcasting of an interview that was conducted on Mormon Stories in May of 2011. Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry. Dustin is…
May 31, 2013
This is a rebroadcasting of an interview that was conducted on Mormon Stories in May of 2011. Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry. Dustin is…
May 31, 2013
This is a rebroadcasting of an interview that was conducted on Mormon Stories in May of 2011. Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry.…
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