*Please note that this episode contains some technical issues. We thank you for your understanding.
On this episode of Mormon Mental Health Podcast, Jimmy Bridges is joined by Emily Janes, MS, a Marriage and Family therapist about to start her doctoral program at Texas University in the fall. In this interview, Emily discusses the findings from her masters thesis where she interviewed women in the Mormon community who had experienced disaffiliation from the church.
Emily discusses “Hybrid Identity Theory” which is the main theory she used to research her topics of womanhood, identity, and church disaffiliation:
Hybrid Identity Theory is used to examine, “the encounter, conflict, and/or blending of two ethnic or cultural categories which, while no means pure and distinct in nature, tend to be understood and experienced as meaningful identity labels by members of these categories” (Lo, 2002, p. 199).
The full citation is:
Lo, M. M. (2002). Doctors within borders: Profession, ethnicity, and modernity in colonial Taiwan. University of California Press.
Please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org to keep the podcast going past 2020.
Natasha Helfer Parker is joined by Lisa Butterworth as they talk about racism and white supremacy and, in particular, how these pervasive systems affect the mental health and well-being of our communities.
This episode is offered by Symmetry Solutions and shared with Mormon Mental Health Podcast.
In lieu of donating to Mormon Mental Health Podcast, we encourage you to donate to various Black Lives Matter organizations including:
To donate to the NAACP, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-1
To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Join Natasha Helfer Parker for a fascinating and emotional discussion with Dr. Fatimah Salleh about racism within Christianity and the LDS Church. Please consider taking her upcoming 6-week workshop on dismantling racism within the LDS church. Healing and anti-racism work begins with being willing to sit in spaces where our minds and beliefs are opened and challenged. Fatimah will definitely bring that ability to the table, with a grace and spunk that speaks to my soul.
To sign up for her workshop, “Spit & Mud: The Messy Miracle of Sight,” please go to:
"Spit & Mud" is a six week online workshop focusing on the impact of racism within the Christian church.
In lieu of donating to Mormon Mental Health Podcast, we encourage you to donate to various Black Lives Matter organizations including:
To donate to the NAACP, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-1
To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Join Natasha for an interview with the fabulous Mica McGriggs about racial equality and social impact. Dr. McGriggs defines racism, white fragility and white supremacy and why Mormons are more vulnerable to racism. They discuss “systems” and what we as white people can do to not be complicit.
Dr. McGriggs will be offering a class for anyone to join. To find out more, please visit:
Resources discussed in this episode:
“Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness” by Paul Reeve
https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Different-Color-Struggle-Whiteness/dp/0199754071
“The Bridge Poem” by Donna Kate Rushin
https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/thebridgepoem.html
W.E.B. Du Bois and “double consciousness”
First used in an Atlantic Monthly article, “Strivings of the Negro People” in 1897: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1897/08/strivings-of-the-negro-people/305446/
More information on “Double Consciousness”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_consciousness
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
“Mormonism and White Supremacy: American Religion and The Problem of Racial Innocence” by Joanna Brooks
https://www.amazon.com/Mormonism-White-Supremacy-American-Innocence-ebook/dp/B08761ZHCP
President Russel M. Nelson’s social media statement condemning racism and pleading for peace
https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nelson/posts/3015443371856412
Deseret News article on President Nelson’s social media statement
To donate to the NAACP, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-1
To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Host Jeff Lundgren is joined by guest Vhari Macbeth. She talks about her research on self-compassion with LDS Woman.
You can find out more by visiting: https://www.cedarpsychiatry.com
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Join Jimmy Bridges for another episode of Mormon Mental Health Podcast. With us is Dr. Tyler Lefevor on intersections of religion, gender, sexuality, and health.
Please consider participating in the 4 Options Survey: 4optionssurvey.com
This survey is designed to identify important aspects of life and relationships for those who experience (or have experienced) same-sex sexual attractions and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ), heterosexual, or with another sexual identity or reject a label who are or were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), and analyze if there are any similarities or differences between those who are:
1 - Single and celibate*
2 - Single and not celibate
3 - In a heterosexual/mixed-orientation** relationship; or
4 - In a same-sex relationship
Those in other types of relationship and single statuses are also invited to participate to expand our understanding of possible options.
This study also investigates if or how religious/spiritual issues are involved in respondents’ level of satisfaction and relationship or single status.
To find out more about Dr. Lefevor, please visit: https://www.rhodes.edu/bio/tyler-lefevor
Other resources mentioned in this podcast:
Affirmations: https://www.goaffirmations.org/about-us
Latter Gay Stories: https://lattergaystories.org
“Far Between” by Kendall Wilcox: http://farbetweenmovie.com/about/
“Voices of Hope”: https://www.northstarlds.org/voices-of-hope
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Please note there were technical difficulties so we thank you in advance for your understanding.
Join host Jimmy Bridges as he interviews Dr. Michelle Washburn-Busk, PhD, licensed marriage and family therapist, as she unpacks sneaky forms of sexism. With her recent completion of her dissertation on gender, power, and couples, and hundreds of hours of clinical experience with couples, Dr. Washburn-Busk defines and demonstrates what benevolent sexism is, what it looks like, and how to appropriately address it in couple relationships.
For more on Dr. Washburn-Busk, you can go here: https://www.andrewsinc.net/michelle-washburn-busk.html
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
On this episode of Mormon Mental Health, Natasha interviews Dr. Jimmy Bridges, PhD, LMFT, CFLE, on privilege awareness. Natasha is also excited to announce Jimmy will be one of the new hosts for Mormon Mental Health.
For more information and to contact Jimmy, please visit:
https://www.symmetrysols.com/jimmybridges
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
On this joint production with Symmetry Solutions, Natasha hosts a panel discussion with Jana Spangler, IPC, and Jenny Elledge, LMFT, to discuss LDS missionaries returning home due to COVID-19 and things families and individuals are needing to navigate unexpectedly.
To find out more about Symmetry Solutions, please visit:
symmetrysols.com
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Join Natasha Helfer Parker as she interviews Kattie and Allan Mount from the “Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast.” They will discuss this mixed-faith marriage resource as well as an upcoming 6-week online class that the three will be partnering on to help the many who need strategies and education on how to navigate mixed-faith marriage in edifying family-friendly ways.
To register for the online class, please go here:
To see a therapist or wellness coach, including Kattie who has just joined the Symmetry Solutions team, please visit Natasha’s online practice: symmetrysols.com
Please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org to keep the podcast going past 2020.
Jennifer White hosts this episode of Mormon Mental Health. She is joined by Wendy Christian, a psychoanalyst and licensed clinical social worker in New York City trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and trauma-focused therapy.
Prior to becoming a mental health professional, Wendy studied American Literature at BYU where she wrote her master’s thesis on women in the Book of Mormon. Subsequently, Wendy obtained a master’s degree in clinical social work at Fordham University and post-graduate training in marriage and family therapy and in psychoanalysis and religion at the Blanton-Peale Institute. Wendy has a private practice in Manhattan and can be contacted through her web site wendychristiantherapy.com.
Jennifer and Wendy discuss how an individual can make a faith transition out of Mormonism. Some of the questions Jennifer and Wendy discuss are
The following resources are mentioned in the episode:
A Thoughtful Faith Podcast with Gina Colvin episodes 170 & 171: Enmeshed Family Systems, Differentiation and Faith Crisis: A Discussion with Wendy Christian and Friends
@parenting.aftermormonism on Instagram
Thoughtful Transitions Facebook group
Mormon Spectrum in-person meet-ups
Mormon Stories Podcast Community on Facebook
Sunstone magazine, podcasts, annual conference.
Natasha interviews Cherie Burton in this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They discuss concerns with religion, Mormonism, concerns for women in Mormonism and then things you can do for self-care.
Cherie Burton is the host of the “Women Seeking Wholeness” podcast. To find out more about her and the programs she offers, visit:
https://cherieburton.com/category/womenseekingwholeness/
Please donate to Mormon Mental Health to keep this podcast going past 2020. Thank you.
From Mormon Stories, this is Part 2 of our review of the recently announced changes to the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions. Major changes include:
- Major changes to the church's Disciplinary Council and Exommunication processes.
- Major changes for LGBTQ Mormons, and specifically for Transgender Mormons.
- Some minor changes for women/feminists.
- Other changes to general policy.
Tonight our panel includes Natasha Helfer Parker, Gina Colvin, Anthony D. Miller, Kyle Ashworth, Samantha Taylor, and Jana Johnson Spangler.
For a comprehensive over of changes, see here:
https://www.mormonstories.org/…/a-summary-of-todays-change…/
Part 1 can be found here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1260-major-changes-to-lds-general-handbook-instructions/id312094772?i=1000466221815
Join host Jennifer White as she interviews Jesse Ellis, LCSW. Jesse shares his personal story of being a child victim of sexual abuse.
Jesse talks about about the negativity that came into his life was more from the shame rather than early introduction to sexuality.
Jesse is a therapist at Utah Valley Psychiatry and Counseling Services.
To contact him you can call his office: 801-357-7525
Or find him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jesse.wren.ellis
Natasha was a guest on the "Wannabe Balanced Mom" Podcast.
To find out more, visit:
http://www.wannabebalanced.com/2019/05/ep-57-healing-from-sexual-shame-w-natasha-helfer-parker/
Trigger Warning.
If you’ve experienced sexual trauma, some of the things we discuss in this episode may trigger unwanted emotions to surface.
Natasha Helfer Parker, a licensed marriage and family therapist
and certified sex therapist coaches Sean and I through sexual shame and trauma.
Natasha has 20 years experiencecounseling individuals, couples, and families. Her areas of expertise includes working within
the intersections of faith, life transitions and sexuality.
Natasha joined Braxton Dutson on his podcast, "Birds and Bees Podcast".
For more information, visit:
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
Host Jeff Lundgren interviews "Earthly Parents" who wrote a book for his adult children, “And It Was Very Good: A Ladder-day Saints Guide to Lovemaking.” He writes the book in regards to comprehensive sexuality from a values perspective that fits within an LDS framing.
The guest goes by “Earthly Parents” to protect the privacy of his family and wife. As a parent, he writes to his children as what he wants his adult children to know about sexuality, especially going into marriage.
He talks about his background in Mormonism and then goes into the book including chapter 1 as “Our family’s Sexual Articles of Faith”.
He also shares experiences from readers after having read the book.
For a free copy, please email earthlyparents@gmail.com. You are welcome to share the PDF as well.
The book is also in audio form at Audible.com.
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.