Mormon Mental Health Podcast
Supporting mental health within the Mormon community.
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234: Concern in Rise of Domestic Violence
04/05/2022
234: Concern in Rise of Domestic Violence
On this panel episode, Natasha hosts Michelle Peets, Jenny Ellege and Ellan Alexander as they discus concern in the rise of domestic violence. Resource: Duluth Model: Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2022, please donate at .
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233: The Role of a Spiritual Director
04/05/2022
233: The Role of a Spiritual Director
Natasha Helfer interviews Brittney Hartley in her journey towards becoming a spiritual director and the importance of spirituality in our lives, religious or not. Brittney joins Bill Reel weekly on the podcast, “Almost Awakened.” You can find out more by going to: https://www.nononsensespirituality.com [email protected] To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2022, please donate at .
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MMH 232: Emotional Intelligence - More than Mad, Sad, Glad
02/05/2022
MMH 232: Emotional Intelligence - More than Mad, Sad, Glad
Join Natasha, Allan Alexander and Lisa Butterworth for a discussion on upping emotional intelligence in one way or another! To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2022, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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231: Strategies and Framings to get through the Holidays
12/30/2021
231: Strategies and Framings to get through the Holidays
Natasha Helfer, Tami Harris and Lisa Butterworth talk about healthy strategies and framings to get us through the Holiday season in ways that feel authentic and meaningful. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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230: Helping Men with their Emotional Muscle
12/30/2021
230: Helping Men with their Emotional Muscle
Natasha Helfer, Allan Alexander and Michelle Peets talk about emotional intelligence as it relates to how males are socialized and how that shows up in their work with couples and individuals. How they love to help men with sex, intimacy, and relational success! To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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MMH 229: Uplift Kids and Family Health
12/08/2021
MMH 229: Uplift Kids and Family Health
Natasha interviews Drew Hansen about this great new resource for families. For more, including a free two week trial, please visit upliftkids.org. To help keep Mormon Mental Health Podcast going past 2021, please donate at .
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228: Church Infiltrating Post-Mormon Retreats and Support Groups
10/23/2021
228: Church Infiltrating Post-Mormon Retreats and Support Groups
Natasha is joined by Jesse Funk on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They discuss how the church has sent members to infiltrate and report back on Post-Mormon Retreats and Support Groups. For resources, please visit: To help keep Mormon Mental Health Podcast going past 2021, please donate at .
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227 - The 6 Principles of Sexual Health in the Context of Mormonism
09/13/2021
227 - The 6 Principles of Sexual Health in the Context of Mormonism
Jeff Lundgren hosts this episode of Mormon Mental Health Podcast. He is joined by Rachel Brown, LCSW, who works with those going through a faith transition/changing their relationship with the LDS church. In this episode, Jeff and Rachel discuss the 6 principles of sexual health by Doug Braun Harvey in the context of the Mormon experience. The 6 principles include: Consent Non-Exploitative Honesty Shared Values Protection from STIs, HIV and unwanted Pregnancies Mutual Pleasure To find out more on the 6 principles, you can visit: And/or check out the series Natasha Helfer did with Doug Braun Harvey on 6 principles of Sexual Health: Consent: https://mormonsex.info/2017/10/22/057-sexual-principle-1-consent/ Non-Exploitative: https://mormonsex.info/2017/11/21/058-sexual-principle-2-non-exploitative/ Honesty: https://mormonsex.info/2018/01/15/062-sexual-principle-4-honesty/ Shared Values: https://mormonsex.info/2018/02/05/066-sexual-principle-5-shared-values/ Part 1: Part 2: Protection from STIs, HIV and unwanted Pregnancies Mutual Pleasure: Complicating the 6 principles of sexual health: To find out more about Jeff, visit Wasatch Family Therapy in Sandy, Utah. To contact Rachel, email her at [email protected]. To help keep Mormon Mental Health Podcast going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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226: Calling out Abusive Tactics from Holland's recent BYU Address
09/11/2021
226: Calling out Abusive Tactics from Holland's recent BYU Address
The Symmetry Solutions Team goes through the recent address by Holland, given at BYU, offering an educational lens in being able to recognize when inappropriate tactics are being used in a minimizing, belittling or abusive way. This especially impacts the LGBTQ+ community and their families. It has both local and global implications for which we are highly concerned. The last 30 min discusses resources for anyone needing help because of this address. For more about Colette Dalton, please visit: For more about Jenny Elledge, please visit: For more about Michelle Peets, please visit: To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at .
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225: Blaire Ostler and "Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction"
06/14/2021
225: Blaire Ostler and "Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction"
Jeff Lundgren hosts this episode of "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." He is joined by Blaire Ostler as she talks about her new book "Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction." To purchase the book, you can find it on Amazon: To help keep "Mormon Mental Health Podcast" going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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224: Tad Callister's Continuation of LDS Hate Speech
06/05/2021
224: Tad Callister's Continuation of LDS Hate Speech
The Symmetry Solutions team discusses the dour implications of continued hate speech that comes from LDS leaders towards our LGBTQ+ communities. They also discuss ways to help including resources in our community. Please consider donating to keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021. Please visit ormonmentalhealth.org to donate.
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223: “Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace"
05/24/2021
223: “Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace"
This episode was previously recorded for "Mormon Sex Info" and is being refurbished here on "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." Natasha interviews Katie Langston about her new memoir, “Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace.” Katie talks about how sexual shame became a regular part of her upbringing as early as age 3-4 due to her mother's distress with normative masturbation. Along with non-comprehensive sexual education, worthiness interviews with bishops and other hurdles, Katie struggles to understand and accept things as normal as her body, interest and crushes on boys, and her worth as an individual. Katie believes that her development of OCD was exacerbated by her rigid and conservative environment that constantly pitted her against her own mind/body. You can purchase Katie's book at: To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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222: Latter Gay Stories with Kyle Ashworth
05/16/2021
222: Latter Gay Stories with Kyle Ashworth
This episode was previously recorded for "Mormon Sex Info" and is being refurbished here on "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." Natasha interviews Kyle on his experience with her disciplinary council and what it means to the LGBTQ LDS community. Kyle is the host of Latter Gay Stories: https://lattergaystories.org/about/ To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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221: White What? A conversation about "Whiteness" with Jennifer Gonzales
05/16/2021
221: White What? A conversation about "Whiteness" with Jennifer Gonzales
This episode was previously recorded for "Mormon Sex Info" and is being refurbished here on "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." Natasha Helfer interviews Jennifer Gonzalez about her emotional experience going through the last few weeks leading to her excommunication and how “whiteness” plays a part. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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220: Natasha Helfer Responds to the Washington Post Piece - Part 1
05/16/2021
220: Natasha Helfer Responds to the Washington Post Piece - Part 1
This episode was previously recorded for "Mormon Sex Info" and is being refurbished here on "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." Lisa Butterworth, LCPC, NCC interviews Natasha Helfer, LCMFT, CST, CST-S about her response to the Washington Post Piece - Part 1 Letter that was drafted by a group of about 30 LDS therapists sharing their concerns about ethics and the dangers of church overreach or discipline for practicing in line with one's professional and clinical standards: To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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219: Family Acceptance Project with Kersti Spjut
05/16/2021
219: Family Acceptance Project with Kersti Spjut
This episode was previously recorded for "Mormon Sex Info" and is being refurbished here on "Mormon Mental Health Podcast." Host Lisa Butterworth interviews Kersti Spjut and discuss the Family Acceptance Project. They discuss facts of LDS Parents of LGBTQ youth. Resources: The Family Acceptance Project () – the absolute best resource. Start here! They have a video and pamphlet specifically for LDS families. Mormons Building Bridges () have a couple good info pages with links to articles and a glossary of terms. Listen, Learn, & Love (): Richard Ostler’s podcast, about the experiences of LGBTQ members of the Church has lots of good resources The Trevor Project () has good resources specifically for addressing suicidality Books for parents The Transgender Teen by Stephanie Brill & Lisa Kenney The Transgender Child by Stephanie Brill & Rachel Papper Raising the Transgender Child, by Michele Angello & Alisa Bowman This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids, by Dannielle Owens-Reid Unconditional, by Telaina Eriksen Lisa Diamond Ted Talk "Born this Way" To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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218: Refurbished Mormon Sex Info Podcast: LDS Therapists Discuss Natasha Helfer's Membership Council Hearing
04/15/2021
218: Refurbished Mormon Sex Info Podcast: LDS Therapists Discuss Natasha Helfer's Membership Council Hearing
This episode was previously recorded for “Mormon Sex Info” and is being refurbished here for your enjoyment. This is a conversation between prominent LDS therapists about the upcoming membership council Natasha Helfer is facing this weekend (April 18, 2021). To help keep Mormon Sex Info going past 2021, please donate at mormonsex.info. To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org
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217: Understanding Psychological Factors to Conspiracy Theories & Cult-like Beliefs
02/08/2021
217: Understanding Psychological Factors to Conspiracy Theories & Cult-like Beliefs
This episode was originally recorded for the "Healing Sols Podcast" and is being refurbished here for your enjoyment. Natasha Helfer and Kristin Bennion discuss their concerns about what has been happening in the nation with the rise of conspiracy theories and their dangers from a psychological perspective. "The ‘Shared Psychosis’ of Donald Trump and His Loyalists" For more on Kristin, you can visit: https://www.intimateconnectionscounseling.com/about/ To keep Mormon Mental Health going passed 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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216: A Personal Story of Leaving Polygamy with Andrea Bradshaw Jessop
01/31/2021
216: A Personal Story of Leaving Polygamy with Andrea Bradshaw Jessop
Jeff Lundgren is joined by Andrea Bradshaw Jessop in this episode of Mormon Mental Health. Andrea shares her journey of leaving polygamy and finding her identity after years of not knowing what it was. She shares the ups and downs and leaving, including the mental health journey she endured. Andrea can be found on Facebook: You can find her practice, Joyful Energy Now, also on Facebook: To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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215: Andraea Lynne and Ethical Non-Monogamy
01/24/2021
215: Andraea Lynne and Ethical Non-Monogamy
Jeff Lundgren hosts this episode of Mormon Mental Health. He is joined by Andraea Lynne who shares her experience with ethical non-monogamy and her experience having grown up in the church. They discuss the beginnings of polygamy within the Mormon religion and posit the idea that it wasn’t ethical, but was about property. Andraea then shares her experiences and how it’s a lot of work and it requires communication and boundaries. She then leaves with giving some helpful tips and resources for anyone interested in finding out more. You can also join her Facebook groups: To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2021, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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214: Nuance in considering Late Term Abortion with Analiesa Leonhardt, Nurse/Midwife
11/24/2020
214: Nuance in considering Late Term Abortion with Analiesa Leonhardt, Nurse/Midwife
This episode was originally recorded for the "Healing Sols Podcast" and has been refurbished for your enjoyment. For more from Natasha Helfer, LCMFT, CST, CSTS, please visit . Nuance in Considering Late Term Abortion with Analiesa Leonhardt who is a nurse midwife, has a doctorate as a nurse practitioner from the university of Utah and was a doula for five years prior. She recently wrote a facebook post - - that caught Natasha's attention in regards to the current legislation trying to be passed in Colorado (prop 115) in regards to limiting abortion after 22 weeks. Analiesa does a phenomenal job educating us about the moral and ethical impications of such a measure in regards to a woman's ability to make decisions, especially when facing the devastating news that the fetus has medical complications that may not allow for the baby to live past delivery. She shares statistics and information that are important to consider as we all face the dilemmas around our views on abortion, and the consequences of the current polarized discussion on this topic. Her thoughtful language and approach to this topic has a profound impact on the listener. You will value the listen.
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213: Resilience & Relationship Resilience with Christian Moore, LCSW
11/17/2020
213: Resilience & Relationship Resilience with Christian Moore, LCSW
This episode was originally recorded for the "Healing Sols Podcast" and has been refurbished for your enjoyment. For more from Natasha Helfer, LCMFT, CST, CSTS, please visit . Being Resilient as an Individual and within Relationships with Christian Moore, LCSW, founder of and author of The Resilience Breakthrough: 27 Tools for Turning Adversity into Action. Christian travels the world presenting to all kinds of organizations, specifically those serving underpriviliged youth, about rising above very challenging situations usually affected by learning disorders. We discuss the traits and behaviors that lead towards resilience minded frameworks and how these can benefit your life, mental and relational health. How do we better understand the differences of unconditional vs. conditional love and what they both reap? What is "street resilience"? What does a role of a mentor in our development offer? Are we really just supposed to be getting "rid" of negative feelings? What role can what are typcially labeled "negative feelings" play in empowerment and self-transformation? How can we get along with people who believe fundamentally different things than we do (super important part of the podcast given we are just days away from the US election)? Christian is a brilliant thinker who has put his own life experience to the test in regards to his theoretical framing. Transformative listen that I recommend going through at least twice!
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212: Depression and Suicide: A Response to Elder Rasband’s “Face to Face,” September 13, 2020
09/21/2020
212: Depression and Suicide: A Response to Elder Rasband’s “Face to Face,” September 13, 2020
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org During a “Face to Face” with church youth on September 13th, 2020, Elder Donald Rasband answered questions including, “I have serious questions about the truth claims of the church and I am seriously considering removing my name from the records of the church. Can you give me a reason I should stay?” He proceeds to answer with an example of a young man who had struggled with depression and suicidality. Jeff Lundgren () hosts this episode of Mormon Mental Health Podcast to talk about the harm of Elder Rasband’s response. He is joined by: Merri-Grace Allred, currently getting her PhD in Immunology from the University of Iowa AJ Jano who shares his personal experiences with depression and suicidal ideation in the church Alessandra Jacobson who is a Marriage and Family Therapist Clair Mellenthin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Play Therapist Supervisor and author of, “Attachment Center Play Therapy: Play Therapy Proved Strategy for Child Disorders” and “My Many Colors of Me Workbook.” She is also a media expert on children and family issues. And Michael Benjamin, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, primarily a therapist with children, adolescence and their families. The panelists share their reactions to the response by Elder Rasband and then dive into advice for church leaders, parents and, really, all of us. Resources discussed: The National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 suicidepreventionlifeline.org My3 – A sucide prevention app https://my3app.org The Trevor Project To help keep this podcast going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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211: Substance Use in Mormon Faith Transition
07/13/2020
211: Substance Use in Mormon Faith Transition
Hosts Jennifer White, LCSW and Jeff Lundgren, CMHC chat in this episode of Mormon Mental Health Podcast about how transitioning Mormons explore substances including coffee, alcohol, cannabis, psilocybin and ayahuasca. Jennifer and Jeff will be presenting on this topic at the Sunstone Digital Symposium July 30th, 2020 at 3:25pm-4:25pm MST. For more information, please visit: To help keep this podcast going past 2020, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
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210: Alternate Approaches to Depression with Symmetry Solutions Providers
07/06/2020
210: Alternate Approaches to Depression with Symmetry Solutions Providers
Natasha Helfer Parker, Lisa Butterworth, Jenny Elledge and Tami Harris talk about alternate approaches to depression. This episode is offered by Symmetry Solutions and shared with Mormon Mental Health Podcast. Please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org to keep the podcast going past 2020.
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209: Womanhood, Identity and Church Disaffiliation with Emily Janes
06/29/2020
209: Womanhood, Identity and Church Disaffiliation with Emily Janes
*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.
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208: Racism, White Supremacy and Mental Health
06/22/2020
208: Racism, White Supremacy and Mental Health
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: To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit:
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207: Dismantling Racism with Dr. Fatimah Salleh
06/18/2020
207: Dismantling Racism with Dr. Fatimah Salleh
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, 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: To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit:
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206: Racial Equality and Social Impact with Dr. Mica McGriggs
06/09/2020
206: Racial Equality and Social Impact with Dr. Mica McGriggs
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 “The Bridge Poem” by Donna Kate Rushin W.E.B. Du Bois and “double consciousness” First used in an Atlantic Monthly article, “Strivings of the Negro People” in 1897: More information on “Double Consciousness” NAACP Legal Defense Fund “Mormonism and White Supremacy: American Religion and The Problem of Racial Innocence” by Joanna Brooks President Russel M. Nelson’s social media statement condemning racism and pleading for peace Deseret News article on President Nelson’s social media statement To donate to the NAACP, visit: To donate to Black Lives Matter, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
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205: Compassion with LDS Women with Vhari Macbeth
05/25/2020
205: Compassion with LDS Women with Vhari Macbeth
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.
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