The Natasha Helfer Podcast

In this episode, Natasha is joined by two of her Symmetry Counseling providers, Jenny Elledge and Rachel Larsen, to talk about the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together they walk through a few of the talks, looking at the messages members heard and how those messages can land for people at different places in their faith journeys.

They explore what stood out, what may have felt supportive or harmful, and how to approach this kind of content with care, whether you are still active, questioning, or have already stepped away.

More about Jenny Elledge: https://symcounseling.com/jenny-elledge/

More about Rachel Larsen: https://symcounseling.com/rachel-larsen/

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

In this episode, Natasha is joined by Dr. Alex Tatum, a psychologist and professor at Illinois State University, to talk about what the research says about polyamory. He studies consensual non-monogamy and the experiences of people in polyamorous relationships.

Alex and his colleagues interviewed 63 American adults who have been or currently are in polyamorous relationships. Their first paper looked at what first led people to pursue polyamory and found four common themes: values alignment, relationship factors, external stimuli, and sexuality. Natasha and Alex discuss the difference between choosing polyamory because it fits who you are and trying to open a relationship to fix it.

Their newer paper takes a strengths-based approach and asks what helps people navigate the challenges of polyamory. It identified eight themes, including communication skills, managing difficult emotions, compersion and well-managed jealousy, and a willingness to challenge the cultural expectation of monogamy.

Read the research:

• Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships (Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2023): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02750-z
• "I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs": A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 2026): https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70119
• Psychology Today write-up of the first study, "Why Some Couples Choose Polyamory": https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/202312/why-some-couples-choose-polyamory

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Natasha sits down with Natasha Ruby, an artist and memoirist from Fort Collins, Colorado, whose work grows out of her lived experience with religion, recovery, and rebuilding. Natasha Ruby is the author of "Latter-day Psychosis," a raw and honest look at leaving religion and rebuilding identity, addiction and sobriety, mental health and psychosis, and the messy, nonlinear process of healing.

Together they talk about what it means to break, heal, and become again, and how to begin authoring your own life after questioning everything you were raised to believe.

You can find Natasha Ruby and her book here:

Website: https://www.natasharubyart.com Latter-day Psychosis: https://www.natasharubyart.com/general-7 Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @natasharubyart

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Dr. Julie de Azevedo joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast to discuss some of the clinical red flags and ethical failures of the Jodi Hildebrandt case. Both Julie and Natasha have been featured in documentaries about the case, and they bring their perspectives as licensed therapists to a story that has shaken so many families and faith communities.

You can find out more about Dr. de Azevedo on her website: https://www.drjuliehanks.com/about

Follow Julie on social media: Instagram: @drjuliehanks Facebook: @DrJulieHanks X/Twitter: @drjuliehanks LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjuliehanks

Listen to Julie's interview with Kevin Franke on the Ask Dr. Julie Hanks Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo-WwPm54Cg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qS1ViMT8Uo29gtuET2GB8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kevin-franke-on-healing-self-trust-and-life-after/id1550864262?i=1000741340854

Watch the documentaries: Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence (HBO Max): https://www.hbomax.com/show/45ecb4cd-3f29-47b0-9557-b88be510e30c Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81925846

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Ingrid Chapman joins to discuss her book, "Coming Back Whole: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Self-Reclamation."

At fifty, after thirty-two years of marriage, Ingrid Chapman served her husband divorce papers at the airport—directly in front of the woman he was having an affair with. It was the moment she stopped disappearing. COMING BACK WHOLE is the story of how she got there. Married at eighteen, she raised three children, helped build a family nonprofit, and spent decades inside a church that taught her endurance was holiness and silence was safety. Beneath the capable surface lay hidden betrayals, a hunger she could not name, and the early absence of a mother who left when she was five. This is not a dramatic escape but a quieter, more common reckoning: what happens when a woman finally trusts her own knowing after a lifetime of being taught to doubt it. With raw honesty and hard-won grace, Ingrid reclaims the self she buried to survive—and builds the life that finally feels like her own. In her sixties, she now lives on a small homestead with her second husband, surrounded by chickens, bees, and gardens, with their seven children, and eighteen grandchildren close by. For any woman who has felt trapped in roles that no longer fit, Coming Back Whole offers a tender, powerful reminder: you are allowed to come back to yourself.

You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HC1KKJZP?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&crid=33M49QBR1MRIE&sprefix=Coming+back+whole+by+ingrid+chapman&k=ingrid+chapman+coming+back+whole&channelId=500&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-v2_k0_1_35_de&plpRedirect=mhFallback

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Natasha sits down with Melissa Duge Spiers, author of "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows," for a wide-ranging conversation before diving into her story. They talk about growing up inside a strict, fundamentalist Seventh-day Adventist Church, and how Melissa's life changed when she learned her father, a respected pastor, was a serial child predator shielded for years by the church.

Melissa shares how she rebuilt her sense of self after escaping high control religion, including an unexpected friendship with her father's first victim that helped her reclaim her voice. Her memoir is being called a story of fierce honesty and radical freedom for anyone breaking out of controlling systems.

You can find Melissa and her book here:

Order "Holy Disobedience": https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/holy-disobedience/ Substack: https://melissadugespiers.substack.com/ TikTok: @theglorywhole Instagram: @the.glory.whole

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 print:block print:[&_>_*_+_*]:mt-3 standard-markdown">

Natasha sits down with Mikey Foley of "Mikey & The Mrs" (@mikeyandthemrs on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads), the husband and wife comedic morning show duo heard weekdays from 6 to 10 AM on Planet 105.1 in St. George, Utah. Together they dig into the intersection of Mormonism and comedy, exploring how humor becomes a tool for processing and healing within Mormon culture and where laughter and faith meet in everyday life.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Madison Daniels joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast. They discuss transitioning out of Mormonism as Madison's soon-to-be published book (releasing June 23, 2026), "Letters to a Young Ex-Mormon" is set to release. You can now pre-order it on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Young-Ex-Mormon-Field-Moving/dp/B0GVGS28KP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J9UJR2YFZAO6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XUKpgyNy_D67b8AZMA9TPaSKCV6qhb7vtNmVK3VKY5MOSoXRpqFiBDNBQUnAMdDSxKcfNQrK443Xo173orvVfnBT8ggsF7AdPvjMnlTZaBk.RXT1uvFRMC0KpOHxAVSXIYj2bvr2j5E1aqoL8uaPIuQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Letters+to+a+Young+Ex-Mormon&qid=1781723661&sprefix=letters+to+a+young+ex-mormon%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

Madison can be found on instagram at: @MDDanielsbooks (https://www.instagram.com/MDDanielsbooks)

More about Madison: Madison is a dude living and breathing in the foothills of the Wasatch Front, where he celebrates his birthday four times a year because when you're an adult you can do what you want, and celebration needs no reason. He leads a Hobbit-coded life that revolves around eating great food, drinking all kinds of things, and yapping with anyone who will yap back. During the summer, you can find him gardening, river-guiding, paddleboarding, hiking through the desert, eating popsicles, and grilling with friends in the backyard. During the winter, he lives on soups and baths alone, dreaming of warmer days full of crisp tan lines and blessed barefeet. Madison takes great pride in being his niece's and nephew's favorite uncle, his three sisters' favorite brother, and his parents' favorite Recently, he has been trying to learn to skateboard, which is an extremely brave thing to do for someone over 30.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Natasha is joined by Nancy Ross and Larissa Kanno Kindred to discuss the impact that LDS garments have on sexuality.

Nancy Ross is an associate professor and the department chair of the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Department at Utah Tech University, where she has taught for 20 years. She researches LDS and Community of Christ women, women's ordination movements, and issues related to Mormon feminism. Her book, co-authored with Jessica Finnigan and Larissa Kanno Kindred, is titled "Mormon Garments: Sacred and Secret" and was published by the University of Illinois Press in February 2026. The book examines the meaning and lived experiences of those who wear garments through the lenses of gender and belief.

Larissa Kanno Kindred holds a master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston and is currently a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Tennessee State University. Her clinical and research interests center on identity development, racial socialization, and the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, and religion. She works as a mental health therapist and has published research on neurodiverse-affirming approaches to couples counseling and the online tradwife movement. Larissa also writes at the intersection of religion, embodiment, and lived experience; she is a co-author, with Nancy Ross and Jessica Finnigan, of Mormon Garments: Sacred and Secret, published by the University of Illinois Press, which examines the meaning of garments through the lenses of gender and belief.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Mike Christensen joines to share his experience at BYU and as a single adult in "Mormon-dom."

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Brigham Young University, a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science from Northwest Missouri State University, an Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Utah, and a Master of City and Metropolitan Planning from the University of Utah. He is a member of the American Planning Association, the Congress for the New Urbanism, Strong Towns, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, and the national Rail Passengers Association, and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners and accredited by the Congress for the New Urbanism. He currently serves on the board of the Utah chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanismand on the board of the national Rail Passengers Association. Mike wrapped up a four-year term on Salt Lake City's Planning Commission in September and spent one of those years as vice-chair and another as chair of the commission.

Upon finishing grad school in 2018, Mike founded the nonprofit Utah Rail Passengers Association in order to advocate for expanding intercity passenger rail across Utah and into neighboring states and has served as its executive director ever since. He has become an expert on the failed policies propping up the "American Dream" of the 20th century and is trying to devote his life to fixing the damage that has been done to our communities by decades of investing in the wrong infrastructure. Mike ditched his car in 2017 and walks, bikes, and rides transit to get everywhere.

But Mike is here for a different reason. He has inside knowledge of how the Church Education System enforces the Honor Code and is here to share.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Natasha is joined by Lauren Hell on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast. They discuss all things sex toys!

Laurel Hell is a former Mormon from the Bay Area in California who now resides in New England and New York City. She designs software full-time and owns a publishing business and small design shop on the side. Laurel enjoys trail runs, concerts, languages, and empowering people out of their sexual shame.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Stan Mitchell joins to discuss LGBTQ inclusivity at church.

Stan Mitchell currently serves as a Teaching Pastor at The Village in (Atlanta, GA), Austin New Church (TX), The Well (Phoenix, AZ), Harvest Sarasota (FL), The Grove (Bryson City, NC), and Pine Street Church (Boulder, CO). He is the Pastor Emeritus of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN, having served as its Lead Pastor from its inception in 2003 through 2019. In 2015, GP made the move to the full affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ+ people. He now spends his vocational time as a speaker, LGBTQ+ advocate, and consultant within the Progressive Christian movement. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Becky Bowles joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast to discuss narcissism and divorce.

Becky Bowles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Millcreek Utah. She is the owner of Through the Woods Counseling, where she works with individuals navigating recovery from narcissistic abuse, and many other traumatic experiences. Including a focus on faith, religious or spiritual betrayal and trauma, from high-control religious and spiritual systems. She also provides coaching for recovery from narcissistic abuse for those outside the state of Utah. She offers a warm and inviting space for healing, and helps victims and survivors of abuse learn how to thrive. Her approach is eclectic, and uses narrative, somatic, spiritual, nature and embodied modalities. As well as EMDR for trauma work in the state of Utah. Her main focus is helping people use their autonomy to live an authentic and meaningful life. She also recently launched a personal project on YouTube called DearBeckyBee, where she shares personal experiences regarding narcissistic abuse and education regarding the topic.

You can find out more about her work here:

https://throughthewoodscounseling.net/

https://www.youtube.com/@BeckyBee-14/videos

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Michelle Mower joins to discuss how the Mormon purity culture affects men.

Michelle Mower, LPC, LMFT, CST, is a therapist, coach, educator, and certified sex therapist who helps adults understand what's actually going on in their sexuality and relationships. Her work focuses on the erotic mind; how thoughts, desire, and personal history shape the way people experience intimacy.

She works with individuals and couples who feel confused, disconnected, or at odds with their own desire, helping them move out of self-questioning and into clarity. Her approach is direct, grounded, and focused on making sense of experiences that often feel hard to explain, even to yourself.

Michelle is completing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, where her research examines sexual shame in men raised in the Mormon faith and the long-term impact of religious sexual conditioning on identity and desire.

She is known for saying the things people are already thinking but haven't been able to put into words, bringing clarity to conversations about sex and relationships that are often avoided or oversimplified.

Her work challenges the idea that something is wrong with you and instead focuses on understanding what hasn't been explained yet.

You can find out more about her work on her website:

https://www.michelle-mower.com/

Or here:

https://www.expansecounselingcenter.com/

Go here to read her dissertation (see podcast notes and resources):

https://www.natashahelfer.com/the-natasha-helfer-podcast/episode137

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Lauren Hayes joins to discuss the recent Non-Monogamy Lifestyle Cruise both she and Natasha joined a few months ago. Lauren also shares a bit about her book, "For Better or Even Better."

Lauren Hayes is a relationship coach and author who helps couples explore ethical non-monogamy with clarity, communication, and connection. Through her coaching, retreats, and her book For Better or Even Better, she guides people to create relationships rooted in honesty, choice, and deeper intimacy. Lauren also travels and teaches nationwide, and hosts the podcast The Examined Lives (ENM Vibes).

You can find out more on Lauren's website: https://www.swinginglifestylecoach.com

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Nathan Gallenson, co-founder of DBT with Friends, a peer-led mental health community, joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast. They discuss how they are creating an innovaite, peer-led mental health community dedicated to making evidence-based skills like DBT, IFS, and ACT accessible outside of traditional clinical settings.

Based in Salt Lake City, his work focuses on reimagining how emotional skills are taught, shifting from isolated learning to community-based practice.

You can checkout their website for more: https://www.dbtwithfriends.com

After completing their own DBT programs, the co-founders realized what many others know: everyone needs these skills, but too few have access. What began as teaching DBT skills to a small group of friends has grown into a broader movement rooted in a simple idea: healing is more joyful and more effective when we do it together—and access to these tools should be a human right, not a privilege. Nathan's work centers on creating spaces where people can learn real life skills while connecting with communities focused on growth, healing, and fun.

He is especially interested in how connection, shared experience, and structured skill-building can transform the way people relate to their emotions and each other. Through their work, DBT with Friends is helping build a model of mental health support that is scalable, human-centered, and grounded in both science and lived experience.

When he's not at his day job as a software engineering consultant, Nathan is building communities, facilitating or organizing weekly skills groups, and exploring how healing can be both practical and joyful.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Natasha is joined by Mellissa Perry Hill, MS, LPC. They discuss how high-demand religions affect the "self".

Mellissa Perry Hill, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and approved clinical supervisor based in Arizona, where she owns and operates Inner Compass Counseling & Consultation, LLC, a small group practice serving clients in Arizona and Utah through virtual and in-person care. Her work centers on supporting individuals and couples healing from religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and faith transitions, with particular experience working with those impacted by high-control religious systems, including Mormonism.

Mellissa's clinical approach integrates EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, and narrative therapy, with an emphasis on nervous system regulation, identity reconstruction, values-based living, and restoring internal authority after spiritual harm. Her work is shaped by both professional training and lived experience navigating faith transition and major life change.

She is the author of the "Faith Transition Journal," a self-published reflective resource created to support individuals processing disaffiliation, grief, and meaning-making after leaving religion. Mellissa has developed and facilitated curricula and group experiences for local faith-transition and religious-trauma communities and regularly provides consultation, supervision, and education for clinicians working in this area.

Mellissa has been a guest on numerous podcasts and professional conversations focused on religious trauma, ethical mental health care, and post-faith identity development. She also maintains an active online presence through her professional community and Instagram platform, @mellissaperrytherapy, where she offers education, reflection, and resources for both clinicians and clients. She is certified as a sex-informed professional and works with couples navigating intimacy, attachment, and relational repair after purity culture and spiritual conditioning.

Quick link: Instagram

@mellissaperrytherapy

@shley.does.therapy (the other clinician who works with men and LDS specific issues at Inner Compass!)

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CMsAzrjS6/

Clinician Newsletter: https://inner-compass-counseling.com/instagram-email-subscribers

Website: http://www.inner-compass-counseling.com/

Faith Transition Journal: http://www.amazon.com/dp/b0cdz79s55/

Psych Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/mellissa-perry-hill-gilbert-az/848150

Booking for Clients: https://inner-compass.clientsecure.me/

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Brittney Hartley joins to discuss different global initiatives various governments have done to protect children from religious abuse. Natasha and Brittney discuss the events and then share their thoughts on how and where things can improve.

Brittney Hartley is an Atheist Spiritual Director at No Nonsense Spirituality. She has a Masters Degree in Applied Theology with a focus on the Future of American Religion. Her emphasis is in nihilism recovery, faith deconstruction, spiritual reconstruction, and feminist spirituality. You can find her on social media under the handle No Nonsense Spirituality, or on her website http://www.nononsensespirituality.com/ for courses, coaching, podcasts, and her new book.

She can be found on the socials: @nononsensespirituality

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Natasha is joined by Danielle Calder, LCSW, and Bekah Barton, to discuss reconstructing female sexuality.

Danielle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist who specializes in helping people navigate major life transitions such as religious and faith transitions, relationship challenges, life style shifts, confidence, dating, career, and identity work. Danielle lives in Carlsbad, California and is licensed in multiple states, offering remote therapy sessions throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Danielle works with individuals and couples. She loves hanging out with her friends, being a fun, warm mom, and having fun, and is also a devoted Swiftie like Bekah.

Bekah Barton is on a mission to help women reclaim their pleasure, especially those who have left high-demand religions and were taught that their bodies and desires were something to fear or suppress. As a licensed marriage and family therapist with a Master's degree and specialization in systemic sex therapy, she brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to her work. She practices at Covenant Sex Therapy, where she works with couples and individuals navigating the full spectrum of sexual concerns, and offers coaching through Everglow Healing. Off the clock, she's a cookbook club host, a devoted Swiftie, and a firm believer in the healing power of a really good nap.

You can find out more about Bekah on her socials:

Instagram @bekah_barton: https://www.instagram.com/bekah_barton

TikTok: @bekah.barton

Check out their pre-recorded course at: https://www.everglowhealing.com/

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Natasha is joined by Jennifer Aull on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast. They discuss the male experience with purity culture.

Jennifer is passionate about empowering people to live their fullest lives. This dedication has been lived out through some of her personal and professional experiences. Jennifer brings with her a wealth of life experience. Along with her marriage and family therapy practice, Jennifer serves as a pastor at the Greenpoint Reformed Church. She has also worked as a chaplain in both hospital and hospice settings. These experiences have taught her that life can be a journey toward greater awareness and spiritual growth and that such awareness can bring about deep joy and fulfillment.

Jennifer enjoys working with clients to help them author an authentic life by examining their most challenging past experiences. By creating a warm, safe, nonjudgmental environment, she encourages clients to assess those elements that are limiting them. Through short-term, solution-focused therapy and deeper relational techniques, Jennifer guides clients to find the relationships they long for. Jennifer is experienced in working with a wide variety of people, regardless of religions, genders, cultures, life circumstances, and sexual orientations.

Jennifer is a licensed marriage and family therapist who completed her master's degree in marriage and family therapy at Hofstra University. She also received a bachelor's degree in English literature from San Francisco State University. After working for several years as a technology specialist for several investment banks, Jennifer attended Union Theological Seminary, where she received a Master of Divinity Degree. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Jennifer is a certified Prepare/Enrich premarital counselor with ten years of experience helping couples prepare for greater levels of commitment. She is an AASECT certified sex therapist. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Hebrew Union College, Long Island University Brooklyn, Syracuse University and Widener University. She is expected to complete her PhD in Clinical Sexology from Modern Sex Therapy Institutes in March 2025. Her dissertation focuses on the impact of purity culture messaging on male sexuality. She is available for both individual and couples therapy.

To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at http://natashahelfer.com/ and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at http://natashahelfer.com/.

The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy.

This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions.

The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening.

And remember:

Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to http://symcounseling.com/ketamine-services.

There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.