Many people who transition from orthodox Mormonism to either post or nuanced positions often revisit their sexual development journey as a youth and young adult. They often feel like many decisions were co-opted by the standards of the Church and are dealing with grief, anger, feelings of betrayal and the “what if?” syndrome. These “what …
Speaker: Natasha Helfer Parker
Avoiding Grief within the Non-Monogamy Option
As a therapist who specializes in marriage, sexuality, and faith transitions, Natasha has noticed that many couples decide to open their marriages for a variety of reasons during or after a shift in LDS religious belief or orthopraxy. This is of particular interest for two reasons: 1) we mirror a trend in the larger culture …
It’s Not Hopeless! Navigating Mixed Faith Marriage
As more Mormons experience faith transitions and faith awakenings many couples find themselves unexpectedly in mixed-faith marriages. This session presents both personal and professional insights into honoring both the challenges and benefits of differing beliefs in a marriage. We will highlight the gifts associated with individualization and fostering mutual respect for each person’s spiritual journey. …
Fostering and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries within a Mormon Construct
Boundaries are the simple declaration of what you are comfortable with and what you are not comfortable with. Yet, fostering and maintaining healthy boundaries can be anything but simple, especially within a religious construct. This session brings together a panel of mental health professionals and wellness coaches from Symmetry Solutions, LLC to provide suggestions on …
Ask a Sex Therapist
Come enjoy a candid Q&A where any question is welcome. This has been a well attended session in the past where sexual topics can be broached in a sex-positive, evidence-based, and humorous approach. Coming from a culture where sexuality can be treated in rigid ways, it can be healing to have safe spaces to talk …
The Mormon Mind Game: Common Mormon Thinking Errors
Every culture, organization, religion, and person experiences thinking errors—commonly called cognitive distortions. This session will build off of Jennifer and Natasha’s popular session “Mormon Thinking Errors,” taking the conversation further and offering concrete strategies to combat cognitive distortions. Jennifer White, Natasha Helfer Parker, Sara Hughes-Zabawa
Ask a Sex Therapist
Sexuality is a taboo topic both within the general population and Mormon culture, with sexual shame being a common factor among many of its members. This session gives attendants access to the expertise of one of Mormonism’s few AASECT certified sex therapists. Attendees can ask questions directly or anonymously in a safe space. Addressing sexuality …
Fostering and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries within a Mormon Construct
This session brings together a panel of mental health professionals and wellness coaches from Symmetry Solutions, LLC to provide suggestions on creating healthy boundaries in a religious context. We’ll discuss common challenges many of us face as we interact with a predominantly patriarchal and authoritative religious structure: from simple things such as whether one feels …
Roundtable Discussion: Supporting Victims of Sexual Abuse
With all the #metoo situations being brought to light both within the Mormon faith community and the community at large, mental health providers from Symmetry Solutions will present some bullet-point strategies and then open the session for discussion in order to support victims/survivors of sexual trauma as well as family and friends who want to …
Addressing Mormon Thinking Errors
Last year Jennifer and Natasha presented a popular session called “Mormon Thinking Errors” which addressed typical ways myth and overgeneralizations usually rear their heads in LDS family and ward settings. This session will take the conversation further and offer concrete strategies and ideas to combat these types of messages in our own heads or when …