In episode 168, Natasha was joined by Kevin Kloosterman, a trained RO-DBT Therapist. RO-DBT is a more recent therapy model and Kevin shared his thoughts on the model. You can find the episode by going here:
In this episode, Kevin is back along with Thomas Lynch, the founder of RO-DBT. They are joined by Erica Smith Lynch, who happens to be Thomas’ wife. The group discuss the beginnings of the treatment, how Kevin became involved, and what it is which includes that it is a trans-diagnostic treatment approach with roots in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
Thomas Lynch is a professor Emeritus at the school of Psychology at the University of South Hampton. He was the director of the Duke Cognitive Research Program at Duke University until 2007. Currently he is the director of Emotion and Personality Biobehavioral laboratory at the University of South Hampton. He’s been the recipient of large research grants from different sources including the National Institute of Health. He is also the recipient of the John M. Road’s Psychotherapy Research Endowment and a Beck Institute Scholar.
RO-DBT and Thomas Lynch as the founder are recognized internationally. You can find out more about Thomas, including his publications by going here:
Erica Smith Lynch is the Chief Executive of “Radically Open” and the director of treatment development and training for RO-DBT. She’s been a part of the development of this model since 2008 and has been working alongside Thomas in training therapists.
Kevin Kloosterman has been a former bishop and served on the board of the Mormon Mental Health Associations (mormonmentalhealthassoc.org). To find out more about Kevin, you can go to his website: https://relationquest.com/about-us
They reference DBT and its founder, Marsha Linehan. You can find out more about her by going here:
To help keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please donate at mormonmentalhealth.org.
Natasha was recently a guest on Braxton Dutson’s “Birds and Bees Podcast.” Braxton is a LCSW and Certified Sex Therapist in Salt Lake City, Utah. He works at The Healing Group and can be found here:
About the episode:
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."
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.comRead more at https://birdsandbeespodcast.libsyn.com/#8HRf8D8XJYV090ou.99
Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmations, and Laurie Lee Hall, SVP, join Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They join and discuss the impact of the reversal of the “exclusion policy”.
They focus on the approach that Affirmations uses:
For more on Affirmations, please go here: https://affirmation.org
Kevin is a father of 5, dentist in Arizona, engaged to his fiancé.
Laurie Lee is a previous bishop and stake president which ended when the brethren found out she was transgender. She is an architect with a private practice in Salt lake City and Tennessee.
Several things were referenced in the podcast including:
John Bonner’s essay on the policy and what the church could have said:
Affirmations Reaction to the policy:
Stories and Reactions of the November 2015 Policy Reversal
Local Chapters of Affirmations: https://affirmation.org/chapters/?fbclid=IwAR3CAV7YzUgTQhSlMSAYmbD4RNs3dNokAeAE8Xj8T6hqHGU0QTS05JD9BY4
Upcoming Affirmation Conferences and Events:
To keep the podcast alive past 2019, please donate at https://www.mormonmentalhealth.org
In this episode of Mormon Mental Health, Natasha is joined by Fabian Markez, J. Fernando González Díaz, Luis David Trujillo & Joaquín R. Busseporp who are all members of the South American Affirmacion organization. The interview is in Spanish as Natasha feels it’s important to hear voices in Mormonism other than the classic USA voice.
To keep Mormon Mental Health going past 2019, please become a subscriber at mormonmentalhealth.org.