Hello Latter Day Struggles friends! In this bonus episode, I share the details of many of the ways that I am supporting your LDS (and surrounding) faith expansion journeys. 

As a psychotherapist trained in intimate and family relationships, trauma, and group-work, I could never have guessed that my specific course-work would lead me to LDS faith crisis because when I was in this intensive training process, I didn't even know what faith crisis was and had not experienced anything of the sort in my own life. YET. 

Well, God works in mysterious ways, right?  When life happened and my eyes began to be opened to spiritual growth that I didn't even know was possible (for both me and thousands having similar experiences), I was ready *enough* to step into this space due to the preparation that I didn't even know was happening.  

So take a listen to this quick informational episode and join me for whatever portion of my offerings work for you.  

I love you all!  Here's to a happy and thriving 2024 in our faith expansion journey together!                                           ————————————————————To enroll in Val’s webinars and new group go to latterdaystruggles.com.       ————————————————————To enroll in the first session of Val and Dr. Julie Hanks’ “Do I Stay or Do I Go” Q&R series go to drjuliehanks.ask.me.

BONUS: Navigating Mixed-Faith Parenting, Isolation in Faith Crisis, and Decisions to Stay or Go

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/valerie-hamaker/subscribe

The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity.

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

In this enlightening part three [of a four-part series] Valerie and special guest author Kathryn Sonntag delve deeper into the enriching concepts presented in "The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother." 


In this episode they continue using the metaphor of a tree to help us understand how to find personal wholeness through the integration of the masculine and the feminine. 


Kathryn relates the trunk of the tree to 1) our mortal existence, 2) to the present and, 3) to the sacred nature of the earth and its deeply feminine cycles of birth, death, and rebirth as chief evidence that the divine indeed is deeply feminine. 


Join us next time as we conclude our series on "The Mother Tree," where we will further delve into how the integration of our divine masculine and feminine energies can lead to a richer, more harmonious personal and spiritual life. 
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SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through a paid subscription. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey! 
click here for instructions.

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WEBINAR: “Developing Healthy Stress Management” Valerie will host a webinar class for individuals and couples seeking guidance on how to stay united during a faith expansion experience. Special question/answer session directly after the webinar. Wednesday June 5th 8:30 CST. Come ask Val your burning questions and be part of the conversation! ⁠Sign up here!

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SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? Make a one-time donation to her business Venmo account or become a recurring donor on Patreon.⁠
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STEPPING BACK FROM THE CHURCH IN A PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WAY: Valerie and Julie Hanks are offering a live Q&A; session for those with concerns about the complexities of stepping back.Their last event sold out very quickly, and they anticipate that this one will also sell fast.To register click here.
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CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available ⁠here!

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SUPPORT GROUPS: All support groups are currently full, however, a new evening group is scheduled to start in September 2024. To pre-register click on this link.⁠


Episode 225: The Feminine Divine In-Depth [Part III]: Finding Feminine Wisdom through the Cycles of Nature

In this enlightening part one [of a four-part series] Valerie welcomes author and feminist scholar Kathryn Knight Sonntag explore the themes of growth, development, and spiritual connection through Kathryn's book, "The Mother Tree." 

Their discussion encompasses the significance of trees in various spiritual traditions, their representation of sacred spaces, and their role in depicting the interconnectedness of life and spirituality. 

They emphasize the potential for individual healing and growth through the integration of both feminine and masculine energies, reflecting on the challenges LDS women face in a male-dominated patriarchal culture. This episode is a compelling call to recognize and harmonize the masculine and feminine within ourselves and our LDS faith tradition for a more balanced and healing spiritual experience. Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie by making a one-time donation to her business Venmo account or by becoming a recurring donor on Patreon.
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SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through ⁠⁠⁠a paid subscription ($9.99/month), available here⁠. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe and support the podcast, click here.

——————————————————————————————————————WEBINAR: “The Growth Oriented Marriage” Valerie will host a webinar class for individuals and couples seeking guidance on how to stay united during a faith expansion experience. Special question/answer session directly after the webinar. Wednesday May 8th 8:30 CST. Come ask Val your burning questions and be part of the conversation! To register click here.

——————————————————————————————————————STEPPING BACK FROM THE CHURCH IN A PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WAY: Valerie and Julie Hanks recently finished a similar Q&A; event working with their communities wanting to stay engaged in the LDS Church in a psychologically healthy way. They received lots of great feedback saying it was extremely helpful to those who attended. Valerie and Julie are hoping that the upcoming event will serve the same purpose for those with concerns about the complexities of stepping back. Their last event sold out very quickly, and they anticipate that this one will also sell fast. To register click here.

—————————————————————————————————————SUPPORT GROUPS: As a trauma therapist, Valerie continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become more psychologically and spiritually healthy. All support groups are currently full, however, a new evening group is scheduled to start in September 2024. To learn more click here.
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CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available ⁠here.

Episode 223: The Feminine Divine in Depth: [PART I] A Discussion on "The Mother Tree"

In this episode Valerie is joined by friend and colleague Dr. Julie Hanks, where they discuss the emotional and psychological complexities of stepping away from the LDS faith for those who feel called to do so. 

They emphasize the importance of making this transition in a psychologically healthy manner, and how challenging this is to do in a climate where not a lot of resources are available and this decision is fraught with so much distress and loneliness. 

The discussion covers potential challenges such as navigating changes in relationships with family and the larger community, managing internalized beliefs and fears, and the grief that accompanies leaving one's spiritual community. 

If this episode resonates with you, please join Valerie and Julie in their upcoming interactive Q&A; series happening virtually every Thursday evening in June 2024. Link to enroll is in the show notes. Space is limited and these sessions fill up quickly. 

Note: Valerie and Julie are not prescribing leaving (or not leaving) the LDS church. They wish to support their LDS and surrounding community in psychologically-thriving independent of church membership or attendance status. 

For those interested in exploring how to stay involved in the LDS faith in psychologically healthy ways, please listen to episode 193 of Latter Day Struggles.  

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? Support Valerie with a 1-time donation through her business Venmo account or by becoming a recurring donor on Patreon.⁠
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SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through ⁠⁠⁠a paid subscription ($9.99/month), available here⁠. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe and support the podcast, click here.

———————————————————————WEBINAR: “The Growth Oriented Marriage” Valerie will host a webinar class for individuals and couples seeking guidance on how to stay united during a faith expansion experience. Special question/answer session directly after the webinar. Wednesday May 8th 8:30 CST. Come ask Val your burning questions and be part of the conversation!  Register for a spot here.
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STEPPING BACK IN A PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WAY: Valerie and Julie Hanks recently finished a similar Q&A; event working with their communities wanting to stay engaged in the LDS Church in a healthy way. Valerie and Julie hope the upcoming event will serve the same purpose for those with concerns about stepping back. Their last event sold out very quickly, and this one will also sell fast. To register click here.
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SUPPORT GROUPS: As a trauma therapist, Valerie continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become more psychologically and spiritually healthy. Groups are currently full, however, a new evening group  starts September 2024. To learn more click here.
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CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie? Time-limited packages with Valerie are available ⁠here.

Episode 221: Supporting Spiritual, Psychological, & Relational Wellness if Stepping Away from the Church with Julie Hanks

In this profound episode 3 [of a four-part series] Valerie and Nathan engage in a crucial discussion on the implications of withholding the sacrament for any reason within the LDS Church. 

They challenge the harmful practice of using the sacrament as a disciplinary measure, which can reinforce feelings of both public and internalized shame and unworthiness. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity in all spiritual practice and the spiritual damage done (to the denied individual, their families, and the faith community) as a result of the practice of withholding the sacrament. 

In Friday's concluding episode of this series, Val and Nathan get more granular, reflecting on several aspects of the culture and practice around LDS sacrament administration (everything from exactly worded prayers to the proper uniform and beyond) calling for a more compassionate and understanding church culture that truly reflects the generous and loving nature of the divine.Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!———

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie by making a one-time donation to her business Venmo account or by becoming a recurring donor on Patreon.⁠
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SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through ⁠⁠⁠a paid subscription ($9.99/month), available here⁠. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe and support the podcast, click here.

——————————————————————————————————————LATTER DAY NIGHT LIVE! Register for our latest 3-part webinar series “A Couple’s Guide to Faith Crisis & Expansion.” Valerie will host a question/answer session directly after the class. Part 2 - May 8th 8:30 CST. Ask Val your burning questions and be part of the conversation! Register for a spot here.
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SUPPORT GROUPS: As a trauma therapist, Valerie continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become more psychologically and spiritually healthy. All support groups are currently full, however, a new evening group is scheduled to start in September 2024. To learn more click here.
——————————————————————————————————————
CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available ⁠here.

Episode 219: A Deeper Look at the Sacrament-PART III: Challenging Sacrament Exclusion

In this thought-provoking part one (of a four-part series) Val and Nathan engage in a deep exploration of the sacrament's significance in Christian practice and how it might sometimes diverge from the inclusive message of Jesus Christ. 

They set this series up by comparing and contrasting the history and diverse practices of sacrament across various denominations. 

 Val then dons her "therapist hat" and discusses why and how embodied ceremonies can be a powerful tool for brain growth, learning, and meaning-making and how the concept of the sacrament has the potential to be a rich means of communion with self, God, and others. 

They also offer thoughts on how the sacramental ceremony can become less meaningful and even harmful when misappropriated for various reasons, which will be explored in detail in this series. 

This four-part series is intended to not only explore deeply the concept of sacrament broadly in the LDS faith, but also greatly broadens the concept of sacramental worship in a way that faith-expanding Latter-day Saints can embrace as an expression of their own growth journey. 
Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below. See you there!———

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie by making a one-time donation to her business Venmo account or by becoming a recurring donor on Patreon.⁠
——————————————————————————————————————

—————————————————————————————————————
SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through ⁠⁠⁠a paid subscription ($9.99/month), available here⁠. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe and support the podcast, click here.

——————————————————————————————————————LATTER DAY NIGHT LIVE! Register for our latest 3-part webinar series “A Couple’s Guide to Faith Crisis & Expansion.” Valerie will host a question/answer session directly after the class. Part 2 - May 8th 8:30 CST. Ask Val your burning questions and be part of the conversation! Register for a spot here.
———————————————————————————————————
SUPPORT GROUPS: As a trauma therapist, Valerie continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become more psychologically and spiritually healthy. All support groups are currently full, however, a new evening group is scheduled to start in September 2024. To learn more click here.
——————————————————————————————————————
CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available ⁠here.

BONUS: Navigating Mixed-Faith Parenting, Isolation in Faith Crisis, and Decisions to Stay or Go

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