Leading Saints Podcast

Connecting Authentically with Youth | An Interview with Braeden Jensen


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Braeden Jensen is a Mental Health Counselor and previously worked as a full-time Seminary teacher. Spending seven years in a high school classroom opened his eyes to a number of things. It changed his ability to listen and sharpened his aptitude for empathy. The more he sat with and listened to students, the more he saw and felt how many people are hurting in very real ways.
At the same time, Braeden considered how therapy had helped him find hope and healing. The puzzle pieces quickly came together: "You can help more people in some tangible, substantial ways." After pursuing his Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, he recently left the classroom full-time to find more fulfillment in helping others enjoy freedom, peace, and healing. He loves seeing people overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction, and heal their relationships along the way.
Braeden shares insights on connecting with youth and helping them navigate their emotions and spiritual journeys. Driven by a desire to provide deeper support, Braeden discusses his transition from teaching seminary to becoming a therapist. He emphasizes emotional literacy, authenticity, and creating safe spaces for youth to express their feelings. Braeden highlights the importance of understanding the youth psyche, addressing issues like pornography, anxiety, and depression. He advocates for integrating emotional awareness in church settings and modeling authenticity for youth, showing it's okay to express struggles and emotions openly. Braeden also discusses surrendering control, trusting in God's plan, changing prayers to invite God into our story, and continuously learning about God.
Links
BraedenJensen.com
@braejensen on Instagram
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Transcript coming soon
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Highlights
03:57 - Braeden's Career Transition
06:45 - Creating Safe Spaces for Youth
11:45 - Understanding Youth Psyche
18:53 - Emotional Literacy
24:30 - Integrating Emotional Awareness in Church Settings
34:38 - Authenticity and Vulnerability
44:57 - Surrender and Trust in God
48:07 - Changing Prayers
50:24 - Modeling Authenticity
56:33 - Continuous Learning about God
The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.
Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes.
Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
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