Episode 93: Hamilton Response Part II: A Psychological Look at Shifting Power Dynamics, Relationship Growth, and Fear

In this episode, Valerie looks a psychological lens to explain some of the dynamics at play between some current spokespeople for the LDS church and those who are asking for dialogue and change in a variety of areas.  As an intimate relationship therapist, Valerie frequently works with couples and helps them with struggles around the issue of power, growth, and fear. These very same concepts can be superimposed onto other relationships, and in this episode, Valerie demonstrates how some church spokespeople and many faith-expanding church members might be seen as locked in a struggle for healthy identity development, just as some individuals struggle in their intimate relationships.

The good news? This is normal, expected, and the only way to relationship health in the long run.  In both settings, what begins as the perfect romance [the perfect church, the perfect lover]  MUST give way to what really "is"...which brings up grieve, protest, denial, and eventually growth, if both parties recognize that the early “romance” was based on an illusion.  Valerie also talks about what happens when the initially more empowered party in the relationship does not WANT to end the "romance" stage of the relationship and she gives possible reasons for why the empowered “caregiver” struggles giving up their role when the less empowered party wakes up and begins to self define. Valerie is hoping that this episode might propose a psychologically grounded answer to the "why are they acting this way?" questions regarding recent combative discourse.

Link to the speech

“Why A Church?" by Kevin S. Hamilton

——————————————————————————————————————

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

     ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to subscribe to all Friday Latter Day Struggles Episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

     ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to support the podcast and subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie’s efforts by becoming a recurring donor on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠!

——————————————————————————————————————

SUPPORT GROUPS: You are invited to join one of Valerie’s space-limited ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Faith Crisis and Expansion Support and Processing Groups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!  As a trauma therapist, she continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become psychologically healthier and spiritually well in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Details about availability on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠latterdaystruggles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  These groups ALWAYS FILL UP, so jump in asap!

     ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to join a support group⁠⁠⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

COURSES: Now available! “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Couple’s Guide to Faith Crisis and Expansion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠” parts I and II. See what else is offered on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠latterdaystruggles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

     ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to purchase a course⁠⁠⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

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! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to learn more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!