Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Atonement & the American Criminal Justice System [Part III of IV]

Welcome to this episode where Valerie and special guest Fiona Givens dive deep into each of their favorite topics:  neuroscience & trauma (looking at you Valerie!) & healthy atonement theology (now looking at you Fiona!). 

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the impact of trauma on individuals, especially those within the criminal justice system. Fiona brings insights from scholars and trauma experts, emphasizing that what is often perceived as deviant behavior is deeply rooted in trauma and human woundedness. 

Fiona and Valerie advocate for a theological vision committed to healing and redemption, affirming that a compassionate approach can lead to true transformation and restoration.   This one is a must-listen and quite possibly will have you pondering things you haven't ever connected before!

Support the show

Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES

Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Visit our Website

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Atonement & the American Criminal Justice System [Part II of IV]

In this enlightening episode Valerie and Fiona Givens delve deep into the historical and theological underpinnings of atonement theology and its profound impact on the American penal justice system. 

Fiona provides a rich historical context, explaining the shift from early Christian views that emphasized Christ's life, incarnation, and resurrection to the later Western focus on crucifixion and suffering, which laid the groundwork for a theology of substitution and punishment. 

They critically examine how these beliefs manifest in punitive practices, advocate for a shift towards a more rehabilitative approach, and set the stage for further discussion in the next episode on the need to reconcile atonement theology and treatment of criminals with contemporary understandings of neuroscience and trauma. 

https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/

Share this episode

Become a Monday & Friday Listener:

Annual Friday Episode Full Access only $89/year

Join an LDSS Support Group

Visit Our Website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Want to support Valerie & Nathan?

Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Atonement & the American Criminal Justice System [Part I of IV]

Welcome to a podcast series that has been months in the making and one that you will NOT want to miss if you desire to find health and healing in your relationship with God, atonement, hope, and healing.  

In this four part series, Valerie welcomes return guest and gifted LDS theologian Fiona Givens. Together they delve deeply into the development of various atonement theologies and their impact on both the average Christian "sinner" as well as the "criminal", especially and how each "deserves" to be punished.  

This series explores roots of atonement theology; how, why, where, and when it changed, and how the atonement theology that came to North America eventually impacted the criminal justice system.  

They further explore how modern neuroscience has become an unexpected partner in revealing the infinite goodness and inevitable woundedness of all human kind and how our understanding the nature of the brain can bring about lasting reform of our atonement theology and our criminal justice system.  

Don't miss this entire series packed with cutting edge scholarship and a windfall of hope and healing on our ongoing reimagining of God's infinite love for all of their children.  

Support the show

Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES

Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Visit our Website

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title:  Exposing the Near Enemy [Part IV of IV]

In this thought-provoking final episode of this series, Valerie explores the complex historical and cultural factors that contribute to the prevalence of unique near enemy behaviors within the LDS Church. She discusses how the church's trauma history, including persecution and isolation, has fostered a culture of extreme self-protection and difficulty with self-confrontation. 

Valerie also examines unresolved shadow characteristics related to gender, sexuality, and power, drawing connections to the church's struggle with reform and accountability.  With her usual candor and affection for her home institution, Valerie offers her feelings that true virtue requires a courageous commitment to ongoing self-reflection and growth, both personally and within the church community. 

The episode, series, and entire podcast highlights the transformative potential that humility, love, and accountability have in fostering authenticity and spiritual development within individuals and spiritual institutions.  

https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/

Share this episode

Become a Monday & Friday Listener:

Annual Friday Episode Full Access only $89/year

Join an LDSS Support Group

Visit Our Website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Want to support Valerie & Nathan?

Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title:  Exposing the Near Enemy [Part III of IV]

In this episode Val and Nathan continue their deep dive into applications of the Buddhist concept of the near enemy, shining a light on how this concept might apply to how the LDS and surrounding community might grow in light and truth as these ideas are understood and embraced. 

They focus on how behaviors like self-aggrandizing, pity, and clinging subtly undermine virtues such as charity, compassion, and love, often posing as their close allies. 

They analyze how these near enemies negatively impact missionary work, intimate relationships, and spiritual growth within the Latter-Day Saints community, particularly highlighting how spiritual exceptionalism and codependency in eternal marriage theology can hurt connection at the micro and the macro levels. 

The episode culminates in a reflective call for embracing both light and shadow selves and emphasizes acting from a place of genuine love and virtue rather than fear or the desire for validation.             

Thank you for joining us in this series intended to expand our capacities to grow whole and healthy in and around the LDS church.

Support the show

Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES

Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Visit our Website

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title:   Exposing the Near Enemy [Part II of IV]

In this episode Val and Nathan explore several topics relevant to the LDS faith journey through the lens of the "near enemy". Their focus in this advanced-content episode includes an analysis of: 

**Faithfulness as the near-enemy of personal integrity 

**Checklist obedience as the near-enemy of personal transformation 

**Leadership by seniority/nomination/inheritance as the near-enemy of leadership by attraction 

**Placating as the near-enemy of true reform (specific to current queer issues) 

**Pedestalizing as the near-enemy of gender equality 

This (and every) series endeavors to help faith-expanding Latter-day Saints better understand ourselves and our faith institution so that we all might connect, heal, and transform.  

Thank you for subscribing to these advanced content exclusives, intended to help our faith expanding LDS and surrounding community grow and thrive in their faith journeys. 

https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/

Share this episode

Become a Monday & Friday Listener:

Annual Friday Episode Full Access only $89/year

Join an LDSS Support Group

Visit Our Website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Want to support Valerie & Nathan?

Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Send us a Positive Review!

 Series Title: Exposing the Near Enemy [Part I of IV]

In this opening episode of this new series Valerie and Nathan delve into the profound concept of the "Near Enemy," highlighting how certain behaviors that superficially resemble virtues actually hinder personal growth and damage interpersonal relationships. 

Drawing from Buddhist wisdom and Brené Brown's integrative work, they discuss how the near enemy behaviors can creep into all individual and systemic relationships and how these behaviors prevent genuine connection.

Episode 2 of this series will be a Latter Day Struggles EXCLUSIVE: tackling sensitive and idiosyncratic "near enemy" topics within the LDS faith tradition. 

Episode 3 will tackle less sensitive "near enemy" topics found within the faith and typical of many faith traditions and other community settings. 

Episode 4 of this series will be another EXCLUSIVE, exploring from a psychological lens some possible reasons why our LDS faith tradition uniquely struggles with its idiosyncratic "near enemy" behaviors. 

This series is groundbreaking in that it integrates an element of sound Buddhist philosophy in an effect to help our LDS community understand some of our tradition's most significant shadow parts. 

We hope that this series brings light, understanding, healing, and eventual reform. We care about the wellness of our faith tradition and those over whom it has influence. 

Support the show

Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES

Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Visit our Website

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Healing from Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part IV of IV]

In this final episode in their series tackling the topic of OCD spiritual scrupulosity within the context of the LDS faith, Valerie and Brannon Patrick reflect on their own experiences as missionaries to offer a respectful critique of a culture that of vulnerable to struggles with mental health in general and spiritual scrupulosity in specific. 

Their conversation addresses the critical issue of psychological distress among missionaries, exacerbated by a culture of perfectionism, performance, and a focus on missionary success connected to personal obedience. 

Through personal stories and insights on their own faith journeys, they advocate for a healthier, more balanced approach to spiritual beliefs and the missionary experience, aiming to help individuals both on missions and beyond reclaim their sense of self-worth and belovedness.

https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/

Share this episode

Become a Monday & Friday Listener:

Annual Friday Episode Full Access only $89/year

Join an LDSS Support Group

Visit Our Website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Want to support Valerie & Nathan?

Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Healing from Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part III of IV]

In this episode Valerie welcomes fellow therapist colleague Brannon Patrick for a discussion highlighting the profound impact of OCD scrupulosity on individuals within the LDS community. 

In an unexpected turn of events, both Val and Brannon realize that they each struggled in their adolescence with the same unnamed fear of God's disappointment accompanied by attempts to mitigate these fears with scrupulous behaviors. 

They explore how church teachings can exacerbate anxiety, particularly through doctrines that emphasize perfectionism and earning forgiveness. 

This discussion advocates for a shift towards creating a supportive, healing church environment that views God as a loving companion in our journeys, not a harsh or disappointed judge. 

Join them on Friday for a final conversation in this series about the vulnerabilities of full-time LDS missionary service on those with tendencies to struggle with spiritual scrupulosity and several recommendations on how to begin to heal as a spiritual community. 

Support the show

Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES

Friday Episodes Annual Subscription $89

Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10

Valerie’s Support & Processing Groups

Donate: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠

Visit our Website

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Positive Review!

Series Title: Healing from Spiritual Scrupulosity [Part II of IV]

In this episode Valerie and guest author Taylor Kerby delve into the complexities of OCD scrupulosity within the context of the Latter-Day Saint faith. 

They continue their conversation tackling the following topics connecting OCD spiritual scrupulosity with the LDS faith tradition: 

1. Spiritual Exceptionalism (addressed primarily in episode 231) 

2. Low emphasis on the cultivation of personal authority 

3. High anxiety around sexuality and an integrated sexual identity 

4. A transactional relationship with God 

5. An atonement theology that leaves people feeling anxious, guilty, afraid, or shameful 

The episode concludes with a call for church leaders to know their limits and a plea to direct individuals to professional help, aiming to foster a more supportive and growth-oriented environment for all connected to the church. 

https://valeriehamaker.com/one-one-consultations/

Share this episode

Become a Monday & Friday Listener:

Annual Friday Episode Full Access only $89/year

Join an LDSS Support Group

Visit Our Website: https://valeriehamaker.com/

Want to support Valerie & Nathan?

Make a donation: ⁠Venmo or Patreon⁠