Working with Religiously Conservative LGBTQ+ Clients
**This course builds on materials introduced in “Sex Therapy with Religiously Conservative Clients".
Instructors: Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CST-S, with panelists Colette Dalton, LCSW, and Kimberly Anderson, AMFT
Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CST-S is joined by two therapists to help us understand the pressures faced by LGBTQ+ clients who are raised in, practice, or exit high demand religions.
Helfer was recently ex-communicated from the Mormon church for her affirming views of sexual minorities. She is joined by Colette Dalton, LCSW, a lesbian ex-Mormon and Kimberly Anderson, AMFT, a transgender ex-Mormon, who will share their both their personal and clinical experiences of the effects of conservative religion on sexual/gender minorities.
Helfer is a dynamic presenter and she has carefully selected various media clips to share examples of bias, stereotyping, and discrimination. The commentary by the three presenters is insightful and affirms what the research tells us about LGBTQ+ folx and the need for understanding and support by mental health professionals.
Instructors: Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CST-S, with panelists Colette Dalton, LCSW, and Kimberly Anderson, AMFT
Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CST-S is joined by two therapists to help us understand the pressures faced by LGBTQ+ clients who are raised in, practice, or exit high demand religions.
Helfer was recently ex-communicated from the Mormon church for her affirming views of sexual minorities. She is joined by Colette Dalton, LCSW, a lesbian ex-Mormon and Kimberly Anderson, AMFT, a transgender ex-Mormon, who will share their both their personal and clinical experiences of the effects of conservative religion on sexual/gender minorities.
Helfer is a dynamic presenter and she has carefully selected various media clips to share examples of bias, stereotyping, and discrimination. The commentary by the three presenters is insightful and affirms what the research tells us about LGBTQ+ folx and the need for understanding and support by mental health professionals.
Why Should You Take This Course?
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Religion and sexuality
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Expert panelists on religious issues faced by LGBTQ+
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Issues specific to the transgender population
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Increase competence
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Become affirmative
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AASECT, APA, NBCC & CA BRN credit
Learn What's Important
Three experts with lived experience--one cisgender heterosexual woman, one lesbian woman, and one transgender woman--who have all had their identities impacted by conservative religion share what they know in a panel format.
Learn by Example
In addition to getting an overview of the issues faced by this population, you will learn evidence-based tools for helping clients cope with tensions between their faith and their sexuality. Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CST-S generously shares her knowledge and clinical experience to help you become competent with this population.
Meet the instructorS
Natasha Helfer, LMFT, CSTS
Natasha Helfer is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist/Supervisor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with almost 25 years of experience. Her expertise lies in the intersection of conservative religious upbringings and sexuality, specifically in the area of deconstructing internalized sexual shame. She runs a group practice, Symmetry Solutions, where services focus on helping people with religious trauma, reclaiming sexual desire, mixed-faith relationships, coming out journeys, healing sexual shame or trauma, and exploring sexual authenticity. Natasha was excommunicated from the Mormon church in 2021, for her advocacy in regards to sexual health.
Natasha can be reached at natashahelfer.com. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex Info Podcasts, and is the founder and current past president of the Mormon Mental Health Association. She has authored two books: Check Your Baggage: Unpack the Messages Getting in the Way of Your Sex Life and One Family, Two Views: How to Fortify Your Mixed-Faith Mormon Marriage.
Natasha can be reached at natashahelfer.com. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex Info Podcasts, and is the founder and current past president of the Mormon Mental Health Association. She has authored two books: Check Your Baggage: Unpack the Messages Getting in the Way of Your Sex Life and One Family, Two Views: How to Fortify Your Mixed-Faith Mormon Marriage.
Meet the instructor
Colette Dalton, LCSW
Colette Dalton received
her bachelor's degree in Marriage, Family and Human Development and her
Masters in Social Work, both from Brigham Young University and has
worked in mental health for over a decade. She
has worked extensively with college students, young adults, and adults
with a wide variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, stress,
relationship issues, and trauma. As a queer woman who grew up Mormon,
she has a special interest in working with people at the intersection of
spirituality and sexuality. She is on the Leadership Collective
of the LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapist Guild of Utah and also
co-hosts the "Called to Queer" podcast. You can connect with her on Instagram or Facebook.
Meet the instructor
Kimberly Anderson, AMFT
Kimberly Anderson, AMFT, is a self-actualized woman who has made the change from living for 45 years as a Mormon man to living openly as a woman. Before her transition, she lived, worked, and thrived for decades as a spouse, parent of two children, faithful Mormon, professional photographer, and university professor (BYU, UVU, Snow College). Kimberly has a BA and an MFA from Utah State University, has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally as a professional photographer, and has work in various collections throughout the Intermountain West. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, Snow College and Utah Valley University. She is the founder/photographer for the Mama Dragons Story Project and is featured regularly in online podcasts including on Mormon Stories Podcast.