Well said Jeff!! As a fellow all-in member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints myself and a certified sex therapist I would have said much of this myself!! Thanks for spelling out so many important points here!
BeraMay 2, 2021
Wonderful article. The Lord’s standard is the only sure foundation in changing world and it’s philosophies.
MatthewApril 25, 2021
I came across this lady, Helfer, in social media. I found it, immediately, destructive to anyone who struggles...with anything really.
I am glad there are faithful therapists that save lives and families using the principles of love and understanding as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
In such a time as we live, it’s important to understand that a good therapist can also give us great tools to deal with the world around us in a variety of spaces. Bringing us back from the edge of insanity.
Harold RustApril 23, 2021
Thank you. It always helps those of us who know very little about the technical aspects of a profession to receive insight from someone who does and who can explain in calm, deliberate explanation the shortcomings in those whose application of those technical skills have thrown away logic and sacred foundations in the name of publicity and self-aggrandizement.
Phillip WeyersApril 23, 2021
Very well thought out and explained. Seems some agendas are only motivated by atheistic intolerance and bias. All power to you in these difficult times. As someone who has experienced these challenges in life before I found God, I can fully agree with your observations. An important part of life is self control or mastery over our failings, it's how we grow. Self indulgence never was happiness.
WeezieApril 22, 2021
Hear hear!!! This author is a brilliant writer. Such wonderful, concrete and complete truth. Thank you for using your talents to defend the Word of God
Andrew J. CurrieApril 22, 2021
This is a well written and thorough article. I like it; and would sum it up thusly: 'Be really careful choosing a therapist, because most of them are godless, thus devoid of divinely inspired insights.' One might ask how being godless would diminish a therapist's effectiveness? The author gives the first clue when he wrote "Therapists are trained to believe our clients. We accept the stories they tell us because those narratives have immense power over their lives." Christ's disciple John said this about those who have and share such stories: "He that saith, I know him (i.e., Christ), and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) So the first thing a therapist--especially and LDS therapist--should understand about what they are hearing is that no matter how strongly the patient believes what he is saying, it's a lie. If a therapist truly believes in believing lies, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to help a sinful person. It's even more difficult for anyone (e.g., a spouse, a parent, a friend) to help a sinful person when one chooses to 'participate' in their lie. I also find alarming his observation that "The goal of therapists aligned with this point of view (i,e., AASECT) isn’t to change these behaviors, but rather to reduce shame and increase acceptance, both among the clients themselves, and society at large." That sounds like the LGBQT+ organization's sole purpose, and we are seeing the detrimental effects all around us. It was less than a generation ago that homosexuality was deemed a mental health problem, not a favored character trait.
Maryann TaylorApril 22, 2021
Your article is a stark reminder that the things of God are only understood by the Spirit of God. Sadly, there are still those who are ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth. The word of God through His Prophets and through the scriptures is so clear. When we abandon truth for the popular and ever-changing philosophies of the day, the results are confusion and darkness.
JFApril 22, 2021
Thank you for your positive advocacy for the counseling with faith.
BOBApril 22, 2021
Extremely well thought and written. Thank you very much. What kind of contrarion joins an organization with no desire to adhere to the organizational standards but only wants to destroy those standards? Also, using masturbation to treat behavioral and psychological issues is like using bloodletting to treat arthritis and influenza.
M ScottApril 22, 2021
Thank you so much for speaking out and clarifying these important issues.
AnnaApril 22, 2021
Great explanation of a complex issue. Thanks for sharing.
HelenApril 22, 2021
Clear and insightful. Scary, And of Days stuff, too!
Thank you
Carol GrossApril 22, 2021
I agree with and appreciate how you addressed this difficult problem. I am licensed as both a mental health professional and as a behavior analyst and have been doing work in both fields as an active member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and have felt supported by and have supported the leadership of our faith for many years. There is no joy in unrighteousness because we all have a divine nature and it is so easy to become blind to who we truly are and lose our way . Thanks for not only what you are doing but also for the way you are behaving and sharing.
Jervae HornungApril 22, 2021
Thank you for having the courage to write this piece! Stand steady!
Mary Elizabeth HollettApril 22, 2021
This was incredibly beautiful. Thank you for expressing, for many of us who do not have the eloquent words, what we feel. Counselors have a great deal of power, and can better, or ruin, a life. Thank God for inspired standards, and thank God for counselors like you who can help support therapy that is really beneficial.
L J BrowerApril 22, 2021
Excellent, thoughtful and courageous article.
PjalApril 22, 2021
What Helfer fails to understand is the very practical wisdom of repentance and how wonderful it makes you feel. Following God’s advice creates a peaceful, happy feeling about yourself. Your self esteem rises and conflicts with conscience disappear! To get rid of shame, stop doing shameful things. That’s the solution.
Michael DenosApril 22, 2021
Thank you to this opinion author for clarifying and expressing of support to orthodox LDS beliefs. Points made can be applied in many of the constantly drifting man-made theories we are constantly living with and seeing. My own adult life experiences noting the radical changes in the Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) over the past several decades has been rather shocking. Again, thanks for the time to state your well founded thoughts.
JanApril 22, 2021
I loved this. Thank you for addressing it so thoroughly.
Bruce ForbesApril 22, 2021
Excellent article. As the spouse of an LCSW, I see great wisdom in the article.
Comments | Return to Story
Laura M. Brotherson, LMFT, CSTMay 8, 2021
Well said Jeff!! As a fellow all-in member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints myself and a certified sex therapist I would have said much of this myself!! Thanks for spelling out so many important points here!
BeraMay 2, 2021
Wonderful article. The Lord’s standard is the only sure foundation in changing world and it’s philosophies.
MatthewApril 25, 2021
I came across this lady, Helfer, in social media. I found it, immediately, destructive to anyone who struggles...with anything really. I am glad there are faithful therapists that save lives and families using the principles of love and understanding as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In such a time as we live, it’s important to understand that a good therapist can also give us great tools to deal with the world around us in a variety of spaces. Bringing us back from the edge of insanity.
Harold RustApril 23, 2021
Thank you. It always helps those of us who know very little about the technical aspects of a profession to receive insight from someone who does and who can explain in calm, deliberate explanation the shortcomings in those whose application of those technical skills have thrown away logic and sacred foundations in the name of publicity and self-aggrandizement.
Phillip WeyersApril 23, 2021
Very well thought out and explained. Seems some agendas are only motivated by atheistic intolerance and bias. All power to you in these difficult times. As someone who has experienced these challenges in life before I found God, I can fully agree with your observations. An important part of life is self control or mastery over our failings, it's how we grow. Self indulgence never was happiness.
WeezieApril 22, 2021
Hear hear!!! This author is a brilliant writer. Such wonderful, concrete and complete truth. Thank you for using your talents to defend the Word of God
Andrew J. CurrieApril 22, 2021
This is a well written and thorough article. I like it; and would sum it up thusly: 'Be really careful choosing a therapist, because most of them are godless, thus devoid of divinely inspired insights.' One might ask how being godless would diminish a therapist's effectiveness? The author gives the first clue when he wrote "Therapists are trained to believe our clients. We accept the stories they tell us because those narratives have immense power over their lives." Christ's disciple John said this about those who have and share such stories: "He that saith, I know him (i.e., Christ), and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) So the first thing a therapist--especially and LDS therapist--should understand about what they are hearing is that no matter how strongly the patient believes what he is saying, it's a lie. If a therapist truly believes in believing lies, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to help a sinful person. It's even more difficult for anyone (e.g., a spouse, a parent, a friend) to help a sinful person when one chooses to 'participate' in their lie. I also find alarming his observation that "The goal of therapists aligned with this point of view (i,e., AASECT) isn’t to change these behaviors, but rather to reduce shame and increase acceptance, both among the clients themselves, and society at large." That sounds like the LGBQT+ organization's sole purpose, and we are seeing the detrimental effects all around us. It was less than a generation ago that homosexuality was deemed a mental health problem, not a favored character trait.
Maryann TaylorApril 22, 2021
Your article is a stark reminder that the things of God are only understood by the Spirit of God. Sadly, there are still those who are ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth. The word of God through His Prophets and through the scriptures is so clear. When we abandon truth for the popular and ever-changing philosophies of the day, the results are confusion and darkness.
JFApril 22, 2021
Thank you for your positive advocacy for the counseling with faith.
BOBApril 22, 2021
Extremely well thought and written. Thank you very much. What kind of contrarion joins an organization with no desire to adhere to the organizational standards but only wants to destroy those standards? Also, using masturbation to treat behavioral and psychological issues is like using bloodletting to treat arthritis and influenza.
M ScottApril 22, 2021
Thank you so much for speaking out and clarifying these important issues.
AnnaApril 22, 2021
Great explanation of a complex issue. Thanks for sharing.
HelenApril 22, 2021
Clear and insightful. Scary, And of Days stuff, too! Thank you
Carol GrossApril 22, 2021
I agree with and appreciate how you addressed this difficult problem. I am licensed as both a mental health professional and as a behavior analyst and have been doing work in both fields as an active member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and have felt supported by and have supported the leadership of our faith for many years. There is no joy in unrighteousness because we all have a divine nature and it is so easy to become blind to who we truly are and lose our way . Thanks for not only what you are doing but also for the way you are behaving and sharing.
Jervae HornungApril 22, 2021
Thank you for having the courage to write this piece! Stand steady!
Mary Elizabeth HollettApril 22, 2021
This was incredibly beautiful. Thank you for expressing, for many of us who do not have the eloquent words, what we feel. Counselors have a great deal of power, and can better, or ruin, a life. Thank God for inspired standards, and thank God for counselors like you who can help support therapy that is really beneficial.
L J BrowerApril 22, 2021
Excellent, thoughtful and courageous article.
PjalApril 22, 2021
What Helfer fails to understand is the very practical wisdom of repentance and how wonderful it makes you feel. Following God’s advice creates a peaceful, happy feeling about yourself. Your self esteem rises and conflicts with conscience disappear! To get rid of shame, stop doing shameful things. That’s the solution.
Michael DenosApril 22, 2021
Thank you to this opinion author for clarifying and expressing of support to orthodox LDS beliefs. Points made can be applied in many of the constantly drifting man-made theories we are constantly living with and seeing. My own adult life experiences noting the radical changes in the Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) over the past several decades has been rather shocking. Again, thanks for the time to state your well founded thoughts.
JanApril 22, 2021
I loved this. Thank you for addressing it so thoroughly.
Bruce ForbesApril 22, 2021
Excellent article. As the spouse of an LCSW, I see great wisdom in the article.
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