116: Grief Beyond Belief: Navigating Loss, Life, and Pediatric Family Advocacy

In this episode, Natasha is joined by Dr. Alex Tatum, a psychologist and professor at Illinois State University, to talk about what the research says about polyamory. He studies consensual non-monogamy and the experiences of people in polyamorous relationships. Alex and his colleagues interviewed 63 American adults who have been or currently are in polyamorous relationships. Their first paper looked at what first led people to pursue polyamory and found four common themes: values alignment, relationship factors, external stimuli, and sexuality. Natasha and Alex discuss the difference between choosing polyamory because it fits who you are and trying to open a relationship to fix it. Their newer paper takes a strengths-based approach and asks what helps people navigate the challenges of polyamory. It identified eight themes, including communication skills, managing difficult emotions, compersion and well-managed jealousy, and a willingness to challenge the cultural expectation of monogamy. Read the research: Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships (Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2023): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02750-z "I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs": A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 2026): https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70119 Psychology Today write-up of the first study, "Why Some Couples Choose Polyamory": https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/202312/why-some-couples-choose-polyamory

Natasha sits down with Natasha Ruby, an artist and memoirist from Fort Collins, Colorado, whose work grows out of her lived experience with religion, recovery, and rebuilding. Natasha Ruby is the author of "Latter-day Psychosis," a raw and honest look at leaving religion and rebuilding identity, addiction and sobriety, mental health and psychosis, and the messy, nonlinear process of healing. Together they talk about what it means to break, heal, and become again, and how to begin authoring your own life after questioning everything you were raised to believe. You can find Natasha Ruby and her book here: Website: https://www.natasharubyart.com Latter-day Psychosis: https://www.natasharubyart.com/general-7 Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @natasharubyart

Dr. Julie de Azevedo joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast to discuss some of the clinical red flags and ethical failures of the Jodi Hildebrandt case. Both Julie and Natasha have been featured in documentaries about the case, and they bring their perspectives as licensed therapists to a story that has shaken so many families and faith communities. You can find out more about Dr. de Azevedo on her website: https://www.drjuliehanks.com/about Follow Julie on social media: Instagram: @drjuliehanks Facebook: @DrJulieHanks X/Twitter: @drjuliehanks LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjuliehanks Listen to Julie's interview with Kevin Franke on the Ask Dr. Julie Hanks Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo-WwPm54Cg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qS1ViMT8Uo29gtuET2GB8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kevin-franke-on-healing-self-trust-and-life-after/id1550864262?i=1000741340854 Watch the documentaries: Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence (HBO Max): https://www.hbomax.com/show/45ecb4cd-3f29-47b0-9557-b88be510e30c Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81925846

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Ingrid Chapman joins to discuss her book, "Coming Back Whole: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Self-Reclamation." At fifty, after thirty-two years of marriage, Ingrid Chapman served her husband divorce papers at the airport—directly in front of the woman he was having an affair with. It was the moment she stopped disappearing.

Natasha sits down with Melissa Duge Spiers, author of "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows," for a wide-ranging conversation before diving into her story. They talk about growing up inside a strict, fundamentalist Seventh-day Adventist Church, and how Melissa's life changed when she learned her father, a respected pastor, was a serial child predator shielded for years by the church. Melissa shares how she rebuilt her sense of self after escaping high control religion, including an unexpected friendship with her father's first victim that helped her reclaim her voice. Her memoir is being called a story of fierce honesty and radical freedom for anyone breaking out of controlling systems. You can find Melissa and her book here: Order "Holy Disobedience": https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/holy-disobedience/ Substack: https://melissadugespiers.substack.com/ TikTok: @theglorywhole Instagram: @the.glory.whole To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com. The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy. This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions. The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening. And remember: Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services. There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.