{"id":6282,"date":"2020-02-13T11:06:04","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T16:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/?p=6282"},"modified":"2020-02-21T11:09:30","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T16:09:30","slug":"thru-cloud-and-sunshine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2020\/02\/thru-cloud-and-sunshine.html","title":{"rendered":"Thru Cloud and Sunshine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"I went to Mormon church<\/a> for the first time since my move to Utah\u2026 and had an uplifting experience that helped me acknowledge that in many pockets we are making strides against perfectionistic culture and towards prioritizing principles that support good mental health practice.<\/p>\n

When Rumi is quoted in an LDS sacrament meeting\u2026 you know it\u2019s going to be a good day. This man shared some beautiful poetry acknowledging the importance of sorrow and what a poignant part of life it plays. His talk was about \u201cliving the gospel,\u201d which usually focuses on \u201chappiness\u201d in a way that feels like the proverbial carrot everyone is chasing but can\u2019t ever quite achieve. He made room for sorrow as part of living the gospel. Refreshing.
\n\u201cIt can be annoying to hear platitudes of ideals over the pulpit that don\u2019t seem to relate to our day to day lives.\u201d YES! He gave a beautiful example of sharing his own brokenness in a beautiful way that made room for all of our broken pieces as well.<\/p>\n

The second talk had some mentions of Victor Hugo and his work Les Miserables\u2026 and notes of the grace needed in redemption.<\/p>\n

Relief Society was phenomenal. They focused on probably the best talk given last General Conference by Sister Reyna Aburto focused very directly on issues of Mental Health.
\nAnd my favorite quote from today\u2019s teacher:
\n\u201cWe need to challenge the idea that it\u2019s a spiritual failure to have mental health issues.\u201d
\nWe had discussion on the importance of language around suicide. That it\u2019s appropriate to say \u201cdied\u201d of suicide instead of \u201ccommitted\u201d or \u201ckilled oneself.\u201d Lots of discussion on how we should talk more openly about these issues.
\nSocial worker member spoke about the dangers of \u201cpretending\u201d that we are okay when we are not.
\nAnother great quote from teacher: \u201cYou can\u2019t pray away depression just like you can\u2019t pray away diabetes.\u201d
\nOne of the matriarchs spoke vulnerably about having mental issues postpartum and encouraged the younger women to get help when they needed. She also talked about the importance about not seeing being on medications as a failure. She shared gratitude for medical technology.
\n\u201cThere is no shame in needing medical help.\u201d
\nSeveral mentioned the importance of not hiding these struggles so we can role model to each other how to get through difficult times.
\nDiscussion of importance of supporting each other and accessing resources like therapy. Several were up front about being in therapy currently and using medications.
\nOne woman addressed head-on the reality that many Mormon women deal with depression at high rates and how she believes perfectionistic standards play a role.
\nAnother matriarch shard that there was a suicide in her family. And she said that the people left behind need support because they will inappropriately blame themselves.<\/p>\n

I was blown away! Super impressed\u2026 and optimistic\u2026 and hopeful\u2026 that over time\u2026 the many that speak up about these kinds of issues will cause the tide that turns.<\/p>\n

#<\/span>mormonwinsfortheday<\/span><\/span><\/a> #<\/span>supportivechurchcommunity<\/span><\/span><\/a> #<\/span>loveistheanswer<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sister Reyna Isabel Aburto: \u2018Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!\u2019<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"<\/i>Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS\u00a0<\/i><\/i>can be reached at\u00a0<\/i>natashaparker.org<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs an online practice,\u00a0<\/i>Symmetry Solutions<\/i><\/b><\/a>, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and Mormon Sex Info<\/a><\/strong>Podcasts, is the current past president of the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health Association<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs a sex education program,\u00a0<\/i>Sex Talk with Natasha<\/i><\/b><\/a>. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS\/Mormon clientele.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I went to Mormon church for the first time since my move to Utah\u2026 and had an uplifting experience that helped me acknowledge that in many pockets we are making strides against perfectionistic culture and towards prioritizing principles that support good mental health practice. When Rumi is quoted in an LDS sacrament meeting\u2026 you know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":6288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,48,138,25,170],"tags":[234,46,92,139,29,100],"class_list":["post-6282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gospel-teachings","category-mental-health","category-mindfulness","category-righteousness","category-spirituality","tag-gospel-teachings","tag-lds","tag-mental-health","tag-mindfulness","tag-mormon","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nThru Cloud and Sunshine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I went to Mormon church for the first time since my move to Utah... and had an uplifting experience that helped me acknowledge that in many pockets we are\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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