Mar 24, 2020
In this really insightful episode, LDF host Dan
Wotherspoon turns loose his wonderful guest,
Jordan Harmon, a Latter-day Saint therapist who
brings a wide variety of insights to his work with clients and who
has developed specialties in therapeutic practices based on
behavioral science. What's especially interesting is Jordan's
journey that began with a very low opinion of behavioral therapies
for several reasons, but primarily because they have often been
abused, such as in LGBT+ conversion therapies and in our criminal
justice system. Over the course of his work with clients, he slowly
began to gain respect for behavioral science, especially how it has
evolved into something that takes in the whole of a person
involving deep listening and empathy.
In each segment, their conversation features tie-ins to Mormon
scripture, themes, insights, and application, as well as certain
deficiencies and how these can translate into harmful forms of
spiritual counseling. Jordan and Dan discuss questions about
agency: how much agency do we really have (we are in a situation of
both being an actor but also very much being "acted upon") , and
how might we increase it in relation to our deep values? Jordan
openly shares about a difficult time as he and his wife tried to
work with one of their children, and in the process of that section
offers terrific insights into parenting approaches that can also
assist us as we interact with our own parents and other
loved ones. At the end, they also speak a bit about the LDS concept
of Zion and how behavioral science might inform it.
You will really want to listen to this episode! It is definitely
one that leads to us into deep thinking about ours and others'
difficulties, while also offering validation and framings that are
very helpful.