John D and psychology

[yellowstone123]

I really like John D. He, in my view, is a good guy bringing out topics about Mormonism.

Now, another take: did John D do 3000 hours of supervised counseling and pass his state boards? He has PH.d from Utah State and speaks frequently with the ex mo community. To me, this is not therapy.

The love of my life V. Who was a citizen of Denmark, not the USA. She had a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Long Beach state, a Masters in Social Work from Long Beach state, did 3000 hours of supervised counseling where the counselor was present or it was video taped and reviewed by a licensed therapist and passed her two state board exams in California. She was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). We met at the gym four or five times a week after work. She was the happiest person I ever met.

Her cubicle in the office was on the other side of mine. She was my buddy. She had no accent to suggest she was not a California girl.

John D,can present fire-side lectures to the ex Mormon community for money but he is not billing insurance companies. This is my view.

[drumdude]

He did “coaching” which is not psychotherapy. He has paused his practice since 2021 and now refers people to his wife, among others.

He may have done psychotherapy early on but switched to coaching relatively quickly after earning his PhD.

[Kishkumen]

Motivational speaking is not a clinical enterprise.

[yellowstone123]

He did “coaching” which is not psychotherapy. He has paused his practice since 2021 and now refers people to his wife, among others.

He may have done psychotherapy early on but switched to coaching relatively quickly after earning his PhD.

Supervised hours are important in California along with passing your oral board and written exams. About twenty years ago I heard the term “ Life Coach”. I thought, what the heck is that from being your best friend for thirty dollars for thirty minutes.

Now John D, is doing programs on abusive adults with special titles created out of thin air. It’s crazy. I think it’s time for the legislature and governor to step in and figure things out.

Also, he did not do psychotherapy unless he was supervised by a licensed therapist.

[drumdude]

He did “coaching” which is not psychotherapy. He has paused his practice since 2021 and now refers people to his wife, among others.

He may have done psychotherapy early on but switched to coaching relatively quickly after earning his PhD.

Supervised hours are important in California along with passing your oral board and written exams. About twenty years ago I heard the term “ Life Coach”. I thought, what the heck is that from being your best friend for thirty dollars for thirty minutes.

Now John D, is doing programs on abusive adults with special titles created out of thin air. It’s crazy. I think it’s time for the legislature and governor to step in and figure things out.

Also, he did not do psychotherapy unless he was supervised by a licensed therapist.

He lives and practices in Utah.

As far as legislating it, I think that might be stepping on personal freedoms a bit much. Educating people about the difference between therapy and coaching is probably more appropriate. For what it’s worth Dehlin’s website makes this distinction clear.

[yellowstone123]

It’s defined by the legislature and signed by the governor as to who is a legal therapist: who can provide therapy and bill insurance companies. If he has a license and a license number I’m totally wrong.

[yellowstone123]

He did “coaching” which is not psychotherapy. He has paused his practice since 2021 and now refers people to his wife, among others.

He may have done psychotherapy early on but switched to coaching relatively quickly after earning his PhD.

Define “practice” . If practice is being a life coach for those transitioning out of Mormonism and he brings in good money, God bless him.

[drumdude]

On My Education, Training, Licensure Status, and Coaching Practice

I DO have a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Utah State University. I obtained this degree in 2007.
I DO have a Ph.D. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Utah State University. I obtained this degree in 2015.
I DID complete 100% of the coursework, research, and clinical requirements for both a Master’s and Ph.D. in psychology.
As all Ph.D. students do, I DID work/train for six years under the license of various psychologists at Utah State University – doing both individual and group psychotherapy. In that sense I practiced psychotherapy for 6 years (always under supervision).
I DID obtain over 4,000 supervised clinical hours of psychotherapy – which is the requirement to become a licensed psychologist in the state of Utah.
I DID compete my full psychology internship at an approved APA (American Psychological Association) approved internship site.
I successfully defended both my Master’s Thesis (a treatment for scrupulosity or religious OCD) and Ph.D. Dissertation (a comprehensive study of the LGBTQ Mormon experience) on the way to my psychology degree.
I have published 14+ scholarly studies, journal articles, and book chapters on research that I have been involved in within the field of psychology. Most of my research has focused on anxiety disorders (scrupulosity/OCD, trichotillomania) and on the LGBTQ/Mormon experience.
I therefore DO have 100% of the coursework, research, and training that any licensed psychologist in Utah has.
I DO have a steady coaching practice focused on supporting people through Mormon faith crises. I love this work, feel that I am super good at it, and that I have helped hundreds of individuals, couples, and families over the past 5+ years.
It is also super important for everyone to know that:

I have intentionally never taken the EPPP – which is the licensure exam that must be taken to become a licensed psychologist in Utah. Think of the EPPP as an equivalent to the bar exam that lawyers must take to practice law in any given state.
This means that I AM NOT A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST at present.
I may choose to take the EPPP at some point, but for now there is no reason/benefit for me to do so.
I must also state very emphatically that…
I have never claimed to be a licensed psychologist,
I have never had the desire to ever give anyone the impression that I am a licensed psychologist, ever and
I have never attempted to practice psychotherapy without a license. This is illegal and unethical.
For those who are curious, I have not taken the EPPP because I DO NOT PRACTICE PSYCHOTHERAPY IN MY COACHING PRACTICE. In my coaching practice I coach. See here for a detailed description of the differences between psychotherapy and coaching. Every client that I see in my coaching practice is referred to this document, to ensure that they understand the difference between coaching and psychotherapy.
While I am fully trained to practice psychotherapy, and am quite good at it (according to my trainees) — I operate under a coaching model for my coaching practice – mostly because I feel as though this model is the most appropriate model for most of the people who come to me needing support for their Mormon faith crisis.
Whenever someone comes to me who I suspect would meet criteria for an official DSM disorder/diagnosis, I EAGERLY refer them to a licensed therapist to obtain therapy. I DO NOT PRACTICE PSYCHOTHERAPY IN MY COACHING PRACTICE.
Pretty much ALL of the licensed therapists in Utah who deal with faith crises clients operate primarily under a coaching model for many (if not most) of their faith crises clientele. Examples include Natasha Helfer Parker, Julie de Azevedo Hanks, Jenny Morrow, etc. To repeat, YOU DO NOT NEED A THERAPIST LICENSE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGH A Mormon FAITH CRISIS (though I firmly believe that my formal psychology training makes me a much more effective coach).
It is possible that occasionally I have in the past (or may in the future) accidentally refer(red) to myself as a psychologist. To be clear, this is NEVER because I am trying to give anyone the impression that I am licensed as a psychologist, or that I currently practice psychotherapy.

If I ever accidentally and erroneously refer to myself as a psychologist, it is only because I have received 100% of the education, training, degrees, and research experience that any licensed psychologist receives (which is all true), and in my mind and heart I continue to think of myself as a trained psychologist.

I hope this clarifies any confusion out there.

https://www.mormonstories.org/education ... -coaching/

[yellowstone123]

Thank you..!

[yellowstone123]

He has not passed the state exam. He coaches people in pain as they transition out of Mormonism. He a good guy!