A Couple's Guide to Faith Crisis & Expansion

Are you or your partner feeling a big shift when it comes to religious belief? Are you struggling to know how to talk about it? You are not alone!

Valerie offers this amazing 3-class intensive which dives deep into the complications a couple faces when one partner is going through a shift in their faith experience. This course focuses on how to establish safety with one another when speaking about your deeply held feelings and concerns, how to speak and listen to one another’s experiences more openly and fearlessly, and how come out the better for it.

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Class 01: Weds April 3 8:30p.m. CST

Class 02: Weds May 8 8:30 p.m. CST

Class 03: Weds June 5 8:30 p.m. CST

ALL SESSIONS are recorded and will be available in the Class Library post live session

SUPPORT GROUPS

Join A Support Group

Do you feel pretty alone in your faith expansion journey and have you found the Latter Day Struggles Podcast to be a lifeline? Join one of Valerie’s support groups! In these groups you will meet others on this journey and benefit from 4 hours a month of Valerie’s guidance, instruction, coaching, and friendship.

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ONLINE COURSES — NOW AVAILABLE!

Learn from Valerie

Are you part of the Latter Day Struggles group and interested in exploring the topics Valerie discusses in her support and growth groups on a more personal level?

Or perhaps you prefer working through the material solo, at a pace that suits you, rather than in a group setting?

Consider buying a course! You’ll get access to video lessons, reflective questions, journal prompts, and the chance to learn and grow in your own time and way.

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INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

1:1 Consultations

Are you in need of some 1:1 time with Valerie to talk about some specifics of your faith expansion journey? Valerie offers time-limited individual or couples consultations to help you feel peace, clarity, and some confidence in your unique struggles. Sign up now!

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INTERESTED IN LONGER-TERM THERAPY/COACHING?

Meet our faith expansion therapy team!

Do you desire personal long-term therapy/coaching on issues including but not limited to faith expansion?

We have a team of professional colleagues who can help you find healing.

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Hi, I’m Valerie!

I'm a therapist, educator, podcaster, learner, lover of truth, healing, laugher, movement, and people!

Hi there! You likely came here because you are interested in addressing ideas within the LDS faith tradition that many people struggle with but are too afraid to talk about. I address challenging and important topics that affect members of the LDS faith. I firmly but respectfully question anything that seems to cause shame, suffering, and struggle for individuals, couples and families. My faith expansion support groups are a place for openness, dialogue, and for those interested in developing spiritual and psychological agency.

Work with me!

Testimonials

"We have been participating in a Latter-Day Struggles small group for the past 4 months and it has been amazing! Valerie has helped us work through so many of our struggles and is teaching us so many valuable skills. Having a small community that feels safe has been so validating. The group has provided not only great validation for our thoughts and feelings, but has been a very safe and positive forum to share and listen in a way that allows us to accept ourselves and others wherever we may be on our spiritual journeys. It has been a life-changing experience for us."

—Terri and Dan

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“The growth and healing I have experienced in working with Valerie have been immense. In the past, it would have been difficult to put into words and express my learning and gratitude, but Valerie has helped me put words to what I always wondered, was feeling, but was afraid or felt wrong to explore. I started listening to the Latter-Day Struggles podcast in June of 2022[...] This prompted me to join one of the small groups with Valerie. In doing this group work with Valerie, she has helped me feel permission to be me, to be enough, and feel loved just like I am. She has helped me discover my true self and what it means to have a voice. I have come to realize that I am not alone in my thoughts and views, that there is a growing tide of my brother and sisters who desire healthy change and true community. She has helped me deconstruct and begin to reconstruct my faith in a healthier perspective, one in which I employ intention and personal choice. I choose. I don’t abdicate my spiritual growth responsibility anymore; I actively participate and direct my wonderings and inspiration. I have more genuinely sought a relationship with my Heavenly Parents than ever before and look forward to continued growth. Thank you, Valerie!”

—David H.

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“Valerie’s online groups have been life changing. Navigating a faith transition was tough to begin with and became even more difficult as we found ourselves on different pages from each other. Relationships with certain orthodox family members became difficult as well. The tools we’ve learned and gained from this group and from the Latter Day Struggles Podcast have been invaluable as we’ve navigated this journey together.“

—Ciera B.

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“I came into Valerie's group wanting to get support in navigating my church attendance and spiritual center. Having LGBTQ children as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is exhausting. Anyone who is experiencing faith expansion knows how lonely it can be, How I can be perfectly content and even hopeful one day, and angry and in despair the next. My group gets it. The weekly meetings with Valerie provide framework and guidance to the otherwise very chaotic process.”

—Evelyn H.

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“Words can't express how grateful I am to be a part of Val's Latter Day Struggles small group therapy class! It has been an absolute life saver for me. Growing up, I lost my voice. I learned to follow the rules, stay in the background and value the voice of others (especially institutional leaders) over my own. A couple of years ago, I found that my silence was costing me my mental health. I have been an "all in" member of the church all my life. And I love, treasure and value that membership. But I lost myself to the extent that I earnestly felt I was going to suffocate in the silence. To find a place where I could openly and honestly express my thoughts, feelings, misgivings and doubts without fear of judgment has been a Godsend to me. Listening to the experiences and stories of others has been invaluable on this journey. Val is wonderful! She makes everyone feel valued, heard and loved. Through this group, I am learning to reclaim my personal authority. And honestly, this journey back to myself has been such a joy! If you are on the fence about joining, just jump in! You will not regret it!”

—Melissa

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“After discovering the podcast, “Latter Day Struggles”, I was excited to learn about and join one of the small groups that Valerie is offering. I have benefited greatly from being part of a faith expansion group, comprised of thoughtful, inquisitive people, sharing insights and experiences together. Valerie leads us weekly in helpful discussions and exercises, which promote personal growth and the reclaiming of personal authority. We discuss faith development, triumphs we’ve experienced, and our challenges and struggles. Through this association, we grow in empathy for, and understanding of one another, regardless of where any member of the group may be in their individual faith journey. Valerie’s faith expansion groups foster healing from grief and trauma and provide a safe and caring environment in which group members are comfortable being open and vulnerable, regarding their faith— and their questions, concerns, and doubts. I am fortunate to have found a group such as this. Thank you Valerie.”

—Kyra D.

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“Before joining our LDStruggles small group, I was feeling very anxious about my personal faith spiral. I called it a spiral because it genuinely felt like I was tumbling with a tangled parachute that just couldn’t deploy. Over the past few months, I have been able to embrace my experience as a true and legitimate faith journey. It has been indescribably wonderful to meet with others on journeys of their own, and to have a safe place to learn and heal I’m so thankful that Valerie Hamaker heard, and headed the call to make this possible for all of us. Nathan Hamaker’s perspectives add so much to our discussions as well. I look forward to continuing my journey in my small group. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

—Leo S.

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“The biggest impact Valerie's group sessions have had on me has been the ability to develop a new vocabulary which helps me process my thoughts and share those thoughts with others. I'm finding more personal authority in my relationship with God and not relying on others to give/take permission to me for that relationship. It feels like such a safe space to share my thoughts and feelings and it is so comforting to know I'm not the only one with questions, but it's not just about sharing. Valerie is teaching us a framework where we can process our feelings in a healthy way. Strategies that can apply for all kinds of situations - not just church related. I find that I'm not as quick to ‘take offense’, but am getting to a point where I can give others grace while holding onto myself.“

—Becki S.

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“The Latter-Day Struggles podcast and small groups are a game-changer. I listened to Episode 48 (Official LDS Faith Crisis Report Analysis - Part I) first and was so amazed at Valerie’s analysis and insights that I binge listened the remaining podcasts. In every episode you can feel Valerie’s passion, love and commitment to helping people. I joined a small group in 2022 as I was desperately seeking help to reconcile the dissonance with my lived experience and church doctrine. Valerie has taught me how to be a complex thinker and live with ambiguity and uncertainty. I now have a deeper relation with God and have so much more peace and happiness in my life. I highly recommend the podcasts and small groups for everyone that is in, out or around the LDS church.”

—Mike

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Valerie's Book Shelf:

Now this is a “shelf” we can support loading up! Are you curious about all those books Valerie is always talking about? Here is a conclusive list of the books that she has read and/or listened to in the past many years. Please scroll and order feel free to order on Amazon via this website!

What's on the shelf?