Your Home

for faith expansion in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Questions? CONTACT US: admin@latterdaystruggles.com

Podcast

Insights and “a-ha!” moments to help you as you grow through your faith expansion journey

Classes

Join our independent learning classes to gain guidance as you navigate faith journeys, mixed-faith marriages, and much more

Support Groups

Gain a new community and refine your emotional intelligence in a group led by Valerie

Consultation

Explore the possiblity of working with Valerie or a member of Valerie’s 1:1 therapy team

Latter Day Struggles Podcast

The Latter Day Struggles Podcast addresses beliefs and issues within the LDS faith that are challenging to talk about but vital to discuss for those trying to navigate their relationship in or around the church. Valerie and her guests invite psychological maturity, theological health, and institutional integrity.

Subscribe to the Podcast

Patriarchy

LGBTQ+

Parenting

Psych. Growth

Podcast Testimonials

As a current member of the church, I value Valerie’s thoughts, education, and supremely balanced call to love. I subscribe to her podcasts and can say this is the best therapy and thought-provoking content that is the best $10 I spend each month.
Bart Smith
If Mormon theology and psychology had a baby, it would be this podcast. Valerie and her husband take a deep dive into both and help us all understand why we think the way we do and what is a healthier way to think. It is so good. You won’t be dissapointed.
Copoke
I love the topics and insights shared in this podcast. It validates my thinking, inspires me to be more open minded, focuses on Jesus, and recognizes ways that one can find peace being a member of the church even when the doctrine/policy/culture seems paradoxical or contradictory
Kymbal J

Support Groups

Introducing our six-month support group classes, designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for individuals seeking connection and understanding as they navigate their faith journeys. These classes foster open dialogue, encouraging participants to share their experiences, challenges, and insights in a supportive community.

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Support Group Testimonials

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 dispair the next–my group gets it. The weekly meetings with Valerie provide framework and guidance to the otherwise very chaotic process.
Evelyn Hornbarger
After discovering the podcast “Latter Day Struggles”, I was excited to learn about and join one of the small groups that was offering. I have benefitted 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 experiences 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 an understanding of one another regardless of where any member of the group may be in in their individual faith journey.
Private Review
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 heeded 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 Stevens

Hi!  We’re so glad you’re here!  Welcome to the world of Latter Day Struggles!  I am Valerie, your podcast host, licensed relationship therapist, lover of trauma healing, and passionate about helping you (no matter where you are on the Latter-day Saint faith spectrum) heal from anything related to faith crisis. 

I am here to help you find words for the things you’ve been going through, to create safe, healthy, community spaces so that you don’t ever need to feel alone, shameful, sinful, bad, or less-than again due to your faith journey, and I am here to offer lots of other kinds of support on this website so that you can realize that what is happening to you means you’re “on schedule”– growing into your amazing potential. 

One of my favorite parts of this podcast gig is that my amazing husband Nathan Hamaker has turned out to be the perfect co-host!  We have never felt closer to one another in the twenty seven years of our marriage than we are now, studying, planning, and offering you our joint labor of love here on this growth promoting podcast. 

When we are not dismantling patriarchy or blowing your mind with a hundred new ways to think about spiritual concepts that bind you to your higher self and your higher powers…we can be found on the lake behind our house (skiing, kneeboarding, surfing, wakeboarding) on a river (white water rafting) on a mountain (snow skiing or crashing on a snowboard if you’re Valerie) or on a road bike (road biking :). 

We love our four kids and consider them our greatest gifts and our greatest teachers of spiritual wisdom.  Thanks for being here.  We cherish your trust every single day.  

Books I Am Reading

Version 1.0.0

Gender Equality and Reconciliation: Thirty Years of Healing the Most Ancient Wound in the Human Family 

William Keepin Ph.D. & Rev. Cynthia Brix Ph.D.

Take A Look

Christianity and the Making of the Modern Family Ruling Ideologies, Diverse Realities

Rosemary Radford Ruether

Get It Here

A Course in Miracles

Foundation for Inner Peace

Find It Here

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