By Ethan Fausett
Recently Julie Hanks, a well known Latter-day Saint life coach and therapist, posted an Instagram story asking her fans to, “email a letter of support that [she] can forward to [her] leaders.”
Online critics of Hanks wondered if she was facing a potential disciplinary council for leading people out of the Church through her social media and paid life-coaching classes. A screenshot from the “Latter-day Lobsters” Facebook group even appeared to show someone was gathering emails of people who experience “damage” from what “Julie Hanks has done in their family or ward.” These emails were apparently going to be forwarded to Hanks’ leaders. Ward Radio News has been unable to find this original post and the email linked in the post appears not to exist.
In response to the questions on social media, Dr. Hanks posted an additional Instagram story in which she clarified that the initial request was, "not because of a disciplinary council."
Ward Radio News asked Julie Hanks a few questions about these recent controversies. The following are her responses:
“Q: The [Instagram] story you posted wasn't necessarily clear on what the letters [of support] you [solicited] were for. I think it's likely that … some assumptions [were made]. Could you clarify what the letters of support are for?
A: My local leaders have recently reached out … to "check in," which has historically meant they had received complaint emails. My bishop and stake president are new so I wanted to prepare for the meeting with positive emails to counterbalance any complaint emails they may have received from Deznat, Jacob Hansen, etc. The invitation on my Instagram stories to send emails of support this past weekend was a proactive decision on my part so I could present leaders with examples of people who have been helped by my work … I apologize that that wasn't clear in my Instagram story and I can see how people could have easily assumed that I was facing something like that.
Q: How would you respond to critics who say your work assists people in leaving the Church?
A: The claim that my work is centered around assisting people in leaving the Church is absolutely false… I have never encouraged anyone to leave the Church. One aspect of my work, however, is assisting people who are going through the emotional upheaval and relational fallout because of a faith transition.
… No one blames mechanics for broken down cars or plumbers for broken pipes. Why am I blamed for helping people who are in pain because of a faith crisis? At my therapist clinics in Utah, we work with people going through faith transitions every single day. Faith crises often leave people feeling isolated, alone, and in need of emotional health tools and relationship skills. I believe people in faith crises are just as deserving as anyone else of respect, love, support, and psychologically healthy tools.
Q: What would you want to clarify about criticisms of your work?
A: A recent video critiquing my online offerings focused only on courses or groups designed for people experiencing faith crisis. While working with faith transitions is one of my specialty areas, what the video failed to mention is all of my other offerings, including a Q&A series called "Choosing to stay in the LDS Church?: How to do so in a psychologically healthy way." That offering was left out of the video because it doesn't fit the narrative that "she's trying to lead people out of the Church" that people that critics like to perpetuate. I offer other courses like Creating Partnership Families, Grieving and Healing Unmet Childhood Needs, and Rediscovering Yourself While Mothering…
… I am creating content for people who are in pain, for a variety of reasons, some of those reasons relating to their Church experiences… My vision is for Latter-day Saints across the spectrum to have happy, healthy thriving lives, meaningful connections with each other by offering new ways to think and for every person to know that they are important and loved.”
Responses from those mentioned by Dr. Hanks:
In Dr. Hanks comments she referenced Jacob Hansen of Thoughtful Faith directly, and Rachel from Woman & Priesthood indirectly. We gave them the chance to respond:
Jacob Hansen said, "What's a Deznat? Also I only once several years ago sent her stake president a copy of one of my videos just so he was aware of her content that clearly and intentionally contradicted the apostles and first presidency. I never asked her leaders to do anything."
Rachel from Woman & Priesthood responded, “Hanks course, ‘Choosing to stay in the LDS Church?: How to do so in a psychologically healthy way’ sounds oddly familiar…” continuing, “That is because it is … a cut and paste job from her first course with Valarie Hammaker entitled, ‘How to STEP AWAY from the church in a psychologically healthy way.’ Read the description of both courses yourself … it’s the same exact course. The content is also the same. While Hanks … wants to appear to be encouraging faith in LDS people (i.e. ‘how to stay’) it is merely a red herring.”
The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent the position of Ward Radio News. Ward Radio News is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church) and does not officially represent the Church.
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