161: How is “Differentiation” a Useful Concept?

Michelle Washburn-Busk and Jimmy Bridges join Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They are both current PhD candidate students at Kansas State, working towards the Marriage and Family Therapy program.

The episode starts with Natasha sharing her background with differentiation, her education on it and how her view of it has evolved. Michelle and Jimmy talk about building off of Ryan and Deci’s “Self-Determination Theory”. They also discuss differentiation in sexuality among other things.

Michelle can be reached at: mbusk@andrewsin.net or mbusk@ksu.edu

Or at Andrews Associates in Manhattan, KS

Jimmy can be reached at jamesgb@ksu.edu. He is also a provider at Symmetry Solutions. You can find out more about him here: https://www.symmetrysols.com/jimmybridges

Some references from the episode:

“Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness” by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci

The Olson Circumplex Model

“Differentiation of Self: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives” by Peter Titelman

“Passionate Marriage” by David Schnarch

And, Michelle’s Spirit Animals:

Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com

Sue Monk Kidd: https://suemonkkidd.com

To help Mormon Mental Health be going past 2018, please consider donating at mormonmentalhealth.org.

Natasha Helfer Parker runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions and writes at The Mormon Therapist for Patheos: Hosting the Conversation of Faith. She also hosts the popular podcasts, Mormon Mental Health & Mormon Sex Info and creates the sex educational resource, Sex Talk with Natasha.

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