Utah has been thrown into a whirlwind of controversy following the arrest of YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke's business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, on child abuse charges. Alongside Franke, Hildebrandt was involved in counseling Mormon couples and families through her life coaching service, ConneXions. However, former patients are now shedding light on practices they believe were more akin to a cult than genuine counseling.
Hildebrandt's program, described by seven former patients who accessed her services between 2008 and 2019, methodically isolated individuals from their loved ones, used "truth" and "deception" to manipulate perceptions, and even reportedly shattered marriages. "She wanted everything to stay in the group. You’re not allowed to have a different opinion than her," commented Stephanie Jones, a former patient.
The revelations come amidst a shocking incident where Franke’s malnourished 10-year-old daughter and injured 12-year-old son were found in Hildebrandt's residence, leading to both women facing six counts of felony child abuse. It's essential to underline that these charges are unrelated to the allegations emerging about the ConneXions program.
ConneXions, which Hildebrandt established in 2007, provided courses on relationships and parenting, rooted in the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). A primary theme of the program is the dichotomy of "truth" and "deception." When individuals allowed their personal wants, needs, and experiences to overshadow these "truths," they were living in "distortion," according to the ConneXions course material reviewed by NBC News.
Although Franke was prominently featured alongside Hildebrandt in service videos, none of the former clients who came forward claimed to have been counseled by her.
The depth of Hildebrandt's misgivings runs deep, particularly with her focus on porn and sex addiction, especially for men. It's significant to note that "porn addiction" isn't recognized as a legitimate disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Yet, it appears Hildebrandt, formerly specializing in "porn addiction" therapy, had no qualms diagnosing men without evidence of abnormal behaviors.
Spencer Tibbets' story illustrates the profound disconnect in Hildebrandt's methods. At just 16, Tibbets, who had clandestinely obtained a phone for video games, was thrust into a men's group primarily focusing on porn addiction. Despite his lack of understanding about porn, he was exposed to disturbing conversations involving the sexual fantasies of fellow group members.
In a past transgression, Hildebrandt faced disciplinary action by Utah officials in 2012 for breaching confidentiality with one of her patients, who later turned out to be Adam Paul Steed. Following this, he had his church privileges revoked, got temporarily suspended from Brigham Young University (BYU), and underwent a divorce, all consequences of Hildebrandt's disclosures and allegations. Reflecting on the devastation, Steed lamented, "My family got destroyed. My life got destroyed."
For women like Stephanie Jones and Eliza Tibbets, Hildebrandt's diagnosis of "control addiction" seemed not only unprofessional but also mentally and emotionally detrimental. Both recounted feeling trapped, controlled, and constantly berated if they ever defied Hildebrandt's views.
Hildebrandt's professional standing took a major hit recently. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing disclosed last week that she voluntarily surrendered her mental health counseling license, although it remains active but limited. With the dark cloud of abuse allegations looming over her, Hildebrandt's future in mental health counseling looks bleak.
It remains to be seen how these events will unfold, but for now, the tale of Jodi Hildebrandt and ConneXions serves as a chilling reminder of the perils of blind trust in authority figures. As investigations continue, Utah's community will no doubt seek answers and justice for the many affected by Hildebrandt's controversial methods.
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