Podcast Description:
Natasha Helfer Parker invites Dr. Ricky Siegel and his brother Larry Siegel back to the show to discuss some of the problematic messaging that can be found in mainstream pornography — specifically when in the context of adolescent viewers. Since Natasha takes a strong position against the “porn addiction” treatment approach, she often gets accused of being “pro-porn” or minimizing the negative effects pornography can have. This interview is a rich dialogue about the discussion we should be having with ourselves (as parents, educators and ecclesiastical leaders) and more importantly, with adolescents themselves in attempts at comprehensive sexual education that stay away from simplistic “this is bad – this is good” types of scenarios, and instead develop a rich sense of personal values, integrity and healthy sexual development.
Dr. Richard M. Siegel, PhD, LMHC, CST is a Florida-licensed Mental Health Counselor, Director of the Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, a Florida Board Certified Sex Therapist and Qualified Supervisor, and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, Supervisor of Sex Therapy, and Provider of Continuing Education. He has a rich experiential background, including over 20 years as a sexuality educator and fifteen years in private sex therapy practice. In addition to his private practice in Boca Raton, Florida, Mr. Siegel is an adjunct faculty member at Palm Beach State College and enjoys a national reputation as a respected trainer, supervisor and conference presenter.
Lawrence Siegel, MA, CSE is a Clinical Sexologist and sexuality education consultant. He is the founder and serves on the Board of Directors of Sage Institute for Family Development, a non-profit training and counseling center in Florida. Larry sits on the faculties of several colleges, universities and training institutions, and is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of sexuality, sexual development, sexual pharmacology, and medical sexology.
Resources mentioned during podcast:
Virtue Makes You Beautiful parody that was mentioned as problematic modesty rhetoric
Ethical Porn for Dicks by Dr. David Ley
Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
The Guide to Getting it On by Paul Joannides and Youtube Channel
Thank you to Jeff Meyers for the intro and Peter & Mary Danzig of Otter Creek Duo for the concluding bumper music.
Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS can be reached at natashaparker.org and runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex Info Podcasts, is the current past president of the Mormon Mental Health Association and runs a sex education program, Sex Talk with Natasha. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS/Mormon clientele.