Marilee Whiting Woodfield
Navigating Relationships Through Differences in Religious Belief & Practices
Marilee Whiting Woodfield is a therapist, and educator with a deep interest in relationships across the lifespan. In addition to her counseling practice, she enjoys teaching about families and relationships. Formerly at BYU-I, and currently at the University of North Texas, Marilee finds that teaching about families and relationships is “sacred space” as families, parents and marriages are foundational to human physical, emotional and spiritual development.
In her clinical and educational work, Marilee focuses on helping individuals and couples navigate challenging relationship issues. Typical counseling topics include rebuilding trust after major ruptures in the relationship such as loss of faith, and after affairs and betrayal, restructuring relationships through lifespan changes such as infertility, parenthood, empty nesting and retirement, as well as managing conflict and communication struggles.
Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, she is passionate about helping individuals, couples and families learn skills and gain insights to heal relationships.
Marilee has been married for more than 3 decades, mom to four ‘grown and flown’ kids and “RaRa" to 5 adorable and amazing grandchildren. When not at work, Marilee enjoys pickleball, paddleboarding, home renovation, travel and spending time with friends and family. Her motto in life is ‘try everything once, and the fun things twice’.
Find Marilee:
social media: @betteratrelationships
website: betteratrelationships.com
About this class
Over the past generation, the number of faithful LDS members who have disaffiliated with the practice and belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has seen a significant increase. Commonly referred to as a “faith crisis”, in the context of LDS doctrine and culture, a change in belief and practice of religious participation often causes significant distress for the individuals who are no longer practicing as a member of the LDS faith, and for their friends and family members who remain in the faith. “How do we navigate the changes in the relationship when one of us no longer believes” is a question that many couples and families are asking. The purpose of this class is to provide understanding of this phenomenon, and give actionable relationship skills and guidance so that families and relationships can remain intact regardless of religious belief or practice.