Connecting Authentically with Youth | An Interview with Braeden Jensen

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Apr 26, 2025

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ANECDOTE

Seminary Teacher's Letter Technique

As a seminary teacher, Braden regularly had students share personal struggles through letters and conversations.
This approach helped build trust and created a safe environment for youth to open up authentically.

INSIGHT

Youth Emotional Struggles

Many youth struggle with emotional literacy and unhealthy distractions like pornography and excessive screen time.
Helping youth identify and manage emotions can reduce harmful coping behaviors and improve mental health.

ADVICE

Cultivate Emotional Literacy

Encourage youth to identify and express their emotions to build emotional literacy.
Guide them to replace numbing behaviors with healthy strategies aligned with their values.

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Braeden Jensen is a Mental Health Counselor and previously worked as a full-time Seminary teacher. Spending seven years in a high school classroom opened his eyes to a number of things. It changed his ability to listen and sharpened his aptitude for empathy. The more he sat with and listened to students, the more he saw and felt how many people are hurting in very real ways. At the same time, Braeden considered how therapy had helped him find hope and healing. The puzzle pieces quickly came together: "You can help more people in some tangible, substantial ways." After pursuing his Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, he recently left the classroom full-time to find more fulfillment in helping others enjoy freedom, peace, and healing. He loves seeing people overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction, and heal their relationships along the way. Braeden shares insights on connecting with youth and helping them navigate their emotions and spiritual journeys. Driven by a desire to provide deeper support, Braeden discusses his transition from teaching seminary to becoming a therapist. He emphasizes emotional literacy, authenticity, and creating safe spaces for youth to express their feelings. Braeden highlights the importance of understanding the youth psyche, addressing issues like pornography, anxiety, and depression. He advocates for integrating emotional awareness in church settings and modeling authenticity for youth, showing it's okay to express struggles and emotions openly. Braeden also discusses surrendering control, trusting in God's plan, changing prayers to invite God into our story, and continuously learning about God. Links BraedenJensen.com @braejensen on Instagram Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Transcript coming soon Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 03:57 - Braeden's Career Transition 06:45 - Creating Safe Spaces for Youth 11:45 - Understanding Youth Psyche 18:53 - Emotional Literacy 24:30 - Integrating Emotional Awareness in Church Settings 34:38 - Authenticity and Vulnerability 44:57 - Surrender and Trust in God 48:07 - Changing Prayers 50:24 - Modeling Authenticity 56:33 - Continuous Learning about God The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.