Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey – Episode 1207 Summary
Title: Therapy Whistleblower Exposes Forced Sexual Rituals at Catholic University | Naomi Epps Best
Host: Allie Beth Stuckey, Blaze Podcast Network
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 1207 of Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey, host Allie Beth Stuckey engages in a poignant and revealing conversation with Naomi Epps Best, a Masters student in Marriage and Family Counseling at Santa Clara University—a Catholic institution in California. Naomi courageously shares her harrowing experiences with disturbing sexual content embedded within her required coursework, shedding light on systemic issues within therapy education programs.
Naomi’s Background and Faith Journey
Naomi begins by introducing herself as a mom, wife, and dedicated therapy student. Her journey to Christianity was profoundly influenced by listening to Relatable, where she first encountered the gospel in 2019. This newfound faith provided her with spiritual nourishment and psychological relief from previously overwhelming anxiety and existential dread.
"[...] listening to Relatable [...] I bought a Bible, and that's the first time I had held a Bible."
— Naomi (02:39)
Encountering Disturbing Course Content
Naomi discusses her enrollment in a required course titled Human Sexuality, essential for her graduation and licensure as a marriage and family therapist in California. Upon reviewing the syllabus in Summer 2024, she was alarmed by the promotion of sadomasochistic erotica, which she found morally and ethically repugnant.
"Sadomasochism is folks getting pleasure off of inflicting pain on another person."
— Naomi (04:04)
The course required students to engage with and even produce content that Naomi equated to sexual harassment and violence, such as writing a comprehensive sexual autobiography and reading erotica that depicted non-consensual acts.
Challenging Institutional Policies and Seeking Accommodations
Naomi's objections to the course content led her to seek accommodations from the university. Initially, she requested to withdraw from the class or complete it remotely, similar to accommodations provided to Muslim students. Her pleas were met with resistance, and instead of granting her request, the administration insisted she either drop the course or face being forcibly withdrawn.
"The chair said that Muslim students had been given the accommodation to take the course remotely, but they still had to complete the comprehensive student sexual autobiography."
— Naomi (13:45)
Her attempts to voice her concerns culminated in writing an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, bringing public attention to the unethical practices within the course.
Facing Professional Repercussions and Public Exposure
Following the publication of her op-ed on June 7th, Naomi faced severe backlash from her peers and supervisors. She was summoned to a "struggle meeting" where colleagues labeled her as a threat to the profession. Instead of receiving support, Naomi encountered character attacks and was ultimately dismissed from her internship position at a nonprofit organization.
"Instead of compassion, understanding nothing, I'm harmful by saying that."
— Naomi (37:05)
Her dismissal highlighted a broader issue of ideological capture within the field of therapy, where dissenting voices are marginalized or silenced to maintain prevailing progressive agendas.
Institutional Defenses and Naomi’s Refutation
Santa Clara University responded to Naomi’s allegations by asserting that the course met state licensure requirements and dismissed her claims as exaggerated. They offered alternative pathways to fulfill the coursework, such as independent studies or transferring credits to other institutions. Naomi refuted these claims, emphasizing that the nature of the assignments—like the sexual autobiography—was inherently coercive and violated ethical standards.
"But I was asked to complete an 8 to 10 page comprehensive sexual autobiography for a grade."
— Naomi (52:17)
Her insistence on the unethical nature of the coursework underscores the tension between institutional policies and individual moral convictions.
Broader Implications for the Therapy Profession
Naomi's experience is not isolated. She references ongoing concerns about ideological conformity within therapy accreditation bodies like CACREP, which she describes as being ideologically captured and prioritizing financial incentives over ethical education. This systemic issue threatens the integrity of mental health professions, potentially compromising the quality of care provided to clients.
"This field is actually on the brink of collapse and it is happening slowly and then all at once."
— Naomi (57:00)
Support and Moving Forward
Despite the immense challenges, Naomi remains steadfast in her mission to advocate for ethical reforms within therapy education. She continues her studies with support from her family and seeks to raise awareness through writing and public speaking, urging others within the profession to uphold integrity and critical thinking.
"People are allowed to exist with diverse worldviews. It's time to stand up for our right to think critically."
— Naomi (60:48)
Allie Beth Stuckey provides unwavering support throughout the episode, encouraging Naomi and listeners to rally behind her cause and share her message widely.
Conclusion
Episode 1207 serves as a critical exposé on the ethical failings within therapy education at Santa Clara University, highlighting broader systemic issues that may affect mental health professions nationwide. Naomi Epps Best's bravery in speaking out not only illuminates personal and institutional misconduct but also calls for a collective reassessment of the values and practices that underpin therapeutic training programs.
Notable Quotes:
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"Every individual is made in the image of God." — Naomi (07:50)
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"It's shocking. And I wrote a response to, to this, to their PR statement [...] And they have such disrespect for their fellows and their alumni." — Naomi (45:20)
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"This is insane. It needs to be fixed." — Naomi (56:03)
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"You don't have to submit. You don't have to submit. It's a choice that you are making." — Allie Beth Stuckey (42:37)
This episode not only sheds light on urgent issues within a specific academic program but also serves as a rallying cry for integrity, ethical standards, and the importance of diverse worldviews in shaping effective and compassionate therapists.