Adam Steed, a former client of Jody Hildebrandt, the business partner of controversial Mormon YouTuber Ruby Franke, has come forward with disturbing allegations about Hildebrandt’s counseling methods. Steed’s decision to share his story comes in the wake of Hildebrandt and Franke’s recent arrests for alleged child abuse.
Hildebrandt, owner of Connections Classroom, a counseling and coaching business, partnered with Franke, who had previously worked as a therapist at the same facility. Steed, who sought Hildebrandt’s services for help with past trauma stemming from alleged sexual abuse during his time with the Boy Scouts of America, shared his experience in a recent interview.
According to Steed, his Mormon Bishop suggested he and his wife seek counseling from Hildebrandt. At the time, Steed had just finalized a settlement with the Boy Scouts of America and was experiencing marital stress. Seeking normalcy and hoping to move past the trauma, Steed agreed to participate in group therapy sessions led by Hildebrandt.
Initially, Steed described the sessions as “light-hearted and fun,” likening them to a “PG movie.” Hildebrandt, he recalled, possessed a charismatic personality, engaging the group with anecdotes and principles about “delusion, denial, and codependency.” However, Steed claims that the dynamic shifted drastically when Hildebrandt separated the couples into gender-specific groups.
Steed alleges that it was during these segregated sessions that “really bad things began to happen.” He described Hildebrandt’s approach as controlling and manipulative, claiming that she discouraged clients from seeking therapy elsewhere. He recounted an instance where Hildebrandt equated looking at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to pornography, labeling it as an addiction.
When Steed expressed his discomfort and attempted to leave the therapy group, he claims Hildebrandt retaliated by conspiring with his then-wife. He alleges that Hildebrandt instructed his wife to accuse him of sexual abuse against their child. Steed believes that Hildebrandt used similar tactics with other clients, coercing them into making false accusations to protect her own interests.
Steed’s account aligns with a previous suspension of Hildebrandt’s license in 2012. Documents from the state of Utah reveal that Hildebrandt admitted to discussing a client’s clinical diagnosis without consent, sharing sensitive information with clergy, therapists, and university administrators. Although her license has since been reinstated, Steed’s testimony raises serious concerns about Hildebrandt’s ethical conduct and counseling practices.
In light of Hildebrandt’s recent arrest alongside Ruby Franke, Steed believes that his story sheds light on a pattern of manipulation and potential abuse. He encourages other potential victims to come forward, emphasizing that they are not alone and that sharing their stories can help bring an end to the cycle of manipulation.
