Jodi Hildebrandt, once Utah’s go-to LDS therapist, built a parenting empire while keeping her own family life under wraps. Now, former clients and relatives say the woman who preached connection was quietly estranged from nearly everyone she loved.
> At a Glance
> – Jodi Hildebrandt was married only three years and never named her ex-husband publicly
> – Both of her adult children are estranged and refuse contact
> – Niece Jessi Hildebrandt alleges brutal abuse while living with Hildebrandt
> – Why it matters: Hildebrandt’s private family ruptures contrast with the public image that drew thousands of parents to her ConneXions program
Hildebrandt’s counseling brand thrived on certainty: rigid rules for marriages, kids, and faith. Behind the scenes, her own support system collapsed decades before her 2023 arrest for aggravated child abuse alongside Ruby Franke.
A Brief Marriage and Silent Divorce
In a resurfaced video, Hildebrandt said she wed in 1993, divorced in 1996, and felt blindsided because her LDS upbringing “had not taught me or prepared me for divorce.” The couple share two children, now adults, who detective Jessica Bate says “don’t want any contact with her.”
- Met husband while studying at BYU after a Puerto Rico mission
- Never revealed his name in public forums or podcasts
- Told clients she was “wounded inside from not feeling protection from the church”
Niece Alleges the ‘Jodi Method’ Was Abuse
Jessi Hildebrandt moved in during high school and now describes a regime of duct-tape restraints, forced haircuts, outdoor sleep in winter snow, and 12-hour isolation blocks.
> “She focused on the things that brought me the most identity and took them from me.”
> – Jessi Hildebrandt, 2023 interview with KUTV2
Jessi escaped after a year, stayed in a homeless shelter, and today works as a Berlin tattoo artist while managing complex PTSD.
Timeline of Estrangement
| Event | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | 1993 | Lasted three years |
| Divorce | 1996 | Hildebrandt blames lack of church guidance |
| Takes in niece | ~2008 | Allegations of physical and emotional abuse begin |
| Child abuse arrest | Aug 2023 | Sentenced 4-30 years; children remain estranged |
Former client Valerie Jackson recalls Hildebrandt once returning from a Thanksgiving where “everyone hated her,” prompting Jackson to question why she sought advice from someone whose own family ties were shattered.
Key Takeaways
- Hildebrandt publicly counseled thousands while privately alienated from both children and extended family
- Jessi’s allegations include tying, blindfolding, and forced outdoor exposure
- Detective confirms no contact with adult children; Hildebrandt never publicly addressed the rift
The counselor who sold perfect parenting never solved the turmoil within her own walls, leaving followers to wonder how much they never knew.
