Healing Hearts: Parenting with Purpose-Support for Resilient Families, Support for Parents, Childhood Trauma Advocacy

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“Why don’t discipline or behavior systems work for my child?” “Why does my child shut down so easily?” “What is trauma-informed parenting, and how can I apply it?” — Parenting is tough, and sometimes it feels like we’re doing it all wrong. Behavior can be difficult to understand, especially in kids with trauma. Today, Sophia Mills and Amina Elsamahy sit down with psychotherapist, parenting coach, and founder of Transf...

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“My foster child’s biological parents are incarcerated; how can I guide them through this difficult time?” “My child’s guard is up after trauma, how can I help take the walls down?” “How can I help a child transition out of Department of Juvenile Justice custody?” — When a child is in DJJ custody, they’re locked up, isolated, and scared. They aren’t just going through legal trouble, they’re carrying trauma and shame. ...

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“How do I stop feeling like I’m failing when my child has a hard day?” “How can I balance seeking professional help with trusting my own instincts as a parent?” — We’ve already heard from Dr. Amanda Trovato, who told us about communication through behavior, the power of routine, and how everyone involved in a child’s life is a caregiver. Today, in the second part of Benoit Harpey’s interview with Dr. Amanda Trovato, c...

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“How can I help my child with emotional regulation?” “Is my child’s behavior a sign of something more?” “Who can help me as I parent a child with developmental differences?” — As parents, our children’s behavior can be frustrating and disheartening. But what if that behavior is unspoken communication? Benoit Harpey discusses this and more with Dr. Amanda Trovato, clinical psychologist at the ELS for Autism Foundation ...

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“I’m struggling as I parent my foster kids, I feel at a loss and overwhelmed.” “I feel all alone, how can I build a support system?” “Am I being the parent my kid needs me to be?” — We heard from Josie Mae Wells in part one of this series two weeks ago, when we discussed her story, vocational development, and community support system. If you missed that one, be sure to check it out! Today, we hear part two of Benoit H...

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“How can I support my child who has developmental delays?” “What role does community play in foster care success?” “How can I find support for my family as we foster children?” — There are hundreds of challenges that parents, especially those raising foster children or vulnerable children face. Thankfully, there’s a solution to every challenge and today, Benoit Harpey sits down with Josie Mae Wells, Public Relations C...

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“I feel overwhelmed and unsupported as a parent.” “Is prioritizing me time selfish?” “How can I break the cycles of trauma and pain in my family?” — As parents, we can often feel torn between caring for our children and caring for ourselves. Both are crucial, and if you don’t balance both, you’ll feel overwhelmed, helpless, and crushed by an unbearable weight. Thankfully, that balance isn’t hard to find, it just takes...

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“Is there a secret to curing ADHD?” “How can we better support our children through their challenges?” “What am I doing wrong, why isn’t my kid listening?” — ADHD, OCD, ADD. They’re all terms used to define your children as neurodivergent, but often, these occur due to poor lifestyle habits and can easily be resolved. Today, Benoit Harpey sits down with Randall Strain, Air Force veteran and accidental author of “Grump...

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“My family and my career are both growing, and I’m having trouble balancing the two.” “Am I messing up my kid’s life by working too much?” “How can I regain time with my family, despite the amount of time I need to spend working?” — Work-life balance. A true struggle, especially when you’ve recently become a parent, and you need to reassess your priorities. You’re not alone in your struggles; in fact, today Sophia Mil...

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“How do I build trust with a child who’s learned not to trust adults?” “What is my child’s behavior trying to communicate?” “Am I seeing my child’s pain and fear, or just their actions?” — Parenting is hard, parenting foster youth is even harder. Sometimes it feels like they just won’t trust you, that they block you out and don’t listen to what you say. Sometimes they’re even creating roadblocks for themselves. So, as...

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“I feel torn between my job and my family every day.” “Guilt eats at me when I miss school events or family time.” “Even when I’m home, I’m not truly present.” — Sometimes, it feels like a work-life balance as a parent who’s working a full-time job is out of reach. It feels as if you’re trying to provide for your children, to give them a great life, and in turn you have to sacrifice family time. If that’s you, don’t w...

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“How can I help my children with their trauma, anxiety, and emotional struggles?” “Why do my children struggle so much with self-love, and how can I help them through it?” “How can I help regulate my child’s anxiety?” — Emotions are perhaps some of the most powerful things in the world. To thrive emotionally, you must learn how to control your emotions and use them to help you get through anything life throws at you. ...

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“How can I help my children with their trauma, anxiety, and emotional struggles?” “Why do my children struggle so much with self-love, and how can I help them through it?” “How can I help regulate my child’s anxiety?” — Emotions are perhaps some of the most powerful things in the world. To thrive emotionally, you must learn how to control your emotions and use them to help you get through anything life throws at you. ...

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“How can I tell if a child needs legal help?” “Who speaks up for children who can’t speak for themselves?” “What happens when the system fails a child?” – Sadly, the foster care and legal systems are imperfect. Both have countless faults and could be improved a million times over, and yet the kids who are unwillingly thrown around and abused in all of it often cannot speak up for themselves. Thankfully, today Rylie He...

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“How can I tell if a child needs legal help?” “Who speaks up for children who can’t speak for themselves?” “What happens when the system fails a child?” – Sadly, the foster care and legal systems are imperfect. Both have countless faults and could be improved a million times over, and yet the kids who are unwillingly thrown around and abused in all of it often cannot speak up for themselves. Thankfully, today Rylie He...

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“Is my teen using drugs?” “How can I talk to my teen about drugs and alcohol without facing a wall?” “Is there a secret to protecting my teen from peer pressure?” — Do you feel helpless watching your teens make choices that could have lasting consequences? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. In our Heart to Heart today, Tonya tells us how we can address risky behaviors such as substance abuse and sexual activity in our tee...

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“Can music help my children heal from trauma?” “Are there any good alternatives to talk therapy?” “We’ve tried so much, but nothing seems to stick. What’s next?” — When a child’s behavior and tendencies of crossing the line keep escalating, what are you supposed to do? Many parents must decide the next step to take to reconnect and end their child’s bad behavior, which can oftentimes feel overwhelming. The wrong choic...

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“Can music help my children heal from trauma?” “Are there any good alternatives to talk therapy?” “We’ve tried so much, but nothing seems to stick. What’s next?” — When a child’s behavior and tendencies of crossing the line keep escalating, what are you supposed to do? Many parents must decide the next step to take to reconnect and end their child’s bad behavior, which can oftentimes feel overwhelming. The wrong choic...

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“How do I protect my child from online hate and cyberbullying?” “My child seems different lately—how do I know if they’re being bullied?” “Our family feels helpless—how do we support each other through this?” - In this modern age, bullying isn’t just in school anymore. We often bring it home with us on our phones; through social media and the internet. Today, Tonya tells the story of Ava, a talented young artist, whos...