Kurt Ela, Psy.D.: The Unique Role of Grandparents on Child Development | All Together #84

In this episode of All Together, host Sarah Stancombe is joined by expert Kurt Ela, Psy.D. to discuss the role of grandparents in the family, their impact on grandchildren, and their relationship with parents.

Kurt Ela, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He works with patients throughout the life cycle, with an emphasis on child and adolescent therapy as well as parenting and grandparenting. He has been awarded the Department’s Psychotherapy Supervisor of The Year Award, The Wellness Coach Recognition Award, and The William Licamele, M.D. Distinguished Seminar Teacher Award. Kurt received his BA from Amherst College and his doctorate from The George Washington University. He completed his internship at the University of Pennsylvania where he worked with pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients. In this episode, Kurt Ela, Psy.D. explains how a grandparent can take on many different roles in families - everything from someone distant, someone fun, a babysitter, to even a surrogate parent. Some grandparents struggle with distance, and this is where technology can help to ensure their involvement in the family. On the other hand, some parents may consider grandparents to be overbearing. Kurt Ela, Psy.D. advises open communication between parents and grandparents to ensure boundaries and expectations regarding caring for the grandchildren are clear. Together, Sarah and Kurt Ela, Psy.D. explore how to be better grandparents. Grandparents can be a light in the darkness when families go through hardship, especially if they foster a safe and familiar environment, where their home has structure, routine, and safe, familiar faces. By listening to what their grandchildren need and enjoy, grandparents can be a positive influence on their lives.

Connect with Kurt Ela, Psy.D. via the follow platforms: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-ela-36339289/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkurtela/ Follow Kurt Ela, Psy.D.’s work via his website: www.decadeofchildhood.com

Produced by the Family Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs.

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