The JOY Factor

Kitty Hovatter, Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist, returns to the Joy Factor Podcast for a deep dive into one of the most overwhelming parts of parenting a neurodivergent child — navigating the school system. Whether you're brand new to the process or just left an IEP meeting feeling lost, this episode is your cheat sheet. In this episode, we cover: What an IEP and a 504 plan actually are — and how they differ Which conditions qualify (hint: it's more than just ADHD and autism)

In this episode of The Joy Factor, Julie Hanson sits down with Kristen “Kitty” Hovatter, a Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist, Navy veteran, and mother of three neurodivergent teens. Kitty shares her personal and professional experience navigating neurodivergence in the family system and offers practical tools for parents, caregivers, and neurodivergent individuals seeking support. We discuss: How to find the right therapist for your neurodivergent child What to look for in

In this episode of The JOY Factor Podcast, Julie Hanson sits down with Marriage and Family Therapist Tiff Majette to explore the power of rewriting our stories, cultivating joy, and choosing resilience—even in the face of pain and challenge. Tiff shares her journey from aspiring FBI profiler to becoming a therapist devoted to healing families, communities, and cultures through curiosity, empathy, and narrative therapy. What You’ll Hear in This Episode How Tiff’s path led from psychology to mar

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The JOY Factor Podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to have therapist Andrea Boyd, LCSW, as our guest. Andrea shares her expertise on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals process traumatic memories, restore nervous system health, and find greater balance and healing. Tune in to learn: What EMDR is and how it works. The transformative impact EMDR can have on mental health. How EMDR helps indivi

Welcome back to the JOY Factor Podcast! In this second episode of our four-part series on using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to improve relationships, we dive into the crucial concept of Distress Tolerance. Learn how to navigate stress and conflict in your relationships without making things worse. Discover powerful skills like Radical Acceptance, self-soothing, and how to access your Wise Mind to make wise choices during difficult times. What You'll Learn: The importance of Wise Mind an

Welcome to the first episode of our 4 part series on using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for stronger relationships! In this episode, we dive into the foundational skill of mindfulness and the concept of Wise Mind. Key Points: Mindfulness: Understanding the importance of being present in the moment and how it can improve our relationships. Wise Mind: Learning to balance emotion and reason to make sound decisions in our interactions. Practical Exercises: Guided mindfulness practice and t