Episodes

Ever wonder if your trauma means you're destined to parent imperfectly? In today's episode, Theraplay expert Dafna Lender shares how all parents mess up - and that's actually okay! As a clinical psychologist and post-traumatic parent myself, I was fascinated by Dafna's perspective on how we can provide healthy childhoods despite our own wounds. She compassionately explains why parents with trauma histories often experience such crushing self-doubt and offers practical ways to rebuild connection...

What if the way we parent is shaped more by culture than we realize? Multicultural parenting offers a fresh perspective on how families around the world build community and raise children. In today's episode, I sit down with Marina Lopes, a Brazilian American journalist and author of "Please Yell At My Kids," to explore how cultural traditions influence parenting decisions and what we can learn from them. We discuss the challenges American parents face, often raising children without the suppor...

What role does emotional regulation play in post-traumatic parenting, and how can it shape the way we connect with our kids? In today's episode, I sit down with Dajana Yoakley, a peaceful and playful parenting coach, to explore how neuroscience, mindfulness, and self-compassion can guide us through the challenges of raising children. Dajana shares her personal journey from corporate leadership to parenting, offering stories about navigating toddler tantrums, pre-teen autonomy, and everything in ...

What does raising strong-willed children really look like when life throws unexpected challenges your way? In today's episode, I sit down with Sonali Vongchusiri, a passionate advocate for parenting with humor and compassion, to explore how we can connect with our kids while honoring their unique needs—and our own. Sonali shares her personal experiences of parenting while navigating life with legal blindness and albinism, offering a fresh perspective on balancing visible and invisible challenges...

Are you feeling the weight of parental burnout and looking for relief? Parental burnout is a reality many of us face, but what if there were a way to navigate it with mindfulness and compassion? In today's episode, I sit down with Sally Arnold, a renowned mindfulness educator and parenting coach, to explore how small, practical mindfulness practices can make a significant difference in our lives as parents. We'll dive into the importance of community support and self-compassion, and how these e...

Have you ever wondered how EMDR therapy can change the way we process trauma? Join me in today's episode as I sit down with Dr. Deborah Korn, a leading expert in EMDR, to explore the profound impact this therapy can have on healing traumatic memories. Together, we'll dive into the intricacies of how traumatic experiences get locked in our nervous system and how EMDR therapy helps in reprocessing these memories to reduce distress and foster healing. Dr. Korn will share her wealth of knowledge on...

Are you ready to confront the invisible bruises that linger from your past? In today's episode, we'll talk about breaking the cycle of family trauma with my guest, Dr. Kaytee Gillis, a psychotherapist and author with a passion for working with survivors of relationship and family trauma. As a fellow advocate for trauma survivors, Kaytee will share her journey and expertise in helping individuals heal from the scars of psychological abuse. We'll discuss the importance of acknowledging the trauma...

Welcome back to another episode of the Post Traumatic Podcast! For today's episode, I invited another special guest, Sarah Hoover—the author of the book Motherload, who will share her raw and honest birth trauma story and how it redefined her motherhood journey. We'll talk about the unspoken challenges of postpartum depression and the societal pressures that often leave new mothers feeling isolated. Sarah will open up about her personal struggles, revealing the vulnerability and courage it took...

Are you ready to discover the secrets to building resilience in children? For today's episode, I invited Dr. Tovah Klein, a renowned psychologist and author, who shares her expertise on nurturing resilience in kids. We will explore the five foundational pillars that support resilience and discuss how parents can help their children navigate life's uncertainties. Dr. Klein offers thoughtful perspectives on managing emotions, understanding the impact of our own trauma on parenting, and finding th...

How can the Hand in Hand Parenting approach transform your relationship with your child? In today's episode, we explore this question with Emily Murray, a certified Hand in Hand Parenting instructor. You'll discover how this approach emphasizes building strong connections through five essential tools that can reshape how you interact with your children. Emily shares her personal experiences and insights into how understanding emotional triggers can lead to more meaningful parenting moments. We'...

Are you curious about developing friendship skills in kids? Join me in today's episode as I explore this vital topic with Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a renowned psychologist and author. We'll dive into the common myths surrounding children's self-esteem and why these misconceptions might be holding them back. You'll discover how focusing on connection, competence, and choice can help your child develop a healthy sense of self and navigate social challenges with confidence. We'll also tackle the c...

Are you curious about art therapy and how it could help you and your children process trauma? In today's episode, I sit down with Leah Guzman, an art therapist, artist, and author, to explore the profound impact of art therapy on emotional healing. We'll dive into how art can serve as a powerful tool for expressing emotions that words often fail to capture. Leah shares her unique techniques, like using colors to convey feelings and creating art journals, which can be particularly beneficial for...

Are you ready to transform your parenting approach with conscious communication? In today's episode, we're diving into the world of conscious communication with our children in a way that fosters respect, understanding, and emotional growth. Joined by Lori Petro, founder of Teach Through Love, we explore the profound impact of our words and how they shape our children's lives. You'll discover the power of shifting from punitive to empathetic language and learn practical strategies to connect wit...

Are you navigating the rollercoaster of matrescence and feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone! Dive into today's conversation with Dr. Nikki Pensack, author of "Rattled," where we peel back the layers of becoming a new parent, discussing why this transformation is a normative trauma, regardless of your background or education. You'll discover how your brain's incredible ability for self-directed neuroplasticity during motherhood can be your ally in achieving post-traumatic growth. Plus, you'll ...

Are you a post-traumatic parent struggling to navigate the complexities of relational aggression and bullying? Tune in to today's episode where we'll dive into the world of relational aggression with Rosalind Wiseman, the author behind "Queen Bees and Wannabes" – the book that sparked the hit movie "Mean Girls." You'll discover how to empower your children and yourself to rise above bullying, maintain dignity, and foster respect in the face of life's challenges. We'll explore the invisible rule...

Healing from childhood trauma is at the heart of today's podcast episode, where I sit down with Brandi Cox, author of "In Better Hands: An Appalachian Memoir of Healing and Grace." Brandi's raw and inspiring narrative, released just this year, offers a beacon of hope to anyone navigating the aftermath of a turbulent past. As a debut author, she shares her compelling desire to use her story as a catalyst for change, providing insight into the possibility of breaking free from the chains of gener...

Welcome to a very special episode of the Post Traumatic Parenting podcast! I'm so excited about today's episode because I had the chance to sit down with Kimberly Shannon Murphy, an incredible stuntwoman and gifted author of the book Glimmer. In our conversation, we dove deep into the profound impact of generational trauma and post-traumatic parenting. Kimberly opened up about her personal journey of overcoming incest and how this experience shaped her life and approach to motherhood. This epis...

Are you navigating the challenging waters of post-traumatic parenting of middle school children? Today, I sit down with Nik Bowers, a former middle school principal and fellow post-traumatic parent. We dive deep into our personal experiences of overcoming trauma and how it has shaped our approach to parenting. We discuss the importance of being 'cycle breakers'—striving to provide our children with healthier childhoods than we had. Nik shares her powerful story of surviving child sexual abuse a...

Welcome to another guest episode of Post Traumatic Parenting! In today's episode, we'll be diving deep into the complexities of navigating toxic relationships with a nationally recognized expert clinical psychologist - Dr. Sherrie Campbell. Dr. Campbell shares her personal journey of growing up in a toxic environment and how she broke free from the cycle of abuse. We discuss the importance of understanding family dynamics and setting boundaries to protect not only yourself but also your childre...

Welcome to another episode of the Post Traumatic Parenting podcast! Today's episode is extra special because I'm joined by Lynn Greenberg, co-author of the book "Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure". This episode is being released in October to honor Dyslexia Awareness Month, so let's celebrate by discussing how post-traumatic parents can better support their children with dyslexia in understanding and embracing their diagnosis. If you're a loyal listener of the Post Traumatic Par...

In today's podcast episode, we will address the concerns of post-traumatic parents who may feel a sense of sadness as they learn about cycle-breaking and attachment theory. They wonder how their own attachment experiences may have impacted their children. However, we will debunk the myth that secure attachment is beyond the reach of post-traumatic parents. Instead, we will focus on how we can work towards repairing attachment, even if it feels challenging. Throughout this episode, we will exami...

Are you a parent who has experienced trauma and is now raising a neurodiverse child? Have you ever wondered how to navigate the challenges and joys that come with it? In today's podcast episode, we discuss how to overcome the challenges of parenting a neurodiverse child while addressing your own trauma with my special guest, Dayna Abraham. Dayna is a parenting educator and author of the book "Calm the Chaos." She shares her personal journey as a parent of a neurodiverse child and how she discov...

Welcome back to another episode of the Post-Traumatic Parenting podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Brie Turns-Coe, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and together we discuss how to parent the child you have, not the child you were, and how to provide your children with a healthy childhood. Dr. Brie Turns-Coe emphasizes the importance of recognizing the unique needs of each child rather than parenting based on our own childhood experiences or the opposite of them. We also delve i...

Tune in to today's episode to explore the topic of shame in parenting, healing low self-worth, and how to provide children with a shame-free childhood. My special guest, Maggie Nick, founder of Parenting with Perspectacles, shares her inspiring story of breaking the cycle of shame in parenting and together, we discuss the importance of breaking these cycles to ensure our children grow up feeling loved and worthy. We also talk about the transformative power of rejecting shame, fear, intimidation,...