Empowered to Connect Podcast

We are so excited to share a never-before-seen clip of Dr. Karyn Purvis teaching today. Our team has been on pins and needles waiting to release several new videos of Karyn, so we wanted to hop on an episode today to take the content she shares with us in the video deeper!

We've all experienced moments of over-responding as parents. How do we ensure that we aren't going to send our children further into dysregulation when conflict arises? What is the ultimate goal of parenting in moments when children are dysregulated? Dr. Karyn Purvis helps us find the answers in this clip, ETC's own Jesse Faris and Becca McKay help break down how we apply it in our daily lives in the podcast. 

To watch the video before listening to the show today, check it out here!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

Recurring guests Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum, whom you may know from their work at The Adoption Connection, are no stranger to blocked care. They joined us in episode 100 to talk Compassion Fatigue and introduce the idea of blocked care and are back today to tell us about their new book: Compassion Fatigue: Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith. Melissa and Lisa explain what blocked care is and how to reclaim compassion and hope in your parenting when it feels impossible. You can access the assessment they mention on their website here as well as checking out the adoption connection podcast and the litany of resources available there. 

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

As our good friend Robyn Gobbel shared with us back in episode 25, there really is no such thing as self regulation (without co regulation as a precursor)...so forgive us for the double meaning in the title, but today we talk about the role parents play in their child's self regulation learning process. Spoiler alert - it's a big role and it hinges on parents being fully present AND aware of how to self regulate on their own. Have no fear, though, Jesse Faris and Becca McKay joined us to talk all about that process, share some stories of triumph AND failure as well as leave with some practical steps that can help you in that process no matter where you are in it. If you've been having a tough time with meltdowns and "you're too old for this" kind of behaviors, this is your episode (and none of us are ever too old for big emotions, by the way)!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

What do I do when I meet resistance to this style of parenting? For many of us, when we make the change to parent in a more connected, attachment-centered way, it can be a jarring change to those around us. For many people, there is never a second thought about continuing in the parenting style and practices they were raised in. For lots of us, however, parenting in the style we were raised in presented major complications, especially when met with kiddos who have experienced early trauma, stress or adversity in life. 

Becca McKay and host JD Wilson sat down to talk about how to navigate the resistance many of us face in this way of parenting. We address everything from "Isn't it permissive parenting?" to "that's not how we raise our kids" to "I'm trauma informed, I watched a slideshow on trauma the other day." If you're needing a reminder of why we do things the way we do, or you just need to know how to handle the questions that come as a result, today's your episode!

Lastly - Big News! Applications to become a Cultivate Connection Facilitator CLOSE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23rd!! We are taking applications now for our May - July Facilitator training and we'd love for YOU to be a part of it. We deeply believe that this content, taught peer-to-peer, in communities, transforms those communities. Want to help nurture and build a supportive community of trauma-informed parents? Here is your chance. Head to empoweredtoconnect.org and apply NOW for our next round of Facilitator training. Training begins online in May and wraps up with 3 incredible days in Memphis, Tennessee with the ETC Team. If you, or someone you know, needs to be bringing this content to your community, apply now on our website!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

As the War in Ukraine passes the one year anniversary of its' bloody start, we sat down with 3 very special individuals who have been on the front lines of caring for the Ukrainian people.

Part 3 of our series features our friend Raya Shelashska. Raya is a Ukrainian, a PhD Student at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) and a mom working to begin bringing hope and healing to her country's people. She talks with us about life in Ukraine, what family and friends are facing in major cities like Kiev as well as small villages being targeted by Russian shells daily. Raya also shares her vision for helping bring therapeutic, trauma-informed care to families and individuals in post-war Ukraine and her thoughts on why Ukrainians are SO inherently resilient.

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

As the War in Ukraine passes the one year anniversary of its' bloody start, we sat down with 3 very special individuals who have been on the front lines of caring for the Ukrainian people.

Madison and Yuriy Perekotiy, missionaries to Ukraine, are stateside at the moment helping bring awareness to the acute needs on the ground of families and individuals in crisis. As a Ukrainian national, Yuriy explains the history of Ukraine and why its' people are so resilient. He and his wife, Madison, an American, share their stories of relief efforts in the war and why Ukrainian people are so resilient here in part 2.

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

As the War in Ukraine passes the one year anniversary of its' bloody start, we sat down with 3 very special individuals who have been on the front lines of caring for the Ukrainian people.

Madison and Yuriy Perekotiy, missionaries to Ukraine, are stateside at the moment helping bring awareness to the acute needs on the ground of families and individuals in crisis. As a Ukrainian national, Yuriy explains the history of Ukraine and why its' people are so resilient. He and his wife, Madison, an American, share their story of foster care, mission work and war relief efforts in part 1 of our series here.

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

Today we bring on two therapists we love dearly to talk about transracial adoption. Why did we bring these two therapists to talk about this topic? Glad you asked! Anteelah and Teressa currently lead a therapeutic support group for transracial adoptive parents at the Memphis Family Connection Center. As we've caught wind of what is happening in that group, we wanted to give their work and their wisdom a broader audience. 

Teressa and Anteelah talk about everything from what has been the most common themes emerging from their group, how they advocate for parents talking about race with their kids and so much more - don't miss this episode!

To learn more about Empowered to Connect, visit us on our website, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or check out all of our podcast episodes and video resources on YouTube!

Is meal time a source of constant stress in your house? Have you wondered why your kids just can't bring themselves to try a certain food or texture? This can seem small on the surface, but often we forget that eating is one of the very few activities in life that involves all five senses. Today we wanted to bring in an Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist to walk us through an intro into the world of feeding and food issues. Courtney Mitchell and Katherine Byrd work at the Memphis Family Connection Center and walk us through not just WHY kids sometimes struggle but also how to begin walking through this struggle with them.

Also - WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS! 

As you know if you're a regular listener, we empower Facilitators to take our parenting course, Cultivate Connection to their local communities. We are so grateful and proud of the work our Facilitators are doing to provide life on life support for parents near them.

Over the years, MANY of you have reached out asking for a course online, especially those of you who do not have a Facilitator near you. First, a reminder: We've currently got an opportunity to sign up to become a Cultivate Connection Facilitator, so check our website for those details if YOU want to become part of our growing network! We'd love to consider your application! If you are wanting to take the class, however, and for whatever reason the opportunities available haven't worked out for you - WE ARE OFFERING CULTIVATE CONNECTION ONLINE for the first time ever!!!!! 

As a special limited time offer, YOU as an ETC Podcast Listener get 20% off with the Code ETCPOD-23 . SIGN UP FOR OUR ONLINE COURSE TODAY if the dates and times line up with your schedule! This class will be LIVE not recorded, and it starts Sunday, March 12th! Again, that's ETCPOD-23 for 20% off the parenting course! We'd love to see you there! 

Do you have siblings who seem to be in conflict constantly in your home? Good, none of us do either! For the people who DO have sibling conflict happening often, this episode is for you! While we joke, the reality is, when dealing with consistent sibling fighting/conflict, it can feel like there's no end in sight. That's why we brought Dr. Matt Smith and Therapist Lauren Wantz on to discuss how to approach this type of issue. 

While there's no quick fix or instant solution, the great news is that there is a lot to examine and try when it comes to addressing sibling issues. Dr. Smith and Lauren give us an inside look at what could be happening philosophically as well as some very practical tips and tools for you to have at your disposal as you address these issues going forward!

Also - WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS! 

As you know if you're a regular listener, we empower Facilitators to take our parenting course, Cultivate Connection to their local communities. We are so grateful and proud of the work our Facilitators are doing to provide life on life support for parents near them.

Over the years, MANY of you have reached out asking for a course online, especially those of you who do not have a Facilitator near you. First, a reminder: We've currently got an opportunity to sign up to become a Cultivate Connection Facilitator, so check our website for those details if YOU want to become part of our growing network! We'd love to consider your application! If you are wanting to take the class, however, and for whatever reason the opportunities available haven't worked out for you - WE ARE OFFERING CULTIVATE CONNECTION ONLINE for the first time ever!!!!! 

As a special limited time offer, YOU as an ETC Podcast Listener get 20% off with the Code ETCPOD-23 . SIGN UP FOR OUR ONLINE COURSE TODAY if the dates and times line up with your schedule! This class will be LIVE not recorded, and it starts Sunday, March 12th! Again, that's ETCPOD-23 for 20% off the parenting course! We'd love to see you there!