Family Matters

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Dimitrios Moraitis on the collateral damage that family and friends often endure when a loved one is struggling with substance abuse - and advice on how to establish healthy boundaries and support for their loved ones in recovery.

Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Peter Spiro, Director of the GOA National Human Trafficking Awareness Ministry, on who are the traffickers, who are the victims, and what parents need to know to protect their children.

Meet Jeremy Swartz, a recent addition to the Center for Family Care team as the On Behalf of All Grant Assistant Director. Jeremy brings his experience in project management, studies in philosophy and theology, and lived experience as a caregiver of a child with disabilities to our ministry. Listen as he shares how life with his family and their unique journey has taught him to pivot on his paternal expectations into a position of embracing, accepting, and doing the daily work of creating connections with and for his daughter.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Theo Nikolakis, CIO of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on positive internet usage, child safety, and related software for families.

Pres Melanie speaks with Marissa Eliades, the cofounder of the Like a Daisy Foundation in memory of her sister Samantha Eliades, who had Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Samantha passed away, unexpectedly, on September 28, 2023. Marissa shares the origins of her family's journey with special needs in the church, beginning with participation in the Challenge Liturgies for families with disabilities established at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church of Port Washington Roslyn Heights, NY; the development of Project SAM, a ministry which seeks to reconnect people who are isolated with special needs and their families with their Faith Tradition; and most recently, her family's establishment of the Like a Daisy Foundation which offers support and life-changing experiences to the special needs community.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr David Ford, professor at St. Tikhon's seminary, on the historical and theological understanding of the sacrament of marriage and its practical application for us today.

Lindsay Pals-Bieberich is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who speaks with Pres Melanie about her clinical specialties working with religious and spiritual trauma, PTSD, and late diagnosis ADHD in women. They explore reasons that many girls receive inaccurate diagnoses in childhood. Her passion is to help clients reframe their experiences from shame to acceptance of physiological differences; and for believers, inviting God into the process of self-discovery.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Sarah Riccardi-Swartz on social media's impact on family dynamics, interpersonal communication, and social development - and how parents can change the narrative in the home.

Pres Melanie shares a framework and some ideas for making connections to Christ's birth and Nativity Season traditions with atypically developing children.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr George Stavros regarding the following question: "Is it possible for parents to get along and send a consistent message to children even when their styles conflict?"