Domestic Spiritual Abuse (DSA) is the use of the Bible, its principles, or institutions to justify the mistreatment of another.  Sarah Elmore, MA, LPC shares her personal experience with DSA as well as the lessons she has learned serving as a professional counselor to those who have experienced it.  Sarah and Mark discuss how the misinterpretation of Scripture may lead to abuse and Sarah describes how DSA may be perpetuated in certain religious contexts.  Sarah explains how difficult it can be to escape the abuse and gives suggestions on how to help those who may be in an abusive situation.

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Dr. Mark Vander Ley and Michelle Robison, MSW, LCSW discuss the importance of talking about sex and sexuality with your children.  Mark and Michelle cover the value of talking about sex early and regularly with your children, as well as the drawbacks of avoiding the conversation.  The conversation uses personal and professional experience to help parents overcome the sometimes awkward and difficult roadblocks to discussing these difficult topics.

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Join Dr. Mark Vander Ley and Michelle Robison, MSW, LCSW for a discussion about "what to do when your buttons get pushed.  All parents have blown their top, gotten angry, yelled, or lost their cool.  Mark and Michelle discuss why this happens, how to avoid it, what to do when it inevitably occurs.  They share personal stories of loosing their cool and how they have learned to manage when their buttons are pushed.  In this episode you will hear:

1. Why we lose control when our buttons get pushed

2. How to avoid losing control

3.  What to do when we lose control

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Dr. Mark Vander Ley and Michelle Robison, MSW, LCSW discuss "connecting through play" 

Michelle is the executive director of a long term care facility located in Southern California.  Michelle has pioneered the use of attachment theory and its associated techniques and approaches in her work with children and elderly adults. Mark and Michelle engage in "adventures in overthinking it" as they discuss how to use play and playfulness to connect with young children, adolescents and spouses.  Topics discussed in this episode include

1. Play as a way to "join the world" of your young child.

2. The importance of "leaving room for play" in a culture that is busy and over-scheduled.

3. The use of language and humor to playfully connect with your adolescent or spouse.

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Join Dr. Mark Vander Ley as he Discusses how to protect your child from an online predator with the director of Education from the Morgan Nick Foundation, Genevie Strickland.

On June 9, 1995 Morgan Nick was kidnapped while playing with her friends in Alma, Arkansas.  After her abduction Morgan's mother Colleen realized the need for an organization to provide immediate assistance to the families of missing children.  Therefore, The Morgan Nick foundation was started in 1996.  The Morgan Nick Foundation focuses it's efforts on Intervention, Education, and Legislation.  Genevie Strickland is the Director of Education and presented to more than 40,000 individuals in 2018.  This episode of The Connected Family Podcast includes

1. The story of the Morgan Nick Foundation

2. How to spot an online predator

3. How to protect your child from an online predator.

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Dr. Mark Vander Ley and Pastor Aaron Baart discuss pornography use among teenagers and college students.

Aaron is the Dean of Chapel at Dordt College where he teaches, writes, preaches, and spends time regularly with students. He is the co-founder and president of One Body One Hope, a community-development and church-planting ministry in Liberia, West Africa, where he visits regularly. In 2014, he co-authored Vivid: Deepening Your Colors with Syd Hielema and today, he speaks regularly at conferences, camps, churches, schools, and special events. He is married to author, Nicole Baart, and has five kids, aged 6-12.

In this Episode:

1. How many students are viewing pornography?

2. How does pornography use impact a students faith, relationships, and view of sexuality?

3. What are loved ones or caretakers to do?

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Dr. Mark Vander Ley and Michelle Robison, MSW, LCSW Discuss the difference between accepting someones behavior, values, thoughts, or feelings as compared to condoning them. 

Mark and Michelle discuss:

1. Acceptance does not mean you condone ones actions

2. The importance of maintaining relationship even in periods of rebellion or disagreement.

3. Several stories that illustrate the power of Radical acceptance and it's value for relationships

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Join Dr. Mark Vander Ley as he interviews Rhonda Van Donge about her story of Overcoming Eating Disorder.

Rhonda is a Christian wife, mother, teacher, and author.  In this episode she shares her story of struggling with eating disorder for 17 years.  Rhonda is passionate about telling her story because she wants people to know that there is hope.  She shares about how her disorder developed, how she recovered, and what family members can do to help. 

In this Episode:

1. An overview of eating disorder

2. Rhonda's experience of an eating disorder and her recovery.

3. How loved ones can help.

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In this Episode Dr. Mark Vander Ley speaks with Dr. Liz Wiggans about how parents can help to Co-create child success.

Liz is a licensed school counselor and a licensed clinical mental health counselor.  she has spent that past seven years working with students as all grade levels.  Liz is passionate about helping young people develop skills they need to be successful in life, from communication, conflict resolutions and relationship skills to organization, time management and career readiness.  She is a mother to two active teenagers and a wife of 16 years.

Join Mark and Liz as they discuss:

How to define success

What to do when your child's definition of success is different than your own

How to join your child in the journey of discovering success

How parents can partner with their child's school counselor to create success.

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Dr. Mark Vander Ley interviews Pastor Joe Mally regarding "Creating Family Culture".  Joe has been working as a staff member in local churches for more than seven years.  He is currently a children's ministry pastor in Quincy, Illinois.  

Mark and Joe discuss how parents can begin to intentionally create the culture of their family.  They start by identifying three myths about creating family culture and then discuss the best strategies to building the culture you desire for your family.  Joe says, "don't lose hope", if they have not set the culture they desire for their family to this point, there is still time to do it.  He challenges parents to be intentional with the time they have, to get support, and to focus on building deep relationships with their children.

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