Foster parenting often involves stepping into a child's story mid-chapter — one that may include wounds of sexual trauma or confusing, sexualized behaviors. In this compassionate grace-filled conversation, Elly welcomes back Dr. Vanessa Snyder, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to help foster parents navigate these deeply sensitive moments with wisdom, grace, and clarity.

Together, they explore God's design for sexuality, the significance of safe and respectful body language, and how to build a home where trust can flourish. Dr. Snyder unpacks common behaviors—like self-stimulation, sexting, or exposure to pornography—and shares how these may be linked to natural curiosity, development stages, or past wounds.

You'll walk away with practical tools to: respond calmly and with discernment, protect and support every child in your care, reinforce healthy boundaries and body safety, and stay grounded when navigating digital exposure and tough conversations.

This episode reminds foster parents that while the road may be complex you are never alone. Healing is possible—and your care can be the start of a new story rooted in trust, safety, and restoration.

Dr. Vanessa Snyder is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, master traumatologist, an AAMFT approved supervisor, and approved clinical supervisor from Georgia.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00:00 Welcome & Guest Intro

00:04:17 Understandings God's Design for Sexuality

00:06:19 Body Vocabulary Builds Safety

00:08:23 Acknowledging Trauma-Driven Behavior

00:11:03 Caring for Sexual Trauma Survivors

00:13:56 Responding Calmly to Behavior

00:17:35 Creating Safety and Trust

00:23:37 Projecting Pain Through Behavior

00:27:12 Protecting Siblings Amid Challenges

00:32:19 Addressing Self-Stimulation in Children

00:35:15 Managing Digital Sexual Exposure

00:38:51 Final Thoughts and Closing

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