Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! 

In this episode, I am joined with an incredible guest: Lisa C. Qualls. Lisa is the proud mother of both biological and adopted children, twelve in fact, and is an accomplished author, speaker, and Enneagram coach with TBRI training. Together, we focus on the concept of 'blocked care'—a self-protective mechanism that can hinder emotional connection between parents and children. 

Lisa shares her personal journey into adoption, the challenges faced, and the development of her ministry aimed at supporting adoptive and foster families. We discuss the neuroscience behind blocked care, signs to recognize it, and the importance of acknowledging these feelings to begin healing and reconnecting with children. Our conversation helps explain the concept of blocked care, its effects on parents, and practical strategies for overcoming it. We discuss the importance of understanding the nervous system, building supportive relationships, and finding hope through simple practices like breath prayer. We emphasize the need for self-care and the significance of recognizing beauty in everyday life as a means to combat feelings of overwhelm and despair. A great and practical technique is “YAHWEH” breathing, because sometimes we simply don’t have words when we are so depleted. 

Here are a few takeaways: 

• Blocked care is a common experience among adoptive parents.
• Parents often feel shame for not feeling the love they expected.
• Acknowledging blocked care is the first step to healing.
• The Connected Child was a pivotal resource for many adoptive parents.
• Parenting children with trauma requires ongoing support and education.
• It's important to find community and resources to navigate the challenges of adoption. 
• Caring for the nervous system is essential for recovery.
• Simple activities like walking can help regulate the nervous system.
• Sleep is crucial for managing stress and blocked care.
• Negativity bias can hinder our ability to see joy and beauty.

You can learn more and connect with Lisa C. Qualls with these resources:

https://www.lisacqualls.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lisacqualls/?hl=en

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!