The Honestly Adoption Podcast Mike and Kristin Berry

At any given moment on the foster and adoption caregiver journey, we can find ourselves in crisis. How you respond, and the plan you put in place, can change everything! 
We in no way want to freak you out, but having a plan is crucial to successfully navigating these tricky waters. 
In this episode we share a recent session we taught on responding to, managing, and navigating through crisis in your home. 
Also On The Show...
Get our Behavior Response Blueprint here. Download our Trauma Knowledge Guide + Video here Thanks for stopping by this week ;-) 

It's a tricky thing to deal with. Boundaries. Where's the balance between connected parenting and boundary setting? In this episode we have an open discussion around this. 
As caregivers we can often feel taken advantage of, walked on, and just plain used. Our children don't necessarily mean to do this, but, as a product of their trauma history, that "taking" nature is a survival tactic.
How do you set up, and maintain, healthy boundaries with a child who may, or may not, understand them? 
That's what we discuss in this episode! 
Thanks for stopping by this week ;-) 

Out of all the great resources we have at our disposal as caregivers, there are a few that stand out among the rest. We must learn to listen to them. 
Our children. Adult adoptees. Former foster youth. And birth parents. Those who have experienced the journey first hand have a wealth of knowledge to share with us, to help us become the best caregivers possible. 
The best thing we can do is open up our hearts, and minds, and ears, and listen deeply to their voices and hearts. In this episode, Kristin and Nicole explore what that looks like.
Also on the show...
Insight Virtual Conference 2023 replays are still available and will be until May 15th. Click here to get access to more than 15 hours of training PLUS in-depth valuable resources!  Thanks for stopping by this week :-) 

There is so much unnecessary fears and misunderstandings surrounding birth parents and birth families. In this episode, we're working to clear it up.
Last week we were grateful and honored to have the amazing and wonderful Ashley Mitchell join us for Insight Virtual Conference 2023. The Q&A portion of her session was so moving and powerful that we knew we had to make it a stand-alone podcast episode. 
In this episode, Mike and Ashley spend time clearing up unwarranted fears, the truth about extended family, how to set up boundaries with birth parents who aren't in a healthy place, and much more. It's fun, colorful, and insightful. You will love Ashley's heart! 
A Little More About Ashley...
Ashley Mitchell, owner of Big Tough Girl and Founder + Executive Director of Lifetime Healing Foundation, set out to seek increased care, understanding, and resources for birth mothers.  For over a decade, Ashley has been one of the most consistent and sought after birth mother voices in the nation.  Well known for her vulnerability and transparency in adoption, her story has touched the hearts of countless members of the adoption community and beyond.
How To Connect With Ashley...
Follow her on Instagram Check out Ashley's website Learn about Lifetime Healing Foundation

You can still get access to the Insight Virtual Conference 2023 replays and take home more than 15 hours of amazing and indepth training content! Click Here.
Thanks for stopping by this week ;-) 

On the journey of healing and fostering healthy attachments, we must be tuned in to the needs our children have. But also our responsbility as caregivers. How do we pinpoint both? 
We're fortunate to be connected to brilliant minds, and hearts, like our good friend Deborah Gray, who is a licensed clinical social worker, and known worldwide as the attachment guru. 
In this episode we're sharing the replay of a session Deborah hosted during the 2021 Insight Virtual Conference (because the 2023 conference is coming THIS week!). 
A Little More About Deborah...
Deborah has a lifetime achievement award in 2015 from ATTACh, and was a Henry Meier Practitioner in Residence at the U of WA. She treats children and families in a specialty practice focused on trauma, attachment, grief, and parenting support. She was core faculty for the Portland State University Foster Care and Adoption Therapy Program. She is the author of the Attachment-Trauma Focused Therapy Program, now in partnership with The Honestly Adoption Company and 1MillionHome, and presented through Honestly Adoption University. Deborah authored: Promoting Healthy Attachments; Attaching through Love, Hugs, and Play; Nurturing Adoptions; and Attaching in Adoption. She co-authored Games and Activities for Attaching with Your Child.
Also On The Show...
Insight Virtual Conference 2023 is coming THIS Thursday and Friday, April 20th and 21st. There's still time to grab your ticket and get more than 15 hours of amazing insight, education, and connection to other caregivers like you. Early Bird registration closes at 11:59pm PST this Wednesday, April 19th. At-the-door tickets will be available after that for a higher price. Lock in your early bird spot now. Click Here! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-) 
 

Is there any way to successfully communicate my child's needs to a medical professional that helps me get results? Big question! 
Navigating our children's special needs on a daily basis is hard. But what makes the journey even harder is feeling unheard and unseen in a medical or therapeutic provider's office. We've all had that figurative (or maybe literal) door slammed in our face. We've felt dismissed, disregarded, and just plain stupid. 
What if we told you there was an effective, and practical, way to successufully communicate your child's needs to providers that got results? 
There is. That's why we're excited to welcome Maureen Peterson to The Honestly Adoption Podcast. She's a medical professional but also the parent of a child with chronic illness. She knows the ins and outs of communication from both the professional and parental side of things. And she's here today to share her expertise with us!
A Little More About Maureen...
In her own words... "As a general pediatrician and allergist/immunologist, I have spent my career caring for patients with a variety of acute and chronic health problems. I am a military veteran and mother of three amazing children. I have first-hand experience with being a parent of a child with long-term health issues. Through my own journey, I have learned that to enjoy the life that I was given even if it wasn't the life I had planned. I became a certified life coach to teach parents how to build self-confidence and decrease overwhelming emotions creating a calm, meaningful life."
How To Connect With Maureen...
Get her Quick-Start Advocacy Checklist here Follow her on Instagram Connect with her on Facebook Also On The Show...
Insight Virtual Conference is coming soon! We're less than 2 weeks away from this exciting conference kicking off featuring over 15 hours of training content, PLUS access to world-renowned thought leaders and trainers. Click Here to learn more! Thanks for stopping by this week ;-)