When kids “act out,” what if it’s not manipulation—but communication? In this conversation, our Adoption & Foster Care Clinic team unpacks why co-regulation must come before correction, how to parent to emotional age (not just chronological), and how understanding the window of tolerance can transform your home. You’ll hear practical steps, gentle scripts, and real-life examples of repair, attunement, and modeling calm when your child can’t find theirs.

🌿 Learn more: adoptionfosterclinic.org
💛 Give to support families: adoptionfosterclinic.org/give
Thank you to our sponsor, Show Hope.

What you'll learn:

• Behavior as communication: seeing the need beneath the behavior

• Why connection is not the opposite of correction—it’s the tool for correction

• Co-regulation, emotional age vs. chronological age, and realistic expectations

• Window of tolerance (hypo/hyperarousal) and how to bring kids back into it

• Scripts parents can use in the heat of the moment + the power of repair

• Grounding ideas (breath, cold water, safe touch), tone/eyes/face, and modeling

When the hard feels never-ending, it’s easy to ask: Is there any hope?

In this episode of Beneath the Branches, we have an honest conversation about how hope can be found in the middle of exhaustion, overwhelm, and challenging behaviors. Our team shares how connection, realistic expectations, and community can transform despair into courage to keep going.

Whether you’re an adoptive, foster, or kinship care parent, you’ll leave with practical ways to redefine hope—not as the finish line, but as small, life-giving moments along the way.

Hope isn’t the absence of struggle. It’s the presence of connection and support while you’re in it.

Whether you're deep in the trenches or simply needing encouragement, this episode is a reminder that even on the hardest days, hope is beneath the branches with you.

A real talk about expectations surrounding holidays and special days- the emotional landmines that you may not prepare for, and how to give grace for yourself and your kids. This episode creates space for adoptive, foster, and kinship care moms to reflect honestly on the unique complexities of Mother’s Day, Family Day, Birthdays—why it often doesn’t feel like a Hallmark holiday they wanted, and how to shift expectations, hold space for our kids' grief, and still find meaning in these days.

While this conversation was recorded during standardized testing season, the insights go far beyond a few high-stakes weeks in the spring. For adoptive, foster, and kinship care children, the same challenges that can make testing stressful—such as early trauma, attachment disruptions, and emotional regulation struggles—also impact their day-to-day school experience. Clinicians Caitlin Inman and Kelly Curry unpack the root causes of school-related anxiety, share practical strategies for supporting focus and confidence, and highlight how families can advocate for accommodations that truly help. You’ll also hear how The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic partners with parents and schools to create academic plans that honor the whole child—not just a test score. Whether it’s the first week of school or the days leading up to a big exam, this conversation will equip you to help your child feel safe, supported, and set up for success all year long.*This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at (www.showhope.org).

This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (both pre and post adoption)—learn more at The Adoption and Foster Care Clinic .

In this powerful episode, we welcome back Amy Elmore, our long-time occupational therapist and feeding specialist, to explore one of the most emotionally charged parenting challenges for children with trauma histories-- feeding.From picky eating and food refusal to bottle aversion and sensory challenges, Amy breaks down the why behind feeding difficulties and offers trauma-informed insights and real-life strategies that work.We dive deep into how early feeding experiences impact brain development, emotional safety, and attachment—and how healing often begins with one safe bite.This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, clinicians, and anyone working with children from hard places.For many children from adoptive, foster, or kinship backgrounds, mealtime isn’t just about food—it’s about trust, control, trauma, and healing. Whether your child is a “vacuum cleaner” eater, a picky one, or struggling with sensory aversion, Amy offers trauma-informed wisdom, practical strategies, and compassionate insight to help families navigate the complex world of feeding therapy.You’ll learn:Why trauma disrupts hunger cues and feeding developmentWhat to do when a child refuses food—or eats too muchHow parent stress and child feeding behaviors become intertwinedWhen to seek help—and how virtual parent coaching is changing access to supportIf you’ve ever ended a mealtime in tears or worry, this episode is for you.Supported by our friends at Show Hope.

We’re diving into one of the most vital yet misunderstood aspects of holistic care for children from hard places: occupational therapy. Join us as we explore how OT at our clinic goes far beyond handwriting practice—supporting families through sensory regulation, feeding challenges, trauma recovery, and more.

→ Listen now and learn how OT builds bridges to connection, safety, and healing.

*This episode is sponsored by Show Hope. Learn more at (www.showhope.com). This podcast is produced by The Adoption and Foster Care Clinic (www.theadoptionfosterclinic.org), an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (pre and post adoption)

In this episode of Beneath the Branches, we dig into the foundational role attachment plays in a child’s development—and why it matters so deeply in adoptive, foster, and kinship care. We begin with the basics: What is attachment, and how is it formed? You'll learn the difference between secure and insecure attachment and how early caregiving relationships shape a child's ability to trust, regulate, and relate to others.Next, we explore how trauma and early disruptions—such as neglect, inconsistent care, or harmful experiences—can derail healthy attachment. From common attachment challenges like avoidance or controlling behaviors, to understanding the difference between reactive attachment disorder and disrupted attachment, we unpack the complexity of what many families face.Finally, we move into hope and healing. This segment offers practical, trauma-informed strategies for building trust and promoting secure attachment at home. Spoiler alert: it's not about perfection, but about showing up consistently, repairing when needed, and making space for connection—even when it’s slow and messy. Whether you’re a caregiver, clinician, or someone seeking to understand the deep roots of relational health, this episode offers insight, compassion, and encouragement for the journey.This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at (www.showhope.org) This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (both pre and post adoption)—learn more at (www.adoptionfosterclinic.org)

In this foundational episode of Beneath theBranches, we explore how trauma—whether it occurs in utero, infancy, childhood, or even adolescence—reshapes a child’s brain, body, and beliefs about the world. For adoptees and children in foster or kinship care, those early experiences often leave invisible wounds that show up later in behavior, relationships, and self-understanding. Our clinicians unpack the many ways trauma can surface: through control struggles, shutdowns, emotional outbursts, difficulty with attachment, and even physical symptoms. We help listeners understand what’s underneath those behaviors—and how trauma-informed parenting offers a path toward healing. You’ll hear how our team creates safe environments, reduces triggers, and leans into connection through co-regulation and compassionate care. At the heart of this work is Lesson #1: “I can trust.” We talk about how caregivers can consistently show up as safe, steady, and emotionally available—reaffirming their role as a secure base for the child.

This episode is for families who want to godeeper—past the highlight reel and into the real, often hard, but hopeful work of healing. Because adoption is a story of love, but also of loss. And we believe there's space to hold both.

This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at and http://showhope.org . This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (both pre and post adoption)—learn more at http://adoptionfosterclinic.org .

For children in adoptive, foster, or kinship families—especially those in transcultural placements or with complex trauma histories—developing a strong sense of identity and belonging doesn’t happen automatically. In this episode, we explore why racial mirrors and shared-experience support are essential tools for nurturing healthy identity in kids who may not see themselves reflected in their families, schools, or communities. We unpack how regular interactions with peers and mentors of similar racial or cultural backgrounds—and especially those who’ve also experienced adoption or foster care—can affirm a child’s sense of worth, value, and place in the world. These connections offer more than representation—they offer belonging, language, and healing.

This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at showhope.org. This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (both pre and post adoption)—learn more at adoptionfosterclinic.org

Vacations are meant to be relaxing—but for children in adoptive, foster, or kinship families, travel can stir up unexpected emotions, triggers, and challenges. In this episode, we unpack why changes in routine, unfamiliar environments, and even the idea of “leaving home” can be difficult for kids with trauma histories. Our clinicians share insight on how to prepare for travel, signs your child may be struggling, and practical tools to create connection, safety, and fun—even on the go. Whether you're planning a road trip or just a weekend away, this conversation is for you.

This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at and showhope.org. This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (bothpre and post adoption)—learn more at adoptionfosterclinic.org.

Welcome to the "Beneath the Branches" podcast. In this first episode, three of The Adoption and Foster Care Clinic staff members sit down to talk about why we’re launching this podcast and what we hope it will become.

Our goal? To be real, to be vulnerable, and to normalize the hard. Adoption, foster and kinship care come with so much beauty—but also deep challenges, messy emotions, and moments that feel overwhelming. We want this podcast to be a space where you don’t feel alone in any of it.

So, here’s our commitment to you: Presence over perfection. We’ve walked this road, we are walking this road, and we want you to know—you’re not alone.

Adoption is often described as a beautiful solution—but for adoptees and their families, it's never the beginning of the story. It's born out of loss.

In this first episode of Beneath the Branches, we open the conversation with honesty and heart, exploring the invisible losses that come with adoption—loss of biological connection, identity, culture, history, and sometimes even safety and stability.

We talk about how early trauma—whether remembered or not—shapes the nervous system and emotional world of an adoptee, and how those wounds may show up in behavior, relationships, or self-understanding. Most importantly, we offer insight into how parents and caregivers can support healing by leaning into connection, curiosity, and compassion.

This conversation is a foundational one. It’s for families who want to move beyond the highlight reel and into the real work of building trust, honoring grief, and cultivating belonging.

Because the beauty of adoption is real—but so is the loss. And we believe there's space to hold both. We are so glad you're here!