On Episode 50 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast, Jenna & Kristen reconnect with a guest from season one, pediatric occupational therapist, Tara MacKenzie and discuss Tara’s first-hand experience with academic testing and psychological assessment for her own daughter Jameson. Together, they examine the early developmental signs of learning inconsistencies that ultimately led to a full neuropsychological testing and evaluation when Jameson was 7 years old and what the process looked like not only for Jameson, but for the entire family.   Episode 50: Academic Testing & Psychological Assessment with Pediatric Occupational Therapist Tara MacKenzie 02:12 Episode introduction.   03:23 Introduction of guest, Tara MacKenzie, pediatric occupational therapist.   04:29 Tara discusses the early signs she witnesses in her daughter Jameson that pointed to possible neurodifferences.   06:09 Tara describes feedback from Jameson’s teachers in kindergarten.   06:42 Tara explains how her and her husband arrived at their decision to have Jameson evaluated.   07:52 Tara describes what testing looked like for Jameson at 7 years old and some of their consideration as it relates to academic testing and assessment.   08:54 Tara shares how she frontloaded the idea of testing with a young child and how to cater that conversation to the personality and preferences of that child.   10:23 Tara describes the differences in receptivity to testing for Jameson and her son, how her two kids differed in their reactions to the idea of assessment.   12:42 Tara shares about her daughter not feeling “smart” and how she explained to Jameson about being “differently smart.”   13:02 Tara discusses the value of looking at assessment results with the focus on the child’s revealed strengths.   13:59 Tara and hosts delve into parents’ reluctance to have their kids evaluated, some of the common emotional fallouts that come with getting assessment results.   16:22 Tara and hosts discuss the prevalence of neuropsychological differences that seem to be on the rise with the younger population and why that might be.   18:45 Tara shares on how to create an action plan upon receiving testing and assessment results.   20:00 Tara describes her first-hand account on their approach with Jameson’s treatment and how it impacts the entire family.   22:59 Tara recounts her conversations with Jameson regarding her test results and also how important it is to have the entire family support Jameson’s treatment journey.   25:18 Jenna shares a story about her son’s reaction to his testing results and the powerful act of empathizing and validating a child’s frustration.   27:13 Tara updates on Jameson’s progress since the diagnosis and what they’ve learned as a family.   30:00 Jenna relates the family lessons learned back to the previous Mainspring Podcast episode with Dr. Andrew Hahn about parental trauma, and the importance of separating the trauma from parenting.   32:10 Tara summarizes the power of testing for her and her family as it relates to connection with her children, and why she advocates for parents to consider assessment in building their relationship with their kids.   33:30 Jenna & Kristen’s breaks down their key takeaways for the episode.   35:33 How to connect with Mainspring Family Wellness, Jenna & Kristen! End of episode.   Keywords: Occupational therapy, therapist, parenting, academic testing, learning, strengths, challenges, pediatric, psychological assessment, neuropsychology, neuropsychological evaluation, dyslexia, ADHD, diagnosis   GUEST: Tara MacKenzie Tara MacKenzie is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Learning In Motion Clinic who has served children in Dallas, TX., Newport Beach, CA., and currently in Paradise Valley, AZ. Graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelors in Occupational Therapy in 2002, Tara has 20+ years of experience providing quality pediatric treatment, evaluation, and consultation to children of all ages. Tara’s ex

On Episode 49 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast, Jenna & Kristen speak with renowned psychologist Dr. Andrew Hahn about his new book The One-Hour Miracle: A 5-Step Process to Self-Healing. Dr. Hahn shares with our audience his extensive experience with trauma, generational trauma, self-healing, healing as it relates to parenting and how to break the cycle of trauma-informed experience.   Episode 49: A Guide to Self-Healing with The One-Hour Miracle featuring Dr. Andrew Hahn 01:41 Introduction of Dr. Andrew Hahn.   03:18 Dr. Hahn explains The One-Hour Miracle.   04:23 Dr. Hahn further discusses his definition of a “miracle.”   07:09 Dr. Hahn talks about the career trajectory that led him to start Life Centered Therapy.   15:03 Dr. Hahn reflects on the concept of therapy and how to explain therapy and the need for therapy to a child.   22:20 Dr. Hahn elaborates on generational trauma, how parental trauma impacts children.   32:13 Dr. Hahn and hosts discuss the value of enneagram and how it can inform parenting and parenting styles.   33:10 Guest and hosts discuss childhood depression as a response to parental actions and how one could possibly break the pattern of experience.   37:59 Dr. Hahn delve deeper into trauma, how to get parents to acknowledge the trauma that one might be holding.   40:24 How to connect with Dr. Hahn and where to get his new book The One-Hour Miracle.   41:53 Jenna & Kristen’s perspective on the episode and the informative guest.   43:32 How to connect with Mainspring Family Wellness, Jenna & Kristen!   End of Episode   Keywords: trauma, healing, self-healing, parenting, enneagram, childhood depression, therapy, major depression, psychology, generational trauma, parental trauma, acceptance, Life Centered Therapy, One-Hour Miracle, miracle, experience pattern   GUEST: Dr. Andrew Hahn   Andrew Hahn, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. He received his A.B. Magna Cum Laude in Social Studies/Psychology from Harvard University and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hahnemann University. He is certified by Helen Palmer to teach the Enneagram and has also been a faculty member in the graduate Counselling Programs at Lesley University and Northeastern University. While Dr. Hahn’s strong foundation and significant experience in traditional psychology have served his clients well, he has been untiring in his effort to better understand what is going on for people so that he could better help them live more contented and healthier lives. This calling for greater understanding, as well as certain experiences that he could not fully comprehend within the confines of traditional Western paradigms, led him on a search for answers that opened him to the worlds of Buddhist and Eastern Psychology; Mystery Training; and Depth, Archetypal and Spiritual Psychology. During this period, Thich Nhat Hanh, Brugh Joy, Dick Olney, Helen Palmer, Barbara Hastings, and Claudio Naranjo were particularly influential and powerful teachers for him. In 1997, after several years of witnessing the power of the work, Dr. Hahn developed the Life Centered Therapy Training program for those who want to facilitate and/or teach this process. Today, Dr. Hahn has a private practice in Waltham, MA. He speaks, teaches, and leads training and healing groups internationally, and continues his effort to better understand what is going on for people so that he can better help them live more contented and healthier lives." "Dr. Hahn helps men and women personally and professionally to expedite the healing from any trauma using his unique integration and synthesis of all these traditions combined with his own significant contributions to the field of psychology. Furthermore, Dr. Hahn shows clients the operative patterns in trauma, the realization that soul-level trauma and trauma from life experience have the exact same structure, and a unique synthesis of mindfulness and somatics to live a fulfilled and happy life. Dr. Hahn’

Episode 48: Nonprofit Spotlight featuring The Gray Academy A School for Exceptional Children with Neurological Disorders. On Episode 48 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast, Jenna & welcome Kristen Gray and Dana Tompkins of the Gray Academy, a non-profit, non-public K-5 Elementary School for exceptional children with neurological disorders in Santa Monica, California, looking to expand their program and services with a second location in Orange County. Each guest shares their extraordinary circumstances as parents to children with special needs and how that journey prompted them towards their passion for meaningful impact within the community, leading to the creation of The Gray Academy and its current plans for expansion.   01:49 Introduction of guests: Kristen Gray & Dana Tompkins   02:15 Kristen’s story: Daughters’ diagnosis of Batten’s Disease Launching a foundation to find a cure Enrolling daughters into a clinical trial of gene therapy along with 13 other children   06:55 The search for a school that prompted the inception of The Gray Academy in Santa Monica   09:21 About the Gray Academy   10:28 Dana’s story: Son’s birth and journey with cerebral palsy Connecting with Kristen Gray over expansion of the Gray Academy to serve Orange County, CA   14:49 Kristen and Dana share a “typical day” for families with neuro-different children   21:58 The Gray Academy’s multi-pronged services to treat children with neurological disorders   25:13 Insight into how traditional schools with services for neuro-different children might not be able to meet the needs of their students   28:28 The Gray Academy’s plans for expansion into Orange County   30:34 The Gray’s Academy’s upcoming fundraiser to support the expansion   32:52 Get connected with the Gray Academy and more information about the fundraiser   34:00 Kristen & Jenna reflect on Kristen & Dana’s incredible journeys, their willingness to share and impact positive change   35:55 Guests share on their personal resolve and commitment to their children that drives them forward in their work within the community   37:22 Jenna & Kristen’s perspective on the episode     GUEST: Kristen Gray & Dana Tompkins KRISTEN GRAY: Kristen Gray, founder of the Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease and mother of Charlotte (11), Gwenyth (9), Callan (2) and Gavin (6mo) started the foundation with her husband, Gordon, in June of 2015 after learning of their daughters' diagnosis of Batten Disease CLN6.  In two years, Kristen and Gordon, alongside a community of supporters raised over 7 million dollars to fund critical research in hopes of a cure for Batten Disease CLN6.  That research led to a clinical trial starting in March of 2016 and to date the foundation has funded treatment for 15 children.   Kristen and Gordon, having experienced firsthand the challenges and daily struggles that most families face when trying to juggle special education with crucial medical treatments, therapies, doctors’ visits and other needs, envisioned a new kind of school with a transformative, integrated and holistic approach that could help fill the void often experienced by parents and their children suffering from severe neurological disorders. In 2018, Kristen and Gordon founded The Gray Academy in Santa Monica, a school for medically fragile children, serving families with children of moderate to severe disabilities.   DANA TOMPKINS:   After earning her MBA from the Marshall School of Business at USC and a career in corporate marketing, Dana followed her entrepreneurial spirit to open a popular women's clothing store in Newport Beach called Bardot in 2012.  Following the diagnosis of her son with cerebral palsy in 2020, Dana decided to close her shop to focus on the needs of her family.  Since then she has spent her time seeking the best therapies and treatments for her son, now almost 4, and in doing so has connected with Kristen Gray of the Gray Academy.  Dana is now taking th

Episode 47: Overcoming Bullying with Andi Kay, Founder & Executive Director of Bloom Foundation On Episode 47 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast, Kristen & Jenna host a constructive conversation about bullying with Andi Kay, the Founder and Executive Director of Bloom Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping middle school and high school girls overcome bullying by providing recovery programs rich in social-emotional learning, self-care, and discovery. Andi shares with our audience her own personal journey with experiencing cyberbullying as a teen, how she came to start Bloom Foundation, the ever-evolving state of bullying today and offers some helpful emotional tools and resources in support of parents with children experiencing bullying.   02:38 [Andi describes her firsthand experience with bullying as a child]   04:21 [Andi talks about the emergence of cyberbullying as part of her experience and describes the emotional impact on her wellbeing and the beginning of her recovery]   06:34 [Andi explains what inspired her to start her anti-bullying organization]   08:29 [Andi defines the term bullying]   08:57 [Jenna and Andi dive deeper into what is and what is not bullying]   12:04 [Kristen leads the conversation on the parental scenario if your child is the aggressor and not the recipient]   14:21 [Andi shares the importance of defining and identifying bullying but the emotional difficulty of being able to do so given that is a spectrum of aggression]     15:33 [Andi shares a Bloom Foundation participant’s letter to herself after going through the program]   18:46 [Jenna, Kristen and Andi discuss the role of social media in the evolving world of cyberbullying]   21:23 [Andi gives an overview of programs available at Bloom Foundation]   24:04 [Andi provides some thoughtful support around parenting a bullied child]   28:08 [Andi offers some thoughts around finding alternative places of “belonging” to counter a bullying experience]   28:34 [Jenna & Kristen reflect on the activities they participated in as adolescents that really helped shape their perspective on self and belonging]   32:31 [Jenna, Kristen & Andi discuss the idea of “finding your tribe” and the definition of friendship as it supports children’s upbringing and adolescent years]   35:16 [Andi shares on how to find Bloom Foundation for resources to support someone experiencing bullying]   GUEST: Andi Kay After experiencing cyberbullying firsthand in 2009, Andi researched bullying during her studies at the University of California, Irvine. For over 10 years, Andi has studied bullying and its impact on both children and teenagers. In 2017, Andi founded Bloom Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that provides social-emotional learning programs to girls experiencing bullying. The mission of Bloom Foundation is to help middle school and high school girls grow through challenges by building emotional resilience and overcoming bullying so that they can bloom with confidence as leaders of the community. Andi currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Bloom Foundation.   Connect with Bloom Foundation: Website: Bloom Foundation Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Mainspring Family Wellness: Website: Mainspring Family Wellness Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Kristen & Jenna: Kristen: LinkedIn Jenna: LinkedIn  

On episode 46 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast, Christopher Tansey, the owner of Cereset Costa Mesa, sits down with Jenna and Kristen to talk about Cereset, the technology that helped both himself and his father overcome traumatic brain injuries and ultimately achieve a balanced brain for an improved quality of life.   Episode 46 Cereset, How a Balanced Brain Can Improve Your Life   02:12 [Christopher talks about the brain trauma that his father endured as well as the surgery he had to remove a cyst in his brain, and how those two events led father and son to seek alternative modalities for improved cognitive functions]   04:48 [Christopher shares about prior treatments that relied heavily on medication]   05:43 [Christopher describes his cognitive functions post cyst removal surgery]   06:32 [Christopher discusses his reliance on medication and what prompted him to seek Cereset technology]   08:53 [Christopher explains the science behind Cereset technology]   10:13 [Christopher talks about how the technology was developed by someone who also experienced traumatic brain injury]   10:48 [Christopher provides some statistical framework around the effectiveness of the sessions]   11:45 [Christopher describes the conditions that might prompt patients to seek Cereset]   12:56 [Jenna talks about her own experience with Cereset sessions and her own personal findings]   14:35 [Christopher dives deeper into how a Cereset session can impact your brain]   15:24 [Christopher gives a little background on the difference between Cereset technology and Neurofeedback]   16:08 [Christopher talks a little about a “balanced” brain, what that means]   16:52 [Christopher provides more background on the science behind the sessions]   18:26 [Christopher shares a couple of success stories he’s facilitated with Cereset and the impact the technology has on better sleep]   21:22 [Christopher highlights some key features regarding Cereset’s natural, non-invasive approach at balancing the brain]   22:16 [Where to find Christopher and Cereset Costa Mesa]   GUEST: Christopher Tansey Owner of Cereset Costa Mesa Connect with Christopher Tansey LinkedIn: Christopher Tansey   Connect with Cereset Website: Cereset Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn   Connect with Mainspring Family Wellness: Website: Mainspring Family Wellness Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Kristen & Jenna: Kristen: LinkedIn Jenna: LinkedIn   This podcast is for educational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. This podcast is provided on the understanding that it does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. If you are looking for help on your journey, seek out a qualified medical practitioner.      

Episode 45 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast is a riveting discussion around men and marriage with Quentin Hafner, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Newport Beach, and the particular challenges of a modern marriage from a male perspective.  The conversation touches upon the impact of a traditional male upbringing, cultural depictions of men, gender differences in communication styles, and the presence of shame in marriage and fatherhood.   Episode 45 Men & Marriage, The Other Half of the Conversation   02:29 [About Quentin Hafner, his personal life and his work as a licensed marriage and family therapist]   03:49 [Explanation on common challenges men face in marriages]   06:08 [Discussion on the generational evolution of what it means to be a husband]   10:28 [Discussion on the role of gender biases as it relates to a marriage]   12:51 [Discussion around communication styles and the difficulty men have connecting with spouses on an emotional level]   15:50 [Discussion on male archetypes present in communication styles]   17:14 [Discussion around distraction as a coping mechanism and the lack of emotional learning in childhood]   18:06 [Definition of the term “high-value husband”]   20:09 [More conversation around the gender divide within communication styles and how to work around those differences]   23:05 [Discussion on vulnerability as a conduit for connection and more productive conversations]   27:18 [Conversation around the presence of shame in men when it comes to parenting and relationships]   30:27 [Discussion on conversation dynamics and tools for effective communication]   32:16 [Conversation on how the culture of men is depicted in public arenas and the media]   37:05 [Conversation around the need to be more thoughtful about the current societal pressures of being a man]   39:43 [Promotion of Quentin’s subscription services for men, a therapy resource for men]   41:57 [Conversation close with Quentin]   42:34 [Summary of takeaways with Jenna & Kristen]   GUEST: Quentin Hafner Quentin Hafner is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in Orange County, CA where he specializes in helping people find solutions to life's challenges that result in more personal & professional fulfillment. In particular, Quentin loves working with men in the context of couples therapy to help them discover their hidden potential to be better Dads & better Husbands. In 2018, Quentin wrote and published an Amazon.com #1 best-selling marriage book Black Belt Husbands to help husbands solve challenges in their marriages. Quentin is happily married and a father of two young boys, Levi & Samuel. In his spare time, he trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, loves to surf, go camping, and trail running in the most incredible nature preserves in Orange County.   Connect with Quentin Hafner: Website: Quentin Hafner Website: Black Belt Husbands Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn   Connect with Mainspring Family Wellness: Website: Mainspring Family Wellness Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Kristen & Jenna: Kristen: LinkedIn Jenna: LinkedIn

Episode 44 of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast is a thoughtful conversation about the plight of detained immigrants in Orange County as part of our Nonprofit Spotlight Series. Jenna & Kristen talk to Sabrina Rivera, the Executive Director of the Orange County Justice Fund (OCJF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering transformative change in the immigration system to assist the most vulnerable immigrants and refugees in Orange County, impacted by detention and deportation. Since the organization’s inception in 2017, OCJF has provided funds to secure the release of 66 detained immigrants and provided bond recipients with legal representation, due process rights, and services for community re-integration.   Episode 44 Nonprofit Spotlight featuring Sabrina Rivera, Executive Director of the Orange County Justice Fund:   02:41 [About Sabrina Rivera, how Sabrina got involved with the Orange County Justice Fund]   03:58 [About the Orange County Justice Fund, its inception, mission and services provided]   08:29 [Discussion around the adults and children currently detained]   10:11 [Circumstances under which children are separated from their parents in detention]   14:09 [Stories of people under detention and facing deportation]   16:30 [Description of conditions at local detention facilities]   20:41 [A specific case of a woman from El Salvador seeking asylum after facing years of abuse with OCJF’s assistance]   28:19 [Discussion around the current influx of Ukrainian refugees and the United States’ response]   29:06 [Discussion around systemic issues that impact government reform]   33:45 [Discussion around mental health issues for those in detention and their families]   36:30 [Sabrina’s own immigration journey culminating in her involvement in immigration reform]   37:59 [Promotion of OCJF’s upcoming fundraiser and how listeners can get involved]   GUEST: Sabrina Rivera Sabrina Rivera is the Executive Director for the Orange County Justice Fund (OCJF), an organization dedicated to generating support for transformative change in the immigration legal system and reaching the most vulnerable impacted by immigration detention and deportation. Ms. Rivera is formerly the supervising attorney at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) for the California State University (CSU) Project which provides immigration legal services to eight CSU campuses in Southern California in affirmative and removal defense cases. Before CARECEN, Ms. Rivera served as the staff attorney at Western State College of Law’s (WSCL) Immigration Clinic in Irvine where she directly represented clients in a range of matters, including deportation defense, humanitarian visas for survivors of violence, citizenship, and asylum. She also supervised and mentored law students enrolled in the Immigration Clinic on cases and community-based education initiatives throughout Orange County. Ms. Rivera is a former Adjunct Lecturer at UC Irvine Law Immigrant Rights Clinic and served as Adjunct Faculty at WSCL for six years, where she taught a lawyering skills class. She is the former chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Immigration Section. She received her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and her BA in Chicana/o Studies and Political Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.   Connect with the Orange County Justice Fund: Website: Orange County Justice Fund Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn   Connect with Mainspring Family Wellness: Website: Mainspring Family Wellness Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Kristen & Jenna: Kristen: LinkedIn Jenna: LinkedIn

Jaana Woodbury joins us on this very special episode of the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast where Jaana details her first-hand account of how she and her family persevered from drug addiction to recovery and wellness with the intervention of loved ones.  She also shares with Jenna and Kristen about the impact of her addiction on her young child and how her daughter accompanied her on the road to recovery.   Special Guest:    GUEST: Jaana Woodbury, CADC-I, CCAR Jaana Woodbury can be noted for her philanthropy and advocacy work in raising awareness towards addiction and mental health issues. Specifically, Jaana was part of an effort to shed light on family systems in addiction. Her family was featured on Sesame Street's, "Parental Addiction" series, which received a Daytime Emmy for best short film. Jaana has also been featured in publications for sharing her knowledge and work in the treatment industry. Today, she serves as Community Outreach for The District Recovery, an outpatient program in Huntington Beach, CA and as Director of Communications for The Red Songbird Foundation. Jaana is also a junior board member for Shatterproof and sits as board Vice President for CASA (California Alliance for State Advocacy). For enjoyment, Jaana loves spending time with her family, reading, hiking and going to church. Instagram: @jaanawoodbury           For more information about the District Recovery Program: https://www.thedistrictrecovery.com/ Instagram: @thedistrictrecoverycommunity

Jennifer Skiver joins the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast to demystify Reiki, an alternative healing modality that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety through the delivery of energy to the body. Reiki is a safe, gentle, non-invasive form of natural hands-on energy-based healing intended to improve a person's health and wellness through the enhancement of flow and balance. Jen, along with Mainspring's own Executive Director, Kristen Perlmutter, each share how they came into this particular art of healing and their calling towards becoming certified Reiki Masters. They discuss and provide first-hand testimonials and experiences on how Reiki has benefited their lives and the people they treat.   Special Guest:    Jennifer Skiver, HHP (Holistic Health Professional) Jennifer has studied many areas of holistic wellness. She holds a B.A. from the University of Mississippi, a Masters in Nutrition and a Doctorate in Holistic Health. She completed her 300-hour Experienced Yoga Teacher credential and Reiki Master attunement. Her experience in and passion for the connection of spirituality and healing provides a unique opportunity for her to offer others the same healing. A mom of two boys and a California transplant of nearly two decades, Jen has established a wealth of resources and knowledge to support her own journey back to health and works diligently to lead others to find their own way back to healing.   Interested in Reiki?   Book a session at Mainspring Family Wellness by emailing info@mainspringfamilywellness.com            

ADHD, A Holistic Approach with Dr. Nicole Beurkens (EP. 41) Dr. Nicole Beurkens joins the Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast to discuss a holistic approach towards treating ADHD and getting to the root cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. She discusses the importance of nutrition and quality sleep in treating ADHD and provides listeners with practical tools and strategies for tackling mood and behavioral challenges.   Special Guests: Dr. Nicole Beurkens Psychologist, Nutritionist, Educator, Mom Dr. Nicole Beurkens is the world’s leading holistic child psychologist. She has dedicated her 25-year career to providing parents with simple, effective, research-based strategies that get to the root of children’s attention, anxiety, mood, and behavior challenges so they can reach their highest potential. She’s built and runs a multi-disciplinary evaluation and treatment clinic, is a best-selling author, published researcher, award-winning therapist, in-demand speaker, international consultant, and experienced mom who is determined to show the world that with healthy foundations in place every child and family can thrive.   Find Dr. Nicole Beurkens at: URL: www.drbeurkens.com Facebook: facebook.com/drnicolebeurkens Instagram: @drnicolebeurkens

Talking to Our Kids about Race & Identity (EP. 40) Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith joins the Mainspring Wellness Podcast to discuss with Kristen & Jenna about how to approach conversations with our kids on the big topic of race and identity. This is an eye-opening episode that sheds light on how kids come into identity and perceive racial differences in this colorful world. Dr. Briscoe-Smith also discusses how the environment of racial tensions in the United States is currently playing into childhood anxiety.   Special Guests: Allison Briscoe-Smith Dr. Briscoe-Smith earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University.  She then received her clinical psychology Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley. She then went on to continue her specialization in trauma and ethnic minority mental health through internship and postdoctoral work at the University of California San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital.  She has combined her love of teaching and advocacy by serving as a professor and by directing mental health programs for children experiencing trauma, homelessness, or foster care.  Much of her work has been with schools, as a clinician, consultant and trainer.  Currently, she is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Wright Institute where she is a professor. She provides consultation and training to bay area non-profits and schools on how to support trauma-informed practices and cultural accountability.     Find Dr. Briscoe-Smith at: URL: drbriscoesmith.com Instagram: @allisonbriscoesmith  

Processing Divorce (EP. 39)   Diana Valenzuela, MFT and Jenny Haseth joins Mainspring Wellness Podcast this week to talk about how to process the journey of divorce.  This informative discussion covers the impact of divorce on children, the importance of self-care in the process, how to co-parent effectively in the wake of divorce, and the need for support through the journey.   Resources: https://www.mainspringfamilywellness.com/services     Special Guests: Diana Valenzuela, M.F.T.   Diana Valenzuela is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and offers individual, child, family, and couples therapy. Areas of focus include life transition, relationship issues, family conflict, parenting,  anxiety, and depression.  Diana is a proud mom of two successfully raised adult children, and understands the joys and challenges of raising and launching a family, as well as personally pursuing personal growth.     Jenny Haseth Jenny Haseth is a Trauma informed certified ICF relationship coach. Jenny specializes in helping women through betrayal, trauma and divorce. Jenny has worked with families for 20 years and is incredibly passionate about helping women recognize limiting beliefs that are keeping them stuck in unhealthy relationships and patterns, with themselves, their partners, and their children. Jenny specializes in boundary work and helping women walk through the stages of relationship ruptures and repairs. You can follow Jenny on Instagram @fearlesslythriving or reach out to her directly to schedule a coaching session at FearlesslyThriving.com.    

How to Help Children Experiencing Anxiety (EP. 38)   On this episode, Joshua Soto, M.F.T., joins us for a discussion about children and anxiety, the anxiety-provoking environment we are raising our children in, what signs to look for, some tools to manage anxiety, and when to seek outside help with anxiety.    Resources: https://www.mainspringfamilywellness.com/services

Episode 37. Project Hope Alliance (PHA) is a local organization based in Costa Mesa, California serving youths in Orange County who are experiencing homelessness. Their mission is to end the cycle of homelessness, one child at a time. PHA has full-time case managers working within the public school system, deploying long-term model of care to eliminate the barriers brough on by homelessness that could impede a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school. The PHA team builds trusting relationships with students and offers individualized support in the form of transportation, technology, basic needs, and social-emotional mentorship from kindergarten to age 24. Jennifer shares her own inspiring journey as a child growing up in Orange County who faced bouts of homelessness, finding the support she needed to pursue higher education, becoming a successful partner at a law firm, and then channeling her talents and passion towards serving youths in similar predicaments by joining Project Hope Alliance as its CEO. Project Hope Alliance Website: https://projecthopealliance.org/ Ways to Help: https://projecthopealliance.org/get-involved/

Dr. Ran Anbar from Center Point Medicine joins us for Episode 36: Using Hypnosis with Children to Address Mental, Emotional and Physical Challenges.  Dr. Anbar, MD, FAAP is board certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics, offering hypnosis and counseling services at Center Point Medicine in La Jolla, California and Syracuse, New York. He is a leader in clinical hypnosis and has successfully treated over 5,000 children for a vast variety of conditions.  He details his extensive experience with hypnosis in his new book Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis: A Journey to the Center available for pre-order on Amazon today. https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Childrens-Lives-Hypnosis-Journey/dp/1538153661 Resources: www.centerpointmedicine.com www.centerpointhypnosis.com

Since Covid, so many parents have had to carry so many jobs for their families.  At first it seemed novel, but now it's moved towards burnout.  Jenna and Kristen discuss parental burnout and its characteristics, how to assess if yourself are experiencing burnout, and what to do to support taking care of yourself.

Certified Riso-Hudson Enneagram Instructor Lisa Morrice is back with Mainspring Family Wellness Podcast to share how one deepens in their insights of the enneagram for personal growth.  Lisa and Mainspring are partnering to hold an advance Enneagram class in the fall 2021, and she shares what's in store and why further immersion in the enneagram is such an invaluable tool for understanding one's self.

Kristen and Jenna broach the topic of fostering spiritual wellness for your family through your personal faith, values, and service with Pastor Ines Franklin. Ines shares from her own experience of raising her blended family as well as professional and covers these topics in a way that is helpful to everyone from any faith.

Fusion Academy‘s Heads of School in Mission Viejo and Huntington Beach Venessa Kayrell and Robin Podway join Mainspring to share how reaching children who have previously struggled in the school traditional system because of learning issues, mental health issues, or needing an alternative scheduling for school are thriving, and even thriving during Covid.  Kayrell and Podway help assuage that it‘s never too late to develop critical thinking schools even if you feel like your child is behind because of the Pandemic.  This podcast also touches on twice exceptional students and how to support this very specific learner.

Retired NFL Player Asante Cleveland of 49ers, San Diego Chargers, and Philadelphia Patriots fame knows quite a lot about what it takes to become a professional athlete.  Asante shares his story as a young athlete, the mentors he had that developed his skills, and most importantly how he developed the mental toughness necessary to play Division I Football and eventually in the NFL.  Now Asante has developed a program for youth athletes to grow their ”Pro Mindset” at Mainspring Family Wellness Center.  Asante has such a passion for imparting wisdom and changing perspectives in young athletes, this is a show that will inspire  and great for your children to listen to as well.