What a great and candid conversation with this RAD mom, Barb from Canada. We skip the beginning of her story and go straight to the heart of it all. Barb is an adoptive mom to a daughter from Ethiopia who is her "RAD child". She and her husband also have a biological, younger son. We talk about all things RAD including general RAD "stuff", sibling issues, parenting issues, marriage, and more. Barb offers lots of good insight and advice for other RAD parents. Later in the episode, Tracey sparks discussion about about letting go, remembering your power, changing your mindset to find freedom, and how sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to get there. After all, "rock bottom is a good place to start".

Barb also has a message that she wasn't able to share during the episode. She told me that she often sees negative social media comments from people witnessing other moms "losing it" in public. These comments are almost always judgmental. Barb wants to share a more empathetic perspective; imagine what that mom has been through to be in a place where she has a breakdown in public. We don't know everyone's story. So instead of reacting and responding with judgment, look upon these moms with compassion. Barb's advice? Smile, make eye contact, and give that mom a nod of support.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

I Move for Change Fundraiser

www.radadvocates.org

RAD Silver Bracelet Project

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/radswag

Tracey's Support Groups, Retreats & Coaching

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

On the pod today, Joe Dennis! Certified Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Director at Mindful Counseling. He's also trained in meditation and mindfulness.

You'll love Joe. Joe talks trauma and has an amazing ability to turn theory into analogies that make sense. He gives practical tools that you as a RAD parent can use right now while you're in crisis and suggestions for later. When it comes to trauma and therapy, Joe is innovative, creative, and cutting edge. Ever heard of the technique "Brain Spotting"?

Fun fact: I contacted Joe to chat about his expertise as a therapist. But did you know that he just happens to have an aunt who is a foster mom and specializes in RAD? Small world!

I highly recommend that you watch Joe's video clips on his social media pages (like instagram) where he offers a lot of great insight and information!

Get in touch with Joe:

WEB:

Website: www.mindfulcounselingutah.com

Email: joe@mindfulcounselingutah.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram: joedennis.counsels

FB:https://m.facebook.com/joedennis.counsels/

TikTok: joedennis.counsels

Remember RAD mom Heather and her son Legend? I interviewed these two way back in January.

Well, a lot has happened and they're back with an update!

Since I last spoke with Heather and Legend, Legend moved out of the house, moved across country, and is now back at home. They're here to tell you about it and how they're doing today.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Taos Tiny House Retreat - For Tired Parents

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/retreats

What RAD parent doesn't experience some sort of fear? What RAD parent doesn't worry? I bet you can't name one RAD parent who isn't currently living this or who hasn't lived it.

In this episode of RAD Talk With Tracey, I talk about fear from a perspective that you probably haven't heard before. I hadn't. And wow, does it ever fit with RAD parent life!

I also pass along 5 practical exercises to help you better understand your fears and start worrying less.

This is a mix of information from one of my favorite motivational speakers and books I'm reading. I'm always on the lookout for meaningful ways to help YOU, my fellow RAD parents, including me!

I'd love to hear your thoughts after you listen to this episode. What does fear look like for you? How deep in it are you? How will you implement these coping strategies to make them work for you? Post your responses on the RAD Talk With Tracey Facebook page, Instagram, or email me at talkwithtracey@gmail.com.

And remember, just keep swimming.

If you need support:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

This was one of the most fun and informative talks on the podcast! You do not want to miss this episode. Nancy Thomas is a pioneer and has already left a huge legacy in the world of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Nancy has been working with parents and children with RAD for 47 years and has an 85% success rate in the U.S. Her passion is infectious and she provides so much hope, knowledge, and insight during our discussion. Nancy also knows first hand what it's like to be a parent raising children with RAD. If you're looking for support, encouragement, and deeper insight into RAD and parenting children with RAD, you'll find it all in this episode.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Families By Design (Nancy Thomas website)

www.attachment.org

Healing Hearts Camps

https://attachment.org/parents/camps/

Email Nancy:

nancy@attachment.org

Tracey's Podcast and Coaching:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/podcast

In parts 1 & 2 of this episode, I'm not a RAD parent coach or Podcast Host, I'm a RAD mom telling my story along with my husband, James. Our story is a little bit about 'then' and a little bit about 'now'. And I have to say that it was a rare and special opportunity to have the chance to sit down with my husband and hear some of his thoughts and experiences. Some RAD dad perspective. I don't think we've ever had the chance to spend this much time to do that until now.

The two of us were so naive when we adopted. And we were still clueless 7 years in. Clueless that our kids had Reactive Attachment Disorder, clueless why raising them was so hard, and clueless about what to do to make it better. We had a supportive family, supportive friends, and even some solid support within the system. Yet, we still struggled. And for way too long. Everyone's story is different but the same.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Navigating RAD Conference

www.radadvocates.org

RAD Talk With Tracey

www.radtalkwithtracey.com

In parts 1 & 2 of this episode, I'm not a RAD parent coach or Podcast Host, I'm a RAD mom telling my story along with my husband, James. Our story is a little bit about 'then' and a little bit about 'now'. And I have to say that it was a rare and special opportunity to have the chance to sit down with my husband and hear some of his thoughts and experiences. Some RAD dad perspective. I don't think we've ever had the chance to spend this much time to do that until now.

The two of us were so naive when we adopted. And we were still clueless 7 years in. Clueless that our kids had Reactive Attachment Disorder, clueless why raising them was so hard, and clueless about what to do to make it better. We had a supportive family, supportive friends, and even some solid support within the system. Yet, we still struggled. And for way too long. Everyone's story is different but the same.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Navigating RAD Conference

www.radadvocates.org

RAD Talk With Tracey

www.radtalkwithtracey.com

Christine Dalton is no stranger to adoption. Her mom was adopted, she had an older adopted sibling growing up, she was a single foster parent in her early 20's, and then she adopted her own child when she was married. Months after she adopted, Christine found out she was pregnant! Her adopted son has RAD. Christine opens up about what it's like to raise a son who started demonstrating rage and violence when he was only 6 years old which continues today. She also talks about what it's like living through that violence and rage while raising her biological daughter. Christine and her husband have done "all the things" for their son and their story is not over. Their son was recently sent home from program during Covid, "kicked out" of a therapeutic boarding school, and they've had to scramble to find a new program for him because home is not an option. Hoping this placement lasts but knowing that nothing is certain when you're raising a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Resources Mentioned In this Episode:

Tracey's Support and Coaching:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

Tupelo Children's Mansion:

www.mansionkids.org

RAD Advocates & Navigating RAD Conference:

www.radadvocates.org

Meet Jennifer Linch, a "former" RAD mom who utilized the Second Chance Adoptions program. Jennifer shares her story about the adoption of her daughter, how it didn't turn out the way anyone expected, and what it was like to let go and place her daughter with a different family.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Second Chance Adoptions:

https://wiaa.org/2nd-chance-adoption/

Navigating RAD Conference:

www.radadvocates.org

Tracey's Support Services:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

Carole McKelvey is a Journalist turned Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She was friends with Jim Fay (Love & Logic) and helped Jim write the first book about Reactive Attachment Disorder in the U.S. in 1981. Carole was inspired by Jim's work and went back to school and became a counselor herself. She has specialized in working with families and children with Reactive Attachment disorder for over 30 years. Those seeking her services will find a caring, kind, and wise counselor. This may be as a result of foster care, adoption, or simply losses within the family. She has also worked extensively with trauma victims. Carole has written several books herself and continues to practice counseling in New Mexico.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Tracey's Support and Coaching Services:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

Navigating RAD Conference

www.radadvocates.org

Carol McKelvey Counseling

Phone: (505) 503-9445

www.carolemckelvey.com

mckelveycarole@gmail.com

Do you ever find yourself saying, "I need a break" but you have no idea how to make that happen? In fact, it actually feels impossible? As a RAD parent, I know this feels hard. REALLY hard. But hard doesn't mean impossible. In this episode, you will learn how to take a break and create moments of respite for yourself. You'll learn that not only is taking a break possible, it's necessary. And you'll learn how to start healing. Tracey outlines her 7 step respite process and guides you through each step. It's time to put the focus back on you. Let's get started.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

T

racey's support and coaching programs:

www.radtalkwithtracey.com/support

Navigating RAD 2021 Conference:

www.radadvocates.org

Welcome to part two of Monica's story. In this episode, she talks about her organization called RAD Sibs, a place for siblings to come together.

Meet Monica Badgley, RAD mom and Founder of RAD Sibs. In this episode, part one, Monica talks about taking in her sister's three daughters who have RAD. She didn't know it at the time and just thought she was doing the right thing. In part two, Monica talks about her organization called RAD Sibs; what it is and where it's headed.

Dr. Michele Coleman is a kind and gentle soul who is an adoptive mom, a RAD mom, and the Founder of the Attachment Healing Center in New Mexico. Another great resource and support for RAD parents, their Rad children, and their families! According to Dr. Coleman, RAD can be healed and she and her team do just that. Listen to her personal story, her approach to RAD, and learn how you can get support. And if you're a RAD mom or dad, you don't want to miss her warm, encouraging words of wisdom just for you near the end of our interview.

Learn about Karen Poitras and The RADish Ranch. Another fantastic resource for the RAD community. Karen created the RADish Ranch after working extensively with families and children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Karen talks about how she gained her professional experience working with and learning from Nancy Thomas at "Healing Hearts Family Bonding Camps", attachment summer camps for children and families with RAD. Karen knows and believes that children with RAD can heal. She has seen it. Karen created The RADish Ranch in order to continue to provide a place for RAD families to heal. For more information, visit www.theradishranch.org.

This is part two of my interview with Ann Lamphere. Today, Ann talks about her program called " The Second Chance Adoption Program". This program helps families who have adopted a child and are struggling. Ann helps these families and their children find a new family that is a much better fit. The program has a 95% to 97% success rate and as a result, is a positive outcome for the child and the families. Ann also wrote a book about her experience called, "My Adoption Life: Living With A Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) Child".

Ann Lamphere's story is one full of twists and turns. She was the first single adoptive parent in the state of Utah with the Children's Services Society in the 1970s. Ann thought she was adopting a little boy from India but a girl showed up. The minute she saw the girl's photo, she thought to herself, "there's trouble there". She was right. And the young girl was already on the plane to the US and to Ann. In part one of this podcast interview, Ann shares her story about raising her adoptive daughter with RAD, her second adoption, and everything in between. Her daughter and son-in-law are currently incarcerated for murder. In part two of our interview, Ann talks about her program called " The Second Chance Adoption Program". This program helps families who have adopted a child and are struggling. Ann helps these children find a new family that is a much better fit. The program is extremely successful and the result is a positive outcome for the child and the families. Ann also wrote a book about her experience called, "My Adoption Life: Living With A Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) Child".

Writer. Advocate. Mentor. Trauma survivor. Chris Prange Morgan is an adoptive RAD mom and amputee. She talks about her experience raising a child with reactive attachment disorder, including how her state of mind led to a serious accident and injury. Chris became a trauma survivor herself and shares about the first time she felt peace. It was watching the sunset from her hospital bed. She also has unique insight regarding trauma and is able to relate her injury to how children with RAD must feel. Chris has been featured in The Huffington Post, Psychology Today, The Today Show and more. Today, she openly shares her experiences, insight, and how she perseveres.

Carrie O'Toole adopted her son from Vietnam not knowing he had Reactive Attachment Disorder. She shares her personal story including how she knew "something" was wrong and how she reached out for help. But everyone involved told her, "just get him home and you'll all be fine". Carrie also defines the exact day that everything changed for her and watched her son become part of another family. She is a RAD mom, author and and became a coach after living through her experience.

Dwayne Orser shares his unique and honest perspective about growing up in an alcoholic family, his own trauma and trauma work, and becoming a counselor. Dwayne provides a look into his childhood thoughts, feelings and experiences. He also offers validation, support, and hope for RAD parents with a comforting message at the end of the interview.