Trauma & Healing Episodes

Do you ever feel lost in the maze of court dates, school meetings, and sleepless nights, forced into a role you never expected? Are you a grandparent who has become the last line of defense for your family, while the system treats your love and sacrifice as just another case number? Maybe you find yourself grieving not just the loss of a peaceful retirement, but the heartbreak of watching your own child struggle, all while building a new life for your grandchildren. I’m Laura, and like you, my ...

Jennifer Brunton, is an autistic mother and grandmother, and primary caregiver to two brilliant, intense, neurodivergent toddlers. Her projects encompass books, talks (including Keynotes), thought leadership and other articles, and consulting. She is coauthor of The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy. She's worked as a writer and editor at Forbes, Random House, Mirabella, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as for a range of individual, corporate, and academic clients. Are you a grandparent na...

This episode highlights issues concerning rural kinship care. Are you a grandparent stepping into the role of raising grandchildren, questioning how to build a sanctuary out of chaos—especially when trauma lingers in your family’s story? Do legal barriers, relentless exhaustion, or the stigma of addiction leave you feeling stranded, yearning for guidance grounded in real science rather than just willpower? If you’ve ever wished you could pause the world for a moment of rest or clarity, you are n...

Have you ever felt like the system is writing the ending of your grandchild’s story before they’ve even found their voice? Are your grandchildren weighed down by labels—traumatized, behind, abnormal—while you’re expected to manage their pain and follow rigid rules? If you’ve ever felt powerless to change the narrative or wished you could help your grandchild reclaim their identity from the case files, this episode is for you. I’m Laura Brazan, and after my own family was reshaped by adversity, ...

Are you a grandparent or relative in DuPage County or the AgeGuide region of Illinois suddenly responsible for raising a child? Are mounting legal bills, light bills, or school fees starting to feel heavier than your emotional reserves? Does the simple act of parenting feel impossible when every day brings a new administrative challenge? You are not alone—and you shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of kinship care by yourself. I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of Grandparents Raising Gran...

Have you ever wondered whether your grandchild’s emotional outbursts, hyperactivity, or inability to focus are really the result of past trauma—or if something deeper might be at play in their bodies? Are you overwhelmed trying to balance household expenses, legal paperwork, and your own health, all while struggling to understand why traditional therapies just aren’t working? As a grandparent raising grandchildren in today’s world, it can feel like you’re carrying an invisible load, searching fo...

Have you ever been told that your golden years should be about rest, only to find yourself back in the world of school runs, sports practices, and sleepless nights? Are you a grandparent raising your grandchildren, wrestling with exhaustion and identity loss, while quietly wondering if you’ll ever reclaim a piece of yourself? You may be feeling the heavy weight of duty, but beneath the surface, there’s a quieter transformation happening—kinship caregiver benefits. I’m Laura, and on this episo...

In this powerful episode, we dive into the deeply complex and often overlooked intersection of Eating Disorders and Kinship Caregiver Health. Grandparents raising grandchildren frequently navigate the profound impact of childhood trauma, which can manifest in children as severe disruptions to eating behaviors and emotional regulation. However, the toll isn't just felt by the youth; the immense stress of caregiving can drastically impact a grandparent's physical and mental well-being as well. Join us as we explore the underlying trauma responses driving eating disorders in kinship families, discuss practical strategies for creating a healing home environment, and offer vital advice on how relative caregivers can protect their own health while doing this vital heart-work.

Does bedtime feel less like a cozy ritual and more like crossing a battlefield filled with tears, anxiety, and wakeful shadows? Are you a grandparent tirelessly nurturing grandchildren scarred by trauma, craving not just peace at the end of the day, but real tools to foster resilience? Perhaps you recognize yourself in those moments—the digital quick fixes, the fear of changing routines, the exhaustion weighing down your resolve—wondering if traditional sleep training for trauma is the answer, o...

Are you a grandparent, caregiver, or child impacted by generational trauma? Do you wrestle with questions of connection, healing, and the breaking generational trauma? Are you searching for authentic guidance to rewrite your family’s future after abuse or neglect? I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity,' we confront the realities of trauma and healing. Our guest, therapist and author Johnzelle Anderson, shares his powerful sto...

Have you felt the fentanyl crisis impact? Lost a child and now find yourself raising a grandchild while navigating profound grief, financial upheaval, and relentless societal judgment? Are you searching for understanding, practical support, and a community that truly sees the struggles and resilience of grandparents in kinship care? You're not alone. I'm Laura Brazan, host of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity.' In this episode, we sit down with guest Laurel Exne...

This episode is about kinship care legal framework. Are you a grandparent or kinship caregiver navigating the maze of IEPs, 504 plans, and medical decisions while advocating for a child impacted by trauma and neglect? Do you feel overwhelmed by failing systems, mislabeled as a troublemaker simply for demanding the support your grandchild needs to heal? You’re not alone. I’m Laura Brazan, host of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity.' In this powerful episode, legal...

This episode is about kinship youth identity. Welcome to this powerful episode featuring Brayden, an “identity restorer” and dream catalyst whose work with the rising generation will inspire and equip you. Together, we dive deep into his personal journey from self-doubt to empowerment, the transformative influence of storytelling, and actionable methods for nurturing true self-worth in young people who feel defined by circumstances they didn’t choose. You’ll discover: How family trauma an...

This episode is about building a good kinship care framework. Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren while trying to balance compassion with structure in your home? Do you find yourself reverting to “because I said so” parenting, only to meet resistance, trauma triggers, or confusion from the children in your care? Are you yearning for practical guidance, emotional support, and a framework to help you navigate this unexpectedly challenging season of life? I’m Laura Brazan, and like you, ...

This episode is about kinship classroom dyslexia. Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren who struggle with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges, feeling the pressure of school evaluations and overwhelming labels? Are you questioning how to advocate for your grandchild in a world that expects you to fit the 1950s stereotype of a calm, apron-clad grandmother? Do you find yourself navigating kinship care, facing not only academic hurdles but also painful family secrets, wondering how t...

This episode is about co-regulation for neurodiverse children. Are parenting strategies from decades past falling short with your neurodiverse grandchild? Do meltdowns and anxiety leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or questioning your instincts as a caregiver? Are you searching for actionable solutions to soothe trauma-driven behaviors, foster emotional health, and rebuild the bonds in your family? I’m Laura Brazan, and as both a seasoned mother and a grandparent unexpectedly raisin...

In this heartfelt episode of *Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity*, host Laura Brazan, welcomes Ellie Moss, creator of the whimsical world of Lickity Pop, to explore the healing power of softness and sanctuary for families navigating trauma. Drawing on personal experience and creative resilience, Ellie Moss shares how she built Lickity Pop—not from a business plan, but as a survival strategy to soothe overwhelmed minds and restore nervous systems stretched thin. Toge...

What happens when a visionary leader is brought to their knees by a family crisis? In this heartfelt episode, Laura Brazan welcomes Brad Hoffman, pastor and grandparent raising his grandchildren after the loss of his daughter, to explore the transformational power of integrating personal adversity with leadership. Together, they discuss the unique challenges grandparents face as primary caregivers, reveal practical strategies for self-care, and unpack the shifting nature of identity after traum...

Are you a grandparent whose dreams of quiet dinners and sunset walks have been replaced overnight by diapers, carpool lines, and trauma therapy? Are you struggling to balance your own aspirations, marriage, and wellbeing while raising young children in your golden years? You're not alone. There are 2.7 million of us navigating the messy middle of kinship care, facing daunting legal, financial, and emotional challenges that are often overlooked. I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of "Grandpar...

Are you a grandparent raising your grandchildren, struggling with feelings of resentment, loss, and the overwhelming challenges of kinship care? Do you find yourself triggered by family trauma or haunted by the fear of repeating old patterns? You’re not alone. I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity," we dive deep into the heart of emotional healing with special guest Dr. Anthony Silard, author of "Love and Suffering." Together...

Are you a grandparent unexpectedly navigating the complexities of raising your grandchildren? Are you overwhelmed by healing childhood trauma, legal challenges, and the grief of lost family dreams? Do you struggle to balance the physical demands of caregiving with the wisdom and love only you can offer? I’m Laura Brazan, and after more than three decades as a mother, I was called to step in as the unexpected CEO of my family when my grandchildren needed me most. In “Grandparents Raising Grand...

Are you a grandparent navigating the unexpected challenges of raising your grandchildren, seeking comfort and understanding in the face of loss or family upheaval? Do you wonder how to nurture resilience and hope in your grandkids while struggling with your own emotional, financial, and physical limits? Are you searching for meaning in the everyday moments of caregiving and longing to connect with others who truly understand how isolating—and transformative—kinship caregiving can be? I’m Laur...

Are you struggling with old emotional patterns as you care for your grandchildren, wishing you could break cycles from your own childhood—but finding yourself repeating the past? Do you feel the weight of shame, regret, and unresolved family wounds, wondering how to heal while navigating the challenges of raising traumatized grandchildren? The emotional legacy we pass on can feel like an endless loop, but change is possible—even now. I’m Laura Brazan, host of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren...

Have you found yourself unexpectedly raising your grandchildren after a family tragedy, feeling lost in a system that seems impossible to navigate? Are you carrying the immense weight of grief while advocating for the children you love? Do you wish for a community that understands the unique challenges faced by kinship caregivers and offers guidance, not judgment? The struggle of turning personal pain into a force for change can feel lonely and overwhelming. I’m Laura Brazan, and I know firstha...