Episode 70 - Tracey Yokas

Mending Families is hosted by Melissa Pemberton and she brings you weekly content that is a mix of trauma-aware interviews, parenting tips for those caring for kids from adversity, and stories from people just like you as they share their beautiful messy moments. Melissa hopes that when you listen each week, you will feel encouraged, and inspired and take a little something away to help you and your family move from broken to mended.

In today’s episode, Tracey shares with us how creativity and using art helped her on her journey of healing. She also opens up about the hard parts of her story that led to her writing her first book with the hopes of inspiring others. Grief and loss, along with mental health conditions, are difficult to navigate and lead us to feel alone at times so Tracey’s memoir can lead to helping others find their healing.

Tracey Yokas creates stuff. When she isn’t writing about mental health and wellness, she can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue. Tracey earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from California Lutheran University and lives in Newbury Park, CA, with her family. You can find her on Facebook (@traceyyokascreates), Instagram (@traceyyokas) or her website, www.traceyyokascreates.com.

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Topics Tracey mentions:

*Tracey’s book Bloodlines: A Memoir of Heart and Healing can be found on Amazon or anywhere books are sold

*If you or someone you know are struggling with eating disorders or self-harm, you can contact your Primary Care Physician for help.

*Generational trauma played a role in Tracey’s story and in turn, her daughter’s story

*Remember that we cannot control our kids and their healing, but we can control ourselves and our own healing

*Check out www.acestoohigh.org for more about Adverse Childhood Experiences

*Therapy is so important for everyone!

*Self-care is equally important and Tracey recommends that you  tap into your creativity if you don’t know where to start

*Find a community so you don’t find yourself isolated and feeling shame

**As an Amazon affiliate, I do receive a small commission when you purchase any of the products I have linked in this post**

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