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, inspired and take a little something away to help you and your family move from broken to mended.

Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH is an author, speaker, and instigator of hope. Weaving user-friendly brain science into everything she does, Jessica offers deeply trauma-informed support and education for home, school, and community audiences. With her decades of experience in the child welfare field, Jessica helps parents and professionals understand what’s really going on, why it’s happening, and how to find the way forward!

On today’s episode, Jessica talks with us about how she works to help educators learn more about trauma and approach teaching through a trauma informed lens. She also talks about how Riley the Brave came to be and shares about her latest Riley project that was recently released. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or have a child in your life, you will be sure to get something out of this episode!

If you are interested in learning more about Jessica, you can find her at jessicasinarski.com and bravebrains.com. Jessica is also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! You can always email Jessica’s team with specific questions at info@jessicasinarski.com

Topics Jessica mentions:

*Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference - find more information HERE

*The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke-Harris

*P.A.C.E. is an idea presented by Dan Hughes that Jessica has found helpful when approaching educators about trying something new with our kids

*Free resources offered by Jessica for parents AND educators can be found HERE

*Reframe our thinking from the “chain of command” to the “chain of support” as it relates to advocating for our kids’ needs to be met in the school system

*Social workers and Therapists should read the book The Nuerobiology of Attachment Focused Therapy. Jessica also teaches a course centered around this book as well. TBRI and Dyadic Developmental Practice are both great models to look into as well.

*Educators and Schools/Districts - Dr. Lori Desautels has great resources at the website revelationsineducation.com. Jessica also founded BraveBrains to help educators as well!

*Robyn Gobbel has a wonderful podcast, The Baffling Behavior Show, and resources on her website

*Dr. Chaitra Wirth-Leiker and her book Adoptees Like Me

*Purchase your own copy of Riley the Brave, the conversation cards, the latest Riley Workbook, and all of Jessica’s other books HERE

*Check out Jessica’s latest project, Your Amazing Brain: The Epic Illustrated Guide, HERE

**Any links that take you to Amazon are products that Mending Families does receive a small commission for if you purchase**

Where to find Mending Families:

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Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com