Tag: Mental-health
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When Special Needs Parenting Becomes Survival: Faith, Endurance and Autism Parenting with Celeste Shally
What happens when special needs parenting moves beyond exhaustion and into survival? In this deeply honest and faith-filled conversation, Carrie M. Holt sits down with Celeste Shally, author of While We Wait: Clinging to Christ in the Trenches of Special Needs Parenting, to talk about the rarely discussed reality of long-term violence in special needs…
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Finding Rest in Caregiving: Burnout, Faith, and Letting Go with Jess Ronne
In this profoundly moving conversation, Carrie M. Holt talks with author and advocate Jess Ronne about her powerful and unexpected story—one marked by disability, grief, resilience, surrender, and the refining work of God. Jess shares her journey from learning of her son Lucas’s profound disabilities, to walking with her late husband through terminal brain cancer,…
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The “Shoulds” That Sink Us: Untangling Guilt in Grief
In this episode, Carrie M. Holt discusses the complex emotions of guilt that often accompany the grieving process. She unpacks the difference between conviction (from the Holy Spirit) and accusation (from the enemy), and how the “shoulds” we carry pull us deeper into shame and self-judgment. Carrie offers practical advice for managing guilt, including the…
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Overcoming Adversity: A Journey of Resilience with Dr. Nicole Wilke
In this episode, host Carrie M. Holt engages with Dr. Nicole Wilke, a researcher and therapist, discussing the challenges and triumphs of parenting children with special needs. They explore the importance of resilience, the impact of early adversity, and the role of attachment in healing. Dr. Wilke shares her personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the…
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Experiencing Denial in The Unexpected Grief
Denial is our body’s way of protecting us from the reality of our situations, but sometimes we get stuck there. In this episode, Carrie discusses this stage of grief: some reasons we get stuck, the risks of being stuck in denial, and some practices for moving beyond it. April 22, 2025 Resources: Jason Gray: Remind…
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When the Unexpected Means Parenting Kids With Trauma With Amy J. Brown
April 8, 2025 Parenting children with behavioral issues and trauma can be a difficult position with the added shame and judgment we bring not only on ourselves but also from other people. In this interview, Amy J. Brown shares how she has reframed the narrative around her parenting, some strategies she uses to rest, and…
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When The Unexpected Involves Infertility and Adoption With Jen Headlee
In this episode, Carrie interviews Jen Headlee, whose journey involved infertility, adoption, navigating the NICU, and her son’s many other health challenges. She discusses bargaining with God, guilt over grief, and embracing the reality of her situation. Listen in to Jen’s unexpected life story. If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my…
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When This Unexpected Life Involves Grief
Grief and the grieving cycle is an ongoing part of our journey as special needs parents. Passionately sharing about how we need to expect grief to be a part of this unexpected journey, Carrie explains four types of grief we encounter as disability parents and gives important things to remember, as well as remembering how…
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So you didn’t know you were grieving?
Riding the roller-coaster of grief Our son’s diagnosis came in 2006 while I was twenty weeks pregnant and expecting a perfectly healthy baby. On “D-Day” or diagnosis day, our world was shattered, and I began to grieve. This grief came not at the permanent loss of a person, but the loss of a dream of…