Kids & FamilyParentingEducationSelf-Improvement

The Dr. Jana Podcast

Dr. Jana Hunsley

The Dr. Jana Podcast, hosted by adoption expert Dr. Jana Hunsley and her co-host Beth Cook, an adoptive mom full of wisdom and warmth, explores the realities of life after adoption. Each episode offers honest conversations, practical tools, and encouragement to help adoptive families and their communities. Because life after adoption is complex—but it’s better when we navigate it together.

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22 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 26 min
English

Episodes 22

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S1 · E21
October 12 · 30 min
Episode 21: Getting on the Same Page as Parents
In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the often-common challenge in a two-parent household - not being on the same page in parenting. Even in connected relationships, it is normal to have different parenting philosophies. Add in the complexity of trauma, loss, and mental health and those differences can become even more pronounced. In today's episode, Dr. Jana and Beth talk about the concept of triangulation - what it is, why it happens, and the impact on the family system. They also explore helpful, practical ways to become a united team in parenting in order to be the strong foundation your children need.
S1 · E20
September 28 · 33 min
Episode 20: How to Read Between the Lines of Behavior
In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the language of trauma, helping caregivers see the impact of complex trauma on everyday interactions, behaviors, and relationships. Dr. Jana provides a helpful image for caregivers to maintain a trauma-informed mindset in everyday interactions and explores the most common beliefs that impact self-worth and relationships when someone has a history of relational trauma. Dr. Jana and Beth provide helpful tips for caregivers to help their children heal from trauma-related wounds.
S1 · E19
September 14 · 28 min
Episode 19: How to Navigate Control Battles
In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the common challenge of power and control battles in the home and how to actually navigate these battles successfully. Dr. Jana and Beth provide insights on what the root needs of the control battles really are and how to be curious to understand what your child is experiencing. In this episode, they walk through the common root causes of control battles and offer tips for how to better respond to your child's needs.
S1 · E18
August 31 · 27 min
Episode 18: The Intersection of Faith and Adoption
In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the intersection of faith as Christians and living life in adoptive, foster, and kinship communities. In this episode, they discuss the bigger story of it all - battling brokenness in this world - that is often forgotten when dealing with everyday stressors and crises. Dr. Jana also discusses the parallels of our adoption as God's children and the ways God shows up for us as an adoptive father. Insights, helpful reminders, and tips are shared to remain steadfast in the midst of unmet expectations or challenging circumstances.
S1 · E17
August 17 · 33 min
Episode 17: The Mental Load of Parenting ADHD
In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the common diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that many adopted children can experience. They explain the importance of seeing your child's needs clearly and defining them appropriately, understanding ADHD and how it affects the brain, and slowing down enough to consider the differences in how your child may interact with the world. Strategies to manage the mental load of parenting are discussed as well as ways to best support your child with ADHD.
S1 · E16
July 27 · 30 min
Episode 16: How to Find Calm in Stress & Blocked Care Pt 2
This episode is the third and final of a three-part series on blocked care in caregiving. In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss how to find calm in the midst of chronic stress, overwhelm, and blocked care that many foster and adoptive caregivers can experience. You will gain insights into how to reduce the shame of it, develop empathy for yourself and your family, manage expectations, and practically meet the needs in your family.
S1 · E15
June 8 · 29 min
Episode 15: How to Find Calm in Stress & Blocked Care
This episode is the second of a three-part series on blocked care in caregiving. In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss how to find calm in the midst of chronic stress, overwhelm, and blocked care that many foster and adoptive caregivers can experience. You will gain insights into the power of regulation for you as a caregiver and practical tools to find calm each day.
S1 · E14
May 25 · 26 min
Episode 14: Stress, Overwhelm, & Blocked Care in Caregivers
This episode is the first of a three-part series on blocked care in caregiving. In this episode, Dr. Jana and Beth discuss the common experiences of chronic stress, overwhelm, and blocked care that many foster and adoptive caregivers can experience. You will gain insights into why you may be experiencing this phenomenon - the neurobiology of it all. And you will gain a deeper understanding of the differences between chronic stress, emotional reactivity, and blocked care.
S1 · E13
May 11 · 25 min
Episode 13: Balancing Structure & Nurture in Change
This episode is the final one of a five-part series on the tricky balancing act of structure and nurture in parenting in adoptive families. Your natural parenting might be more structured and traditional - what was modeled for you from your parents. But you've been taught in the adoption community that good parenting leans heavy in compassion and nurturing care. And yet, neither approach seems to be creating calm in your home. How do you effectively balance the two? Find out how to manage change and transitions while balancing structure and nurture in this episode with Dr. Jana and Beth.
S1 · E12
April 27 · 26 min
Episode 12: Balancing Structure & Nurture in Daily Routines
This episode is the fourth of a five-part series on the tricky balancing act of structure and nurture in parenting in adoptive families. Your natural parenting might be more structured and traditional - what was modeled for you from your parents. But you've been taught in the adoption community that good parenting leans heavy in compassion and nurturing care. And yet, neither approach seems to be creating calm in your home. How do you effectively balance the two? Find out how to manage daily routines, including chores, hygiene, homework, and morning and bedtime routines, while balancing structure and nurture in this episode with Dr. Jana and Beth.
S1 · E11
April 13 · 30 min
Episode 11: Balancing Structure & Nurture in Discipline
This episode is the third of a five-part series on the tricky balancing act of structure and nurture in parenting in adoptive families. Your natural parenting might be more structured and traditional - what was modeled for you from your parents. But you've been taught in the adoption community that good parenting leans heavy in compassion and nurturing care. And yet, neither approach seems to be creating calm in your home. How do you effectively balance the two? Find out how to discipline your child while balancing structure and nurture in this episode with Dr. Jana and Beth.
S1 · E10
March 30 · 26 min
Episode 10: Balancing Structure & Nurture in Giving Choice
This episode is the second of a five-part series on the tricky balancing act of structure and nurture in parenting in adoptive families. Your natural parenting might be more structured and traditional - what was modeled for you from your parents. But you've been taught in the adoption community that good parenting leans heavy in compassion and nurturing care. And yet, neither approach seems to be creating calm in your home. How do you effectively balance the two? Find out how to give choice and offer collaboration in your parent-child relationship while balancing structure and nurture in this episode with Dr. Jana and Beth.
S1 · E9
March 16 · 26 min
Episode 9: Balancing Structure & Nurture to Really Meet Needs
This episode is the first of a five-part series on the tricky balancing act of structure and nurture in parenting in adoptive families. Your natural parenting might be more structured and traditional - what was modeled for you from your parents. But you've been taught in the adoption community that good parenting leans heavy in compassion and nurturing care. And yet, neither approach seems to be creating calm in your home. How do you effectively balance the two? Find out in this episode with Dr. Jana and Beth.
S1 · E8
March 2 · 24 min
Episode 8: Navigating Adoption Story Part 2
In this episode, Dr. Jana discusses the importance of narrative for an adopted child to make sense of themselves, the world, and relationships. Dr. Jana shares specific language to use and ways to answer questions to give honest and developmentally appropriate information to help guide children who are adopted to a complex, accurate understanding of their stories.
S1 · E7
February 23 · 27 min
Episode 7: Navigating Adoption Story Part 1
In this episode, Dr. Jana discusses the importance of narrative for an adopted child to make sense of themselves, the world, and relationships. Dr. Jana shares perspectives for caregivers to consider to lay a healthy foundation to begin having complex conversations with their children about their stories, the losses their children have experienced that they did not deserve at early ages, and how to make sense of it all.
S1 · E6
February 16 · 26 min
Episode 6: Truth for Professionals
This episode is the final episode in a five-part series where we share the truth we want each group of people who are involved in life post-adoption to hear. Today Dr. Jana and Beth are discussing the important role professionals play for adoptive families and the challenges that professionals can face. They discuss the realities of complex trauma being at the center of one's daily work and the important habits professionals need to have to do this work well.
S1 · E5
February 9 · 26 min
Episode 5: Truth for Extended Family
This episode is the fourth episode in a five-part series where we share the truth we want each group of people who are involved in life post-adoption to hear. Today Dr. Jana and Beth are discussing the important role extended family and support systems can play for adoptive families. They discuss why this relationship can sometimes be challenging for both parties, what families really need, and how extended families can be the greatest assets to meet those needs well.
S1 · E4
February 2 · 27 min
Episode 4: Truth for Siblings
This episode is the third episode in a five-part series where we share the truth we want each group of people who are involved in life post-adoption to hear. Today we are discussing adoptive siblings - or the children in families who can sometimes feel invisible or pushed aside while their parents are caring for the more immediate needs of other children in the home. We discuss some of the most common patterns siblings can face from Dr. Jana's research and clinical work, the personal experiences of both Dr. Jana and Beth as adoptive siblings, and how to best support siblings.
S1 · E3
January 26 · 28 min
Episode 3: Truth for Adoptees
This episode is the second episode in a five-part series where we share the truth we want each group of people who are involved in life post-adoption to hear. We discuss some of the most common patterns adoptees can face in Dr. Jana's clinical experience, why those patterns exist, and how to improve these patterns.
S1 · E2
January 19 · 28 min
Episode 2: Truth for Caregivers
This episode is the first of a five-part series where we share the truth we want each group of people who are involved in life post-adoption to hear. We discuss some of the most common experiences for caregivers, why the complexity can feel so hard sometimes, and what to do about it.

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