ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption Trauma, Safety, Peace of Mind, Biblical Encouragement, Respite, Journaling

203 – Why Do Good People Suffer? 3 Hidden Benefits for Adoptive Parents

Why do bad things happen to good people? Sometimes the answer can only be seen through the perspective of time ⏳.
Hi Neighbor!
In this episode, we’ll dive into the story of Joseph in Genesis 📖 and see how time gave him clarity on why he suffered the things he did.
We’ll also explore 1 Corinthians and Romans to discover 3 powerful benefits of why good people and especially adoptive parents walk through seasons of suffering. 💔
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

202 – Struggling with Conflict? Here’s a Simple Tool to Empower Your Adopted Child with Erich Nelson

As an adoptive parent, the way you were parented may or may not be the best approach in parenting your adopted child.
Hi Neighbor!
When what you’re doing as a parent 🚫 isn’t working, how do you flip the script 🔄 and approach parenting differently? 🤔
In this episode, one of the individuals who helped my son Jonny navigate the challenges of residential treatment joins the show.
My neighbor 🏡 Erich Nelson shares a script 📝 that adoptive parents can use to de-escalate a volatile situation ⚡ by empowering their children 💪.
Grab a pen ✍️ and paper 📄 — this is definitely an episode for which you’ll want to take notes.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Tim
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
Follow Erich’s The DoLifeBig Project

201 – How Do You Love an Adopted Child Who Won’t Let You In? Jackson TerKeurst’s Story of Survival, Hope, and Healing

When connection feels impossible, is it still love? (Yes! Here’s how.)
Hi Neighbor,
Today, I’m joined by my neighbor from West Africa by way of Nashville, Jackson TerKeurst. Jackson opens up about his journey from civil war in Liberia to Tennessee, and what it was like to be an adopted teenager with walls built for survival.
He brings a powerful perspective on what love felt like on the receiving end of trauma… and what helped him slowly open the door to connection 🔓❤️.
🎧 You’ll hear: • 🧠 What adoptive parents need to understand about the “shut down” behaviors they often misread
 • 🪨 How Jackson’s parents stayed steady, even when he wouldn’t engage
 • 🔑 What finally broke through the silence (and what didn’t)
 • 💔 Practical encouragement for the parent who feels like their love isn’t working
This episode dives deep into what it means to love through rejection 🚫, resistance 🌀, and silence 🤐 — the painful places trauma creates when a child’s heart can’t receive the love you're offering.
If you’re an adoptive parent or someone walking alongside a family impacted by trauma, this episode will encourage you to stay rooted in hope even when it’s hard to see fruit. You’ll learn how to hold space, stay steady, and love through layers of trauma.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,
Tim
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
Connect with Jackson:InstagramWebsiteBook

200 – Feeling Alone in Your Adoption Journey? You’re Not the Only One

If you’ve ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone and you’re not broken.
Hi Neighbor,
Today marks not only our 200th episode, but also the third anniversary of this podcast. What started as a simple idea and a backyard walk has now grown into a global community of adoptive parents seeking encouragement, connection, and biblical hope.
In this milestone episode, I’ll take you back to where it all began. I’m recording from my outdoor “studio,” the same backyard path where I first began sharing adoption content three years ago. I reflect on the origin of the podcast, the evolution of its name, and the heart behind every episode: letting adoptive parents know they’re not alone in the hard work of parenting.
You’ll also get a sneak peek at what’s ahead for the podcast and community. Coming attractions include:
💬 Adoption Life Coaching – Biblically grounded, experience-based coaching for adoptive parents
📧 Email Community – Behind-the-scenes content, affirmations, and parenting tools delivered weekly
🎥 YouTube Channel – Additional video content and encouragement
🎙️ Expert Interviews – Hear from therapists, counselors, and adoptees themselves
🧭 Daily Doables & Practical Tools – More actionable ways to apply spiritual truths and regulate emotions
🌐 Streamlined Access – To easily find coaching, community, and podcast extras
If you’ve ever felt like no one understands the unique struggles of adoption, this episode is for you. You’ll hear how community, coaching, and Scripture have shaped this podcast and how they can support you too.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way!Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Join the private Facebook community: TimSuggests.com/community

199 – Is Frustration Stealing Your Joy? 3 Ways to Get It Back

Have you ever been so frustrated by things going on around you that you couldn't see clearly, you couldn't think clearly, your judgment was impaired? What's a person to do about that? May I suggest you work on raising your awareness?
Hi Neighbor!
In this episode, I share a personal story about a time when I became so frustrated that I almost missed a positive opportunity that was right in front of me.
It’s something I need a constant reminder about and I hope it will encourage you too.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m putting together something designed to offer real, practical help and emotional support for fellow adoptive parents like you. It’s called Anxiety Management Coaching for Adoptive Parents.
I’d love to talk with you about it, about what you’re walking through, and what kind of support would be most meaningful right where you are. To book an Anxiety Management Call with me, just email me tim@anchorsofencouragement.com
If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

198 – Anxiety Management for Adoptive Parents: 3 Write Ways to Find Calm in the Chaos

Is adoption life chaotic for you? Is it even possible to find peace in the middle of meltdowns, uncertainty, and daily struggles?
I believe it is. Not just to see calm from a distance but to actually experience it, even in the middle of the storm. 
But first, you’ll need to become a copycat.
Hi Neighbor,
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone. Anxiety Management is a real need in the trenches of adoptive parenting—and today, we’re talking about 3 Write ways to copy the right example and see calm in chaos.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
What it looks like to manage anxiety practically and spiritually.
Why following the right example can lead to peace.
3 powerful ways to “copy” your way to calm.
PLUS: A bonus copycat strategy you won’t want to miss.
And your Daily Doable to help put it all into practice.
You don’t have to live in constant survival mode.
Anchors of hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m putting together something designed to offer real, practical help and emotional support for fellow adoptive parents like you. It’s called Anxiety Management Coaching for Adoptive Parents.
I’d love to talk with you about it, about what you’re walking through, and what kind of support would be most meaningful right where you are. To book an Anxiety Management Call with me, just email me tim@anchorsofencouragement.com
If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

197 – Feeling Alone as an Adoptive Parent? 7 Anchors to Offer Hope

Have you ever felt completely alone—like you were the only one facing something so hard it seemed no one else could understand? What do you do in those moments? Who do you turn to?
If you’re an adoptive parent feeling that way right now, may I gently suggest this: it’s time to grab hold of an anchor.
Hi Neighbor,⁣
I’m imagining an adoptive parent listening to this episode, feeling isolated and overwhelmed. I know that feeling well because my wife and I have been there, too. There were times we were convinced no one else could possibly understand what we were walking through.
The adoption journey can be incredibly hard. But it doesn’t have to be lonely.
If you’re feeling alone, please hear this, you’re not. In this episode, let’s talk about how to find your anchor when the waves hit hard.
Anchors of hope and healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m putting together something designed to offer real, practical help and emotional support for fellow adoptive parents like you. It’s called Anxiety Management Coaching for Adoptive Parents. I’d love to talk with you about it, about what you’re walking through, and what kind of support would be most meaningful right where you are. To book an Anxiety Management Call with me, just email me tim@anchorsofencouragement.com
If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

196 – Parenting a Child with RAD: An Adoptive Mom’s Story of Heartbreak and Strength

“By the time he left, I felt like I was close to a mental breakdown. And I would tell my husband over and over, I can’t do this much longer. I just can’t. 
You know, I would go sit in the Walmart parking lot for three hours until he went to bed. And so I was avoiding my whole family. That affected my husband because here my husband is supposed to be my protector, but legally he can’t protect me against this thirteen-year-old who’s constantly verbally abusing me.”
Hi Neighbor,
Navigating the complexities of parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a journey few understand, yet many adoptive parents endure in silence. 
In this episode, I sit down with Karen, an adoptive mother of six and a survivor of the extraordinary challenges RAD can bring to a family.
Her vulnerability is a reminder that while this path is isolating, hope and healing are possible.
RAD is a daily battle that can reshape a family. In Karen, we see what it means to survive, to keep going, and to find strength through connection and support.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m putting together something designed to offer real, practical help and emotional support for fellow adoptive parents like you. It’s called Anxiety Management Coaching for Adoptive Parents. I’d love to talk with you about it, about what you’re walking through, and what kind of support would be most meaningful right where you are. To book an Anxiety Management Call with me, just email me tim@anchorsofencouragement.com
If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
 
 

195 – Are You a Struggling Adoptive Parent? 3 Ways To Restore The Sparkle In Your Eyes

Could it be that the very struggles you've walked through have prepared you to encourage someone else?
Hi Neighbor!⁣
Why do bad things happen in life?
Some might say, “That’s just life.” But I believe there’s a deeper meaning behind that question, something worth pausing to reflect on.
In this episode, let’s reframe that narrative together. I’ll share a moment from David’s life in Psalm 13, a powerful example from Paul in 2 Corinthians 1 and 7, and a bold conversation with a queen in Esther 4.
Through their stories, we’ll explore 3 ways you can help someone restore the sparkle in their eyes even in the middle of hardship.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m putting together something designed to offer real, practical help and emotional support for fellow adoptive parents like you. It’s called Anxiety Management Coaching for Adoptive Parents. I’d love to talk with you about it, about what you’re walking through, and what kind of support would be most meaningful right where you are. To book an Anxiety Management Call with me, just email me tim@anchorsofencouragement.com
If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
 

194 – How Music Therapy Can Make a Difference for Your Adopted Child

Even adults who haven’t been through trauma can tell you that it’s sometimes difficult to talk about our feelings. I think that is the beauty of music therapy. Because clients can come. They don’t necessarily need to say exactly what they want to explore. We can just explore in music.
Hi Neighbor,
Did you know that music can be a powerful tool for healing in the lives of adopted children navigating trauma?
Today, I’m excited to welcome back my neighbor from London, Crystal Luk-Worrall. Crystal is a music therapist, EMDR practitioner, and clinical supervisor who specializes in helping children and families heal from early trauma.
In Episode 180, Crystal introduced us to EMDR therapy—a powerful approach for adoptive parents supporting kids through trauma.
In this episode, she shares her personal journey—from aspiring concert pianist to discovering her true calling as a music therapist. Crystal explains how music opens up new pathways for communication and healing.
Music allows kids to express what words often can’t. In therapy, it becomes a bridge—not just between sounds, but to feelings that may be too big or complex to name. As parents, we can help our children explore their emotions rather than suppress them.
Grab a pen and paper—Crystal has some simple, practical ways you can start incorporating music therapy at home.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. You’re not alone in this journey. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
Listen to today’s episode and share it with fellow adoptive parents. These conversations foster strength and understanding in our community. Be the anchor others may need right now.
Connect with Crystal:Freebie: https://www.clapandtoot.com/6waystoregulateWebsite: https://www.clapandtoot.com/Email: crystal@clapandtoot.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-luk/
 
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always consult your healthcare provider with your health questions and concerns.
As is the case with anyone that I bring on the show to talk to you, I encourage take notes and listen to the information. Then do your due diligence and use what you can in your adoption journey to parent your child the best way you can.