The Speak Up

Growing Up in the System: Amber’s Journey Through Foster Care

Amber Canales shares her powerful story of prenatal trauma, abuse, life in a shelter, and years in kinship care inside the foster system. She describes the daily hardships, emotional and physical abuse, and the turning point when teachers, CPS, and a caring aunt helped her and her siblings find safety and stability. This episode highlights resilience, the long road to healing, and ways listeners can support children impacted by foster care.

The Grandma Effect | with Naomi Castillo on What It Meant to Be Raised by Her Grandmother

In this episode of Speak Up, Naomi Castillo tells her powerful story of being raised by her grandmother after her parents separated and struggled with instability. She shares memories of visits to her mother in jail, summers living with relatives, and the sacrifices her grandmother made to keep her safe. Naomi also describes reconnecting with her paternal grandparents and father, setting boundaries with her mother, and how her grandmother’s steady love shaped her into the person she is today. A heartfelt tribute to grandparents raising grandchildren and the resilience that comes from chosen family.

Healing in the Playroom l with Christina Villarreal- Davis on How Play Unlocks What Words Cannot

In this enlightening episode, Misty sits down with Christina, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and a registered play therapist supervisor, to delve into the transformative world of play therapy. Christina shares her extensive knowledge and passion for working with children, providing invaluable insights into how play therapy serves as a powerful tool for emotional and psychological healing. Listeners, especially kinship caregivers and foster parents, will gain a deeper understanding of how play therapy can support children who have experienced trauma. Christina discusses the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment for children to express their emotions and experiences through play.   Join us as we explore the nuances of therapeutic play, the types of toys used, and the role of caregivers in facilitating a child's healing journey. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or simply intrigued by the process of play therapy, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to empower you in supporting children's emotional well-being. _________________________________________________________________ Guest: Christina Villarreal-Davis, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, RST-C/T Clinical Director/Owner of Wellspring of Life Counseling and Play Therapy Center 🧠 Wellspring of Life Counseling and Play Therapy Center, PLLC Located in San Antonio, TX Offers professional counseling services for children (play therapy), adolescents, adults and couples. ➡️ Follow on Instagram @wellspringsoflifecounseling [https://www.instagram.com/wellspringsoflife] 📍 Learn more or inquire about services: wellspringoflifesa.net   📚 Referenced Experts & Concepts: * Gary Landreth – Pioneer in Play Therapy, creator of the ACT Model (Acknowledge the feeling, Communicate the limit, Target acceptable behavior) * Neuroplasticity – The brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections, especially in safe and healing relationships * Mary Ainsworth & John Bowlby – Attachment theory researchers 📊 Mary Ainsworth identified 3 main attachment styles: Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_6rQk7jlrc&t=86s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_6rQk7jlrc&t=86s] 1. Secure Attachment – Child is upset when parent leaves but is quickly comforted when they return. 2. Insecure-Avoidant Attachment – Child avoids or ignores the caregiver; shows little emotion when parent leaves or returns. 3. Insecure-Resistant (Ambivalent) Attachment – Child is distressed when parent leaves and angry or clingy when they return. Later, researchers (Main & Solomon) added a 4th: 4. Disorganized Attachment – Child shows confused, contradictory behaviors, often linked to trauma or inconsistent caregiving.

A Friend's Side of the Story | with Rita Robledo — A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Foster Care Through the Eyes of a Friend

What does foster care look like when you're standing just outside the story—but still close enough to feel every ripple? In this episode, I sit down with my good friend, Rita Robledo, who didn’t grow up knowing about the system and wasn’t trained to navigate it—but found herself walking alongside me through the thick of it anyway. She asked the questions, held the space, and stayed when things got complicated. Whether you’re a foster parent yourself, supporting someone who is, or just wondering how to make a difference without knowing all the lingo—this conversation will remind you that being present matters. Sometimes the most meaningful roles come from the people who simply choose not to look away.

Family, Reimagined | with Lori Sofet on the Kinship Path No One Talks About

What happens when family steps in—not because they have to, but because love pulls them in? In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Lori Sofet to talk about her unexpected journey into kinship care. When she said yes to caring for her toddler relative, she wasn’t prepared for how hard—and how healing—it would be. Together we unpack the quiet, behind-the-scenes battles of kinship caregivers: the loyalty pulls, the loneliness, and the fierce love that makes it all worth it. Whether you’ve walked this road or are just now learning what kinship care means, this is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and what it really means to reimagine family. ________________________________________________________________   📚 Learn More About Trauma-Informed Care, TBRI®, and ACEs If you're stepping into foster care, kinship care, or just want to better understand the impact of trauma, these are the resources Lori and I mention on this episode... 🔹 Trauma-Informed Care An approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and creates environments of healing and safety. → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T43zJDgTNPA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T43zJDgTNPA] 🔹 ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood—like abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction—and they can affect long-term health and development. → ACEs Basics & Quiz: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html] → Watch: NPR’s “ACEs Explained” short video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk]