What Horses Teach Us about Kids in Foster Care: Part 2
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This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with longtime trauma counselors and Groundwork Ranch co-founders Dave Wyner and Lottie Grimes. If you haven't already listened to Part 1 yet, we suggest you do that first.
This episode delves into how to set healthy boundaries — with the foster care system, with the kids in our care, and with ourselves.
Just like in Part 1, Dave and Lottie use examples of their work with horses to bring their lessons to life.
Groundwork Ranch provides free equine-assisted learning programs for foster and adoptive parents.
Featured Guests
Lottie Grimes | MA, EDS, LPC
Lottie received her Masters and Educational Specialist degrees in counseling psychology from James Madison University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.
In addition to her role as executive director of Groundwork Ranch, she operates a private counseling practice where she helps people navigate difficult life transitions and reclaim their personal power.
Before offering equine-assisted services, Lottie spent years working with abused children and youth.
Dave Wyner | MA, LPC, NCC
Dave received his Masters in clinical mental health counseling from Regis University. He’s a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist.
In addition to his work as co-founder of Groundwork Ranch, Dave has a private counseling practice, called A Path Forward Counseling, where he offers office-based and equine-assisted counseling, specializing in helping people turn post-traumatic distress into post-traumatic success.
Dave is also a former foster parent.
Bios & Photos from Groundwork Ranch & Aere Photography.
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Podcast Sponsor
Kids Crossing
Foster parenting is not easy. But having the support of a private agency can make a world of difference.
Kids Crossing is a private foster care agency, created by foster parents for foster parents.
They provide many free services including:
Therapy for all placements
One-on-one parenting coaching
Interesting online trainings
In-home family preservation services
A home coordinator that acts as a buffer to the foster care system
And so much more!
All of these services are offered in-house by Kids Crossing and all use the same trauma-informed therapeutic model which means everyone is speaking the same language and keeping each other up-to-date.
Not having to find and coordinate all those services on your own means more time to play with the kid(s) in your care!
Kids Crossing welcomes diverse and nontraditional families. They have four locations across Colorado in Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and La Junta.
Hope felt like she had way more help than she could use as a foster parent which led her to start thinking about how she could help other families who could benefit from even just one more friend.