Hope for Hurting Parents with Dena and Tom Yohe

We are thrilled to have Dena and Tom Yohe, the authors of Hope
for Hurting Parents, join us today. The book comprises a
curriculum for support groups and is a resource that we, at
Mosaics of Mercy, have used, and today we talk to them about
their background and how they came to write this book. But before
the book, Dena and Tom started a support group for parents whose
children suffer from addiction and mental health issues and
recognized a need for a group that is faith-oriented. While they
benefited greatly from joining an Al-Anon support group, they
realized that they wanted to create a space for specifically
Christian parents to find encouragement and where the focus is on
them and not their troubled kids. In this episode, the pair talks
about their goal with the Hope for Hurting Parents community and
groups, how the sessions are structured, and whether
non-Christian parents will benefit from attending. We talk about
the importance of mothers and fathers staying on the same page,
coming to sessions together, overcoming the fears around
vulnerability and sharing, and the numerous benefits to joining a
support group. Dena and Tom also share the many other resources
they have and some encouraging stories of restoring hope to
parents. 


   


Key Points From This Episode:


Our guests talk about their background in pastoral ministry
and their involvement in Cru. 

Hear about Dena’s and Tom’s children and the journey of
starting Hope for Hurting Parents. 

Their goal of helping parents to not only survive but thrive
amid challenging circumstances. 

Who the Hope for Hurting Parents groups are for and why they
choose to be specific about it. 

Find out how the groups are structured and how they
facilitate engagement and feedback. 

Two aspects they stress in the groups: confidentiality and
not offering unsolicited advice. 

Some insights on whether the group is suitable for someone
who is not a Christian.

Fears people might have about coming to the group and how
they approach reluctant fathers.

Overcoming the obstacle of men who are uncomfortable with
vulnerability and sharing emotions.  

Becoming aware that working your own program is the best
thing you can do as a parent. 

The benefits of being part of these groups, including feeling
understood and finding hope. 

Learn about the many other resources Dena and Tom have to
support hurting parents. 

Stories about parents who are transformed even when there is
no improvement on the part of their children. 






Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


Dena Yohe on Twitter


Tom Yohe on Twitter


Hope for Hurting Parents 


You Are Not Alone 


Hope for Hurting Parents (Organization)


Hope for Hurting Parents on Facebook


Dena Yohe YouTube Channel


Cru


Al-Anon


The Other Side of Sadness 


Sherry Burkhard


Mosaics of Mercy