Episode 126: Jeanette Yoffe, Therapist, Founder of The Celia Center, Author, and Court-Appointed Reunification Expert

Written By Susie Gurley

On this episode of the Just A Mom podcast, Jeanette Yoffe, a psychotherapist and advocate for children in foster care and adoption, shares her personal journey of spending six and a half years in foster care. Jeanette details the challenges she faced, including trauma, mental health struggles, and the impact of these experiences. She emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma, the healing power of creative expression, and the need for compassion towards birth parents. Jeanette also discusses her reunion with her birth family and the complexities of those relationships, offering insights into the healing process for both individuals and families. Jeanette offers a myriad of resources listed below, including a YouTube channel with many free videos.

Jeanette’s books:
https://a.co/d/0c2objjx
https://a.co/d/05gu8QMY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B149JLWY?ref_=saga_ast_ss_dsk_sdp

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jeanette-icallySpeaking

Non-profit: https://celiacenter.org/

Website: http://www.jeanetteyoffe.com/

Susie Gurley

Susie Stapp Gurley was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, Dan Gurley, shortly after graduating from TCU with a degree in advertising and public relations. In her first career, Susie worked in college admissions and academic advising. Simultaneously she pursued a master’s degree from The University of Central Missouri in sociology and then worked for the Sedgwick County, KS Department of Aging as a case worker. Susie stepped away from the professional world in 1997 to become a stay-at-home mom. She spent the majority of the last 25 years as a wife, mother, and volunteer, primarily in her church and her three children’s schools and activities.

Susie became a mental health advocate after her youngest son became a teen spokesperson about his battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In 2018, at the age of 15, Will founded the You Matter Festival, a music festival promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Will shared his personal mental health struggles with the 1,000-person crowd, which started his role as a local KC teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, Susie recorded a video #Zeroreasonswhy (https://zeroreasonswhy.org), a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide in the Johnson County, Kansas area. This video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of the Just A Mom podcast. Susie decided that she needed to follow the brave trail blazed by her son and became an outspoken advocate for parents of children who struggle with mental illness. The Just a Mom podcast launched in September of 2022 and encourages parents to know that they are not alone and there is hope.

Susie served as the Executive Director of the You Matter Festival and is currently on the Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Board. Susie has grown three children, two daughters-in-law, and a son-in-law.

Next

Episode 125: Dr. Michelle Sherman, Licensed Psychologist, Author, and Teacher