Expert Guest: Mercedes Samudio, LCSW Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a parent coach, speaker, and author who helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. Over the course of her career, she has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes started the #EndParentShaming movement as well as coined the term Shame-Proof Parenting – using both to bring awareness to ending parent shame. Mercedes is a leading parenting expert and has an amazing following on social media that allows her to reach the hearts of thousands of parents who feel heard and seen on their parenting journey. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, US News and Report, Woman’s Day, LA Parent Magazine, CBS LA, and Kids In The House. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children. You can read more about her parenting expertise at http://shameproofparenting.com.     In this episode, Mercedes covers the following: How family meetings can help strengthen relationships.  Important things to consider when having family meetings.  How to respond to sibling rivalry and the benefits.  The importance of listening to children and allowing them to participate in family discussions and problem-solving.   Mercedes’ Book – Shame Proof Parenting  Mercedes’ Website  https://www.facebook.com/ShameProofParenting/ www.playtherapycommunity.com     https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/   https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/   https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/   www.counselinginbrevard.com   www.playtherapycommunity.com   www.parentingintherain.com   www.jackieflynnconsulting.com   https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt