Welcome to Surviving-ish! In this episode, we dive deep into the intersection of legal advocacy and mental health with the incredible Paula Yost

Paula isn't just a high-level trademark attorney; she is also a licensed clinical mental health clinician, a foster/adoptive parent, and a powerful advocate for trauma-informed practices within the legal system.

We start things off with our "surviving" moments—ranging from Paula’s experience navigating a rare North Carolina snowstorm with three boys to the technical frustrations of IRS verification. From there, we trace Paula’s journey as a first-generation college student who used hyper-achievement to forge a new path, eventually earning two degrees at Virginia Tech and pivoting to law school in the wake of 9/11.

In this episode, we discuss:

•The Court as Triage: Why Polly returned for a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health to better understand how the legal system functions as a frontline for mental health crises.

•Trauma-Informed Lawyering: How Paula teaches lawyers to recognize signs of mental illness and respond with empathy rather than just procedure.

•The Cost of Caring: A candid look at secondary trauma and the emotional toll on advocates.

•Advocacy in Action: Paula’s work as a CASA/guardian ad litem and her personal journey of adopting a foster youth as an adult.

•Resilience in Parenting: Navigating the medical challenges of her children, including cleft lip/palate and the realities of acute preeclampsia and premature birth.

Paula Yost also shares a sneak peek into her upcoming book, Tumbleweed, which explores the themes of advocacy, healing, and the vital importance of supporting families through their hardest seasons. #SurvivingIsh #MentalHealth #TraumaInformed #LegalAdvocacy #FosterCare #Adoption #Resilience #Podcast

https://www.amazon.com/Tumbleweeds-Advocate-Children-Yourself-Failing/dp/B0GQ9M2FK6

https://paulayost.com/

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