The Emotional Work of Caregiving (with Dr. Maya Coleman)

In this episode, Dr. Matt Biel speaks with Dr. Maya Coleman, Director of Hand in Hand Parenting and faculty member at the Thrive Center. Hand in Hand is an international organization that has been supporting families for 35 years across nearly 40 countries.Dr. Coleman brings a unique perspective shaped by her experiences as both a clinical child psychologist and as a parent who discovered firsthand that professional expertise doesn't automatically make the work of caregiving any easier. The conversation explores what it really means for communities to support thriving in young children, why working with children is inherently emotional work, and how we can help the adults in children's lives navigate that emotional complexity.Through Hand in Hand's approach, Dr. Coleman teaches adults how to listen to children and to each other in ways that build warm, attuned, and responsive relationships. The organization's five concrete listening tools help families and educators create conditions where emotions can be expressed and processed within caring relationships.