Addressing mental health in college is extremely important. Today we’re talking to Chris Troutt, LMFT, a Christian family therapist who brings a unique background to her clients. She and her late husband, Burt, are parents to twelve children and have twenty-five grandchildren. Chris is a biological mother, an adoptive mother, a stepmother, and a foster mother; she brings both education and personal perspective into the therapy session. Chris believes strongly in systems theory and in the power of God working in a person’s life. It is her desire to help others during their journey. Chris specializes in Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Drugs, Trauma and Attachment Disorders. Her work with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is especially meaningful to her as a parent of a child diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Chris has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, Tennessee. Chris is the co-founder and CEO of the Papillion Center for FASD with offices in Gallatin, Tennessee and Paducah, Kentucky. She speaks nationally and internationally on Understanding Children and Families from Hard Places, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

In episode 517 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and why Chris is so passionate about it, what are the realities of neuro-biological outcomes for trauma in a child’s life, what opportunities there are to heal after that trauma at a young age, common signs that a college student might need to seek help for their mental health, how students can manage the pressure of social media while maintaining a healthy self-image, how students can develop resilience and cope with rejection, advice on dealing with imposter syndrome, tips for managing test anxiety or performance stress, and how students learn to set boundaries with friends, family, and professors to protect their mental health. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5BixEP_uCI