Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode tackles a very sensitive and difficult subject: sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is on the rise in Canada. This episode will educate you about how traffickers operate and what to be aware of as a parent. Note that this episode mentions sexual assault and is not suitable for children. We recommend parents listen to this episode to discern if it’s right to let their teenagers hear. An important note before we begin: If you are concerned that your child could be the victim of sex trafficking or is being groomed for sex trafficking you must intervene, but you should do so carefully to ensure you don’t put your child’s safety at risk. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1.833.900.1010 and they can advise you on how best to proceed. Most importantly, any disclosure of sexual abuse made by a minor must also be reported to the police or a child welfare agency right away.

Episode notes:

Lynda Harlos’ book Walk a Mile: A Mother’s Journey into Her Daughter’s Secret Life has not been reviewed for endorsement by Focus on the Family Canada. The occasional use of strong language in Lynda’s book will concern some readers. You can also watch Lynda’s story on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEDT-NpTyW8

Focus on the Family Canada series on protecting children from sexual abuse

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/protecting-children-from-sexual-abuse

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2024 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today, you’re in for an inspiring conversation with Carissa Youssef, a leader with a servant’s heart who is passionate about God’s redemptive work. Born in Chicago, Carissa lived throughout the Midwest until her family settled in Seattle in 1993. After graduating from high school, Carissa moved to British Columbia to attend university where she earned her BA in Communications and later her MBA. Carissa spent nearly 15 years of dedicated work in the fight against extreme poverty, and she now serves as the executive director of One Day’s Wages, where she continues to advocate for the most vulnerable. Carissa and her husband, Bob, live in Abbotsford, BC, with their two daughters.

This conversation with Carissa Youssef is facilitated by Kara Pippy, chief marketing officer at Focus on the Family Canada.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

In today’s episode, we are tackling a deeply personal issue – emotional abuse in marriage. Words don’t leave physical marks, but they bruise the spirit. This episode is full of practical advice and insights from marriage experts to help work through this daunting topic. While we recognize that men are also victims of emotional abuse, we hear from women more often which is why that dynamic is described this episode. That being said, these principles apply whether it's the wife or husband who is the victim of emotional abuse.

Please note that reference to the individuals and organizations quoted does not constitute a blanket endorsement of either the individuals’ external work or their respective organizations.

Episode notes:

Read a related article here: “Words that bruise: Are you emotionally abusive?”

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/words-that-bruise-are-you-emotionally-abusive

The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick

https://shop.focusonthefamily.ca/The-Emotionally-Destructive-Relationship

Understanding Abuse digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/understanding-abuse

Unpacking Biblical Separation and Divorce video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/unpacking-biblical-separation-and-divorce

Understanding Abuse in Marriage video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/understanding-abuse-in-marriage

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

© 2013 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.