127. Free to Flourish (with Amy O'Dell)

Guest Bio: Amy O’Dell is the Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder, a non-profit school and research center in Roswell, Georgia, and AHAVA, a digital platform for human restoration and growth. 

As a leading healthcare innovator and global pioneer in special needs education, neurobiology, and development, Amy gives people with neurobiological delays or disorders a clear path to hope, healing, and transformation amidst the obstacles they face. Her groundbreaking methodology, the Interpersonal Whole-Body Model Care (IWBMC) model, harnesses the extraordinary ability of the brain to heal and develop new capacities at any age. 

Amy’s greatest passion is to help provide restoration and uncover a potential most would overlook. You’re invited to join Amy on her mission to create a world where everyone is Free to Flourish. Amy is also the author of the forthcoming book, Free to Flourish.

Show Summary: Have you ever heard of the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care? It sounds like a lot, but at its core it means combining science and love to help the neurological development of children. Amy O’Dell founded Jacob’s Ladder and developed the model of care after realizing her son’s development was delayed. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins on God Hears Her as they learn Amy’s story and get insight that can help us all.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I love people deeply, but I am a dyed-in-the wool introvert, so I restore my soul with quiet and simple things. And so, even as a kid I think it’s sometimes hard for someone who’s made like that and designed like that to find their safe place in the world.” —Amy O’Dell

• “Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care. . . It’s the balance of science and love.” —Amy O’Dell

• “There’s so much in our world coming at us at all times. So much information, so much dialogue, so many platforms, so much!” —Amy O’Dell

• “When you talk about love and compassion for another, and just being present with them, there’s this whole cascade of neurochemicals that are released in the brain.” —Amy O’Dell 

• “You could have the best methodology in the world, . . .but if the person on the other side of that care delivery feels unsafe, feels like the brain is in a state of fight, flight, or freeze, not one thing that you are inputting or imparting in them will ever make a difference.” —Amy O’Dell 

• “The process of going through trials and sufferings. . .if we understand them the way God intended them, they forge us as steel so we are so solid no matter what life throws at us.” —Amy O’Dell

Verses: 

• 1 Peter 5:10

• Psalm 46:5 

Links: 

• Jacob’s Ladder: https://www.jacobsladdercenter.com/

• Free to Flourish: https://freetoflourish.com/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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