Episode #189 Carrie McCarter Helps Kids for a Living, But Felt Like She Was Failing Her Own
Feb 15, 2026
Meet Carrie McCarter
Carrie is a speech pathologist with a master’s degree and a professional background in early intervention. Despite her expertise in child development, she found herself completely overwhelmed when raising her twins with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In this episode, Carrie shares her raw and honest journey from the early days of professional confusion to becoming a passionate advocate who uses a brain-based approach to restore peace in her home.
In This Episode You’ll Hear
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The Professional Paradox. Why having a medical and educational background didn't prepare Carrie for the sensory needs and dysregulation of her own children.
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The 10 Brain Domains. How shifting from a compliance-based model to a brain-based model changed the trajectory of her parenting.
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The Turning Point. The relief that came with a formal diagnosis and finding a community that spoke her language.
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Regulation Over Intervention. Why joining a child’s chaos with your own never works and how to prioritize regulation for everyone's sanity.
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The Power of Yet. Shifting the focus from current limitations to the belief that brain development continues well into adulthood.
Why It Matters
Many caregivers experience the heavy weight of guilt when traditional parenting techniques fail. Carrie’s story highlights that even the most "qualified" professionals can feel lost without an FASD-specific lens. By changing the way we look at behavior—seeing it as a symptom of a brain-based struggle rather than a choice—we can move from frustration to effective advocacy and support.
Resources
Free FASD Workshop Registration Register for our upcoming free workshops on February 23, 25, and 28. We will dive into a brain-body approach to aggression and help you build a blueprint for long-term stability.
Connect with Carrie McCarter For training inquiries, speaking engagements, or to connect with Carrie, you can reach her at:
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