The Family Room (The Quest)

Join co-hosts Mari Cleveland from St. Jude the Apostle and John Gordon and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel as they speak with authors, theologians, and local priests and lay leaders to provide your family encouragement, resources, and hope. Enjoy heartfelt stories and engaging conversations with Catholics who are excited to share their life experiences and acquired wisdom to help your family continue to live out your faith with joy.
Duck, Duck Groom: A Guided Journal
Oct 9, 2024
Duck, Duck Groom: A Guided Journal

Anna Sonoda, LCSW, psychotherapist


Anna Sonoda, licensed clinical social worker and author of Duck, Duck, Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target, first appeared on The Family Room in December 2022, and her insights about the grooming process have continued to resonate. In this episode, Anna returns to discuss her latest project, Duck, Duck, Groom: A Guided Journal, a workbook designed to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse process their experiences and begin the journey toward healing.

The hosts reflect on their initial conversation with Anna and how her message of hope and empowerment for parents still holds significant value. The conversation dives into how grooming operates, its stages, and how parents can intervene to protect their children. Anna also shares success stories from her work across the country and offers advice on spotting the grooming process early, ensuring parents understand the steps they can take to safeguard their children. She provides thoughtful guidance on addressing the often-overlooked aspect of adult survivors dealing with past trauma.

Anna Sonoda is a graduate of Emory University, where she double majored in Anthropology and French Studies. Anna earned her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2006 at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. She received her clinical license in 2009. Anna’s clinical experiences include counseling convicted sexual offenders, residential mental health, outpatient anger management and domestic violence treatment, and dual diagnosis in both residential and outpatient settings. Her counseling experience was enhanced after she became a mother, where she saw firsthand that grooming is where adults must focus their attention. She wrote Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target for concerned parents and adults working with children. She educates individuals, groups, and agencies in order to protect children. Anna is the mother of five children, ages 5-15, and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

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