“Never say never in your journey.” – Eleni Paris
Natalie and JJ sit down with Eleni Paris, a licensed therapist and devoted mom, as she shares her deeply personal journey raising her daughter Sophia, who has cognitive and speech impairments.
Eleni opens up about navigating cultural expectations, emotional Burnout, and the realities of parenting a child with developmental delays—all while juggling her professional identity. From the search for a diagnosis to managing Anxiety in public spaces, she speaks candidly about Grief, joy, faith, and the power of vulnerability.
If you're a caregiver, a parent of a child with special needs, or simply looking for real talk about love, resilience, and finding purpose through challenges—this one’s for you.
🧠 Topics Covered:
- The emotional highs and lows of Caregiving
- Cultural impacts on care in the Greek-American community
- Why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival
- Faith, family, and building a support system
- Coping with the evolving needs of a child with disabilities
Eleni Paris is a licensed marriage and family therapist, proud Greek-American, and devoted mother of two daughters—one of whom is cognitively disabled and speech impaired. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Eleni holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Virginia Tech. She grew up surrounded by a vibrant “Big Fat Greek” family culture while also enjoying the rhythms of a classic American upbringing—a blend she considers a true blessing.
With over 27 years of marriage and a lifetime of caregiving experience, Eleni brings deep empathy and lived Wisdom to her Therapy practice. Her personal journey, particularly in raising a daughter with complex and undiagnosed needs, has shaped her approach to supporting families, couples, and fellow caregivers. Today, Eleni runs a thriving online practice, where she combines clinical expertise with heartfelt understanding to help others navigate life’s most personal challenges.
Social Media:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eleniparislmftllc
Website: www.eleniparislmft.com
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#CaregiverSupport #SpecialNeedsParenting #CulturalCaregiving #ConfessionsPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #ParentingWithPurpose #EleniParis
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Known since childhood as “The Elliott Girls” or simply, “The Girls”, it makes sense that we work together to support our mother, and each other. Our trio begins with Jenefer Jane “JJ” who was and always will be “in charge”. She’s the peacekeeper. The responsible one, ensuring Natalie and Emilie remain alive. Next is Natalie, the middle child, who was and always will be Miss Congeniality. She’s the athlete. The rebel responsible for three babysitters exiting the summer of ’84. Then there is Emilie, the youngest, who was and always will be “the baby”. At 6’1”, she is the sensitive and quiet soul. The one responsible for the guinea pig that begged for lettuce and the stray dog we adopted from the bus stop.
After high school we went separate ways, from New Mexico to North Carolina. JJ would go on to get her Master’s in Business Administration and work in the finance world before partnering with her now husband, Dexter, to run a variety of businesses. Natalie would go on to get her Master’s in Social Work degree, and work in the mental health field, advocating for children and families to receive the most appropriate services. Natalie would marry and divorce early on but later marry Jason. Emilie would exit college early to marry and gift us with Owen and twins, Maxx and Natalie Jane aka “The Kids”. Emilie would later divorce and work with county government, focusing much time on caring for the kids.
The source of the sisterhood falls to Jim aka “Big Jim” and Connie, small town high school sweethearts married for almost 40 years.
In 2005, at the age of 52, mom would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She hid the disease for years behind dad’s 6’2” frame. The tremors and sudden inability to move were both calmed and steadied by his arm and simple presence. He was her rock. Our rock. Close family and friends knew of her chronic illness, but to the rest of the world, everything was “fine”. Life would turn upside down when our dad unexpectedly passed in 2011 of a massive heart attack at the age of 58. The assumption was Dad would always be mom’s caregiver but that wasn’t God’s plan.
Mom would spend the years following our father’s death desperately seeking a cure for Parkinson’s while trying to manage her symptoms. As the years went by, the cruel symptoms associated with the disease increased, negatively impacting her body while her mind remained clear and in tune. We lived our lives checking in to make sure she was “okay” but knowing the day would come when we had to do more. And then it did. The summer of 2019 changed everything. That’s where the real caregiver story begins for us. Little did we know she would be only the beginning of our caregiving journey.
In March 2022, Natalie’s husband, Jason, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. From the first time Jason detected something off about the swollen lymph nodes in his neck, to the formal diagnosis, and the decision to move to New York City to participate in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the journey would push them to their limits. The silver lining of his diagnosis was the cancer brought them closer to God, restoring their faith in Him while also experiencing a myriad of blessings through the kindness of family, friends, and strangers. Their story is a testimony that will inspire and offer hope.
