Dr. Mercedes Samudio, DSW, LCSW (she/her/hers; residing on Tongva Land) is a licensed clinical social worker, bestselling author, international speaker, visionary entrepreneur, and innovative African American mental health researcher. She works with parents worldwide to develop a healthy parental identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development (PID) Model©. She incorporates her Shame-Proof Parenting™ philosophy to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities, which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence the ways parents interact with themselves and their children. Outside of her professional life supporting parents, Mercedes is married to her best friend and soulmate, and they live in sunny Southern California with their 3 fur kids (2 cats and a dog). You can learn more about her work at http://shameproofparenting.com