About Dr. Engel
Dr. Jessica Engel is the Founder and Lead Advocate of Engel Advocacy. She holds a PhD in Psychology and brings doctoral-level expertise in trauma, child development, family systems, and crisis intervention to every family she serves. Her academic work includes published research titled The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Academic Performance and Self-Efficacy Among Undergraduate Students, reflecting her deep understanding of how early experiences shape long-term outcomes in both education and emotional development.
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Dr. Engel is a Certified Child Advocate Manager and Guardian ad Litem with the State of Florida and has completed Educational Surrogacy Training through Hillsborough County Public Schools. She is a certified CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) Trainer authorized to train both individuals and other trainers, equipping professionals and caregivers with lifesaving crisis-prevention tools. She also holds certifications in relationship coaching, parenting education, and adoption competency training, allowing her to support families across complex legal, educational, and permanency systems.
But beyond credentials, Dr. Engel’s work is deeply personal.
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She is a mother of two and understands firsthand the immense responsibility, vulnerability, and love that come with raising children. She has both observed and been part of family crisis and trauma. She understands the emotional weight these experiences carry — the sleepless nights, the uncertainty, and the fear of not knowing what comes next. She knows how quickly families can feel overwhelmed when navigating schools, courts, or crisis systems.
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This lived experience informs her professional work. It fuels her commitment to ensuring that children’s voices are heard — especially in moments of chaos. Dr. Engel believes that even when families are facing conflict, legal challenges, educational barriers, or crisis situations, children deserve stability, protection, and advocacy rooted in compassion and clarity.
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Her approach is trauma-informed, child-centered, and grounded in the belief that strong family dynamics can be rebuilt — even after disruption. She works to help families move from confusion to understanding, from conflict to communication, and from crisis to structure and safety.
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Dr. Engel bridges systems that often feel disconnected: education, child welfare, courts, crisis response, and family development. She does not simply guide families through processes — she walks alongside them, ensuring they feel informed, empowered, and supported at every step.
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At the heart of Engel Advocacy is a simple principle:
Every child deserves to be heard.
Every family deserves informed advocacy.
And even in the hardest moments, hope and structure can coexist.