Danny Huerta is a bilingual psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, and vice president of parenting and youth at Focus on the Family, where he has served families since 2004. He is the author of 7 Traits of Effective Parenting, coauthor of the Focus on the Family Age and Stage resource, and cohost of the Practice Makes Parent and Focus on Parenting podcasts. His work draws on more than twenty years of counseling experience, including an ongoing private practice in Colorado Springs.
Danny speaks and writes widely on parenting, child development, mental health, and media discernment, appearing in various media outlets and on Focus on the Family’s parenting YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook channels. His approach connects rigorous research with biblical grounding in a way that is both accessible and deeply practical for parents at every stage.
He and his wife, Heather, have been married since 1997 and have two adult children. They share a love of the outdoors and a passion for the families they serve.
One of the most important ongoing conversations you can be having with your children at each age and stage of their development is the topic of sexuality from a biblical worldview. There is so much that contributes to a child’s sexuality, including the development of their character as the initial foundation. Your child’s impressions of sexuality are influenced by their experiences, relationships, and so much more
along the way. They are being bombarded with misleading messages from culture and peers on what sexuality is about and should look like. In this session, you will be introduced to practical tools and resources that will help you intentionally guide your children—with clarity, understanding, and compassion—toward sexual wholeness and health from a biblical worldview. You will learn about the 12 ongoing conversations you can lead with your kids from a young age to establish a well-rounded maturity and vision of a biblically based sexuality. Our children do not need to be afraid of the word “sex.” They need to be equipped with a clear understanding of themselves, their body, their relationships, and how these interweave within God’s beautiful design of sexuality.
Our country has been steeped in a mental health crisis for some time, and parents are truly struggling to maintain mental health in themselves and their homes. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, drug use, body image issues, and death by suicide continue to rise among children and teens. Is diet the issue? Is social media the culprit? The fact is that there are multiple factors impacting mental health. You will learn about the current issues and ways to create a steadfast culture in your home that pursues a healthy everyday rhythm and response to life. I have been counseling families for more than two decades, and I’m passionate about teaching families ways to build mental health in the day-to-day. In this workshop, you will learn practical, biblical, and research-based ways to foster a mentally healthy home, help your anxious child, and address each key area of mental health in yourself and your home.
Almost half of parents raising teenagers say their teen is addicted to screens. And researchers say that nearly 80% of kids have smartphones by the age of 12. In our time together, we will discuss how different personality types engage with technology and entertainment. The saturation of screens within society has created a very real complexity for parents and an overwhelmingly distracting and addictive option for kids and teens. We’ll be discussing vulnerabilities and challenges for each of the temperaments and the most current research on the impact of screens on the brain, relationships, and development. You’ll briefly learn about the seven traits of effective (authoritative) Parenting and how these traits will help you guide your family in the area of technology and entertainment. Throughout this session, you will be provided with practical tools you can immediately implement in your everyday parenting as you guide your family (including yourself) toward a healthy use of screens. You will be given opportunities to consider your family’s current screen use, its impact on your home, and specific plans for the future. If you want to spend some time seriously considering the impact of screens on your family and healthy ways to manage screens in your home, you’ll want to be a part of this workshop.
