Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

If time was the greatest healer we'd all be done healing by now. So what IS the biggest healer? And what does healing even mean. Listen as we obsess on healing to help you along your journey to wholeness.Vin runs a Facebook group where adoptees and adopters can learn from one another in a friendly and no conflict environment.Connect with him at:https://www.facebook.com/vinadopteejarrodListen to Vin on other episodes of Thriving Adopteeshttps://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/what-stops-us-thriving-with-vinhttps://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/vin-adoptees-emotional-rollercoaster Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you feel confused? Clarity brings peace and helps us heal. Transracial adoptee Sydney shares some of the key insights that have brought her healing clarity. Listen in for your own insights.Here's a bit about Sydney from her website:At the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020, I received a Instagram DM from a girl claiming to be my half sister. As a transracial adoptee (biracial/half black, adopted by a white family) who has always been curious about her birth family, I knew that this text would change my life. And it did.I was raised in a predominately – white community and experienced things such as separation anxiety, microagressions and identity crises for the majority of my life. Taking a DNA test and finding my half sister was just the beginning of my journey to finding my identity.At the University of Tampa, I took a writing class and chose adoption as my subject for a research paper. I assumed all I would have to do is tell my story, do a little research and I’d get an automatic A right? Well, that’s not exactly what happened. As I was researching, I came across the words “transracial adoption”. Ironically, I had absolutely no idea what that meant, but when I found out, my whole world was flipped upside down.Suddenly, all of my anxiety, confusion, and feelings about being out of place were justified. I wasn’t alone.For me, it has been a journey of realization and self-love that got me to where I am now. My goal is to educate parents who plan to or have already transracially adopted about what it takes to raise a child of a different race. I also am very passionate about speaking to other adoptees, hearing/sharing their stories and showing them that they are not alone.Transracial adoption is not a topic that is talked about very often and not many people even know what it is. I plan to spread awareness to the subject through social media platforms.My life as an adoptee has not been easy, but I have also been blessed with opportunities that may have not happened if I wasn’t adopted. I hope that I can inspire others with the knowledge of transracial adoption and my passion for change.https://sydneyparkhurst.com/https://www.facebook.com/sydneyparkhurst6/https://www.instagram.com/adopteesydney/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtgR6jSgFOGWSxWQAjgTZXAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-parkhurst-243783184/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

June believes that she was born 'out of the fog'. She cried incessantly for her first 2 years. That preverbal trauma of relinquishment is sub-conscious for so many of us. Until it isn't. We come out of the fog to see the dense back clouds of trauma. Tears fall as the clouds burst and rain pours down. So what stops our tears? What if one of those things is taking adoption less personally? Listen in as June shares a lifetime of healing.Here's a link to the research June mentions https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/149233054.pdfHere's more about June from her website:I am June, or rather, I was her for 10 days before I was adopted, and my name was changed forever. I chose to write my book - SECOND CHOICES - as June because she comes from a family of writers and poets and lovers of words. June is the part of me dictated by DNA. Irrevocable and undeniably a slice of who I am.As an adoptee, the adoption issue was always close to my heart, and seeing and hearing the effect of it on the adoption community made me jump into action. My debut novel, Second Choices, was born.Born in South Africa and now living in Scotland, I have been writing since I can remember. At first, it was poems and articles for the school newspaper and newsletters.I joined a writing group about fifteen years ago, thinking it was all about poetry, but it turned out it was a group for short story writers. For the first time, I realized how much I loved building characters and stories around them.After a stint working for a local newspaper, the idea of writing a book started to become more plausible. On a personal note, I am a wife, a mother, a stepmom, and a grandmother. I love nature and wildlife, photography, and connecting with people. More at https://junewrightauthor.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092658341567https://www.instagram.com/junewrightauthor Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you believe that you're enough? Do you believe you are loveable? Do you believe you are loved? Relinquishment sets in motion all sorts of beliefs about ourselves. Listen in as Carrie explores debunking beliefs to get to the truth.Here'a a bit about Carrie from her website:"I was adopted from Sanshui in Guangdong Province at nine years old. From surviving as a child in China and being raised in San Francisco, CA, my childhood has profoundly shaped my perspectives as an adult and visual artist. It has also deepened my visual sensitivity as a designer with compassion and empathy. My professional background ranges from print production, graphic design, and project management in both corporate and freelance settings.Carrie is Creative Director and a Board Member of CCI - a community where adoptees can finally drive their own narratives and support one another's complex journeys. I envision CCI to grow into an influential platform for all adoptees to find connections, support, and be heard, and ultimately to be proud of our identity. As part of the UX Team, my objective is to design an accessible platform for all adoptees that seek camaraderie and affirmation."www.carriedoung.comwww.instagram.com/carriedesigns628www.chinaschildreninternational.orgwww.instagram.com/cci_adoptees Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you looking to balance conflicting emotions? Or seeking peace between them? Listen is as Ujaala shares her learnings on the dichotomies of her life as an adoptee. We also explore mindset and looking forward rather than back.Connect with Ujaala here:https://www.facebook.com/ujaala.chaudhuri.1https://www.linkedin.com/in/ujaala-chaudhuri-8784461bb/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you sick of the liar in your head saying that there's something wrong with you? Are you trying to silence that inner critic? All too often this prolongs the war. Listen in as we explore finding truth. And peace.Here's a bit about Andy from his website:I’m Andy Wallis, I live in Grantham, in the UK and was adopted at just a few months old in 1973.I have struggled throughout my life with my mental health and this year (2023) I decided to start a blog to explore my inner workings. I soon came to realise that most of what I’ve dealt with has its origins in my adoption. I was shocked.Adoption trauma manifests itself in lots of ways it would seem. From the obvious emotional stuff like anxiety, depression and closing down emotionally, to the less obvious social quirks like refusing to do something fun because it wasn't the adoptee's idea. Weird as it might seem, I can recall lots of moments in my past where I've just flatly refused an activity or outing for fear of losing the element of sovereignty. This often leads to a ‘Brian’ (the negative Nancy in my head) driven anxiety attack. I'd get so worked up before the event that I'd lose it and then panic about the loss of control, which in turn would create its own loss of control. Finally topped off with a nice big dollop of shame to boot. ‘Dollop’ great word that!From the blog, the book was born and writing has helped me so much. To try and gain a wider picture I studied to gain a qualification in Mental Health, and I’m now also a mental health first aider.I’m passionate about raising awareness of adoption trauma and mental health generally.Find out more at:https://www.instagram.com/whos_wally_blog/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094487566931https://twitter.com/whosthatwallishttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wallis-865ab6195/https://open.spotify.com/show/2m1wAiBmAf4Qt1OvWL1qdoHere are the links I mention in the show:https://chrisniebauerphd.com/https://www.drjilltaylor.com/https://rupertspira.libsyn.com/episode-41-bernardo-kastrup Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are there parts of you that you try to push away? I've definitely rejected the part of me that's scared of rejection. Denial, numbing and overriding only brings short term relief. Listen in as adoptee and therapist Joellen shares what she's learned about embracing all of herself so we can embrace all of ourselves.Here's a bit about Joellen from her website I am a clinical psychologist with over twenty years of private practice experience doing individual, couples, family therapy and psychological testing. I received a doctorate degree from The University of Texas at Austin in Clinical Psychology. I am also trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, Filial and Child-Focused Play therapies. My work integrates attachment, psychodynamic, neurobiological and CBT theories. Finally, I have an extensive background working with all members of the adoption triad. This includes individual therapy, leading groups, legislative advocacy, and public speaking.https://joellenpeters.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellenpetershttps://www.instagram.com/joellen.peters/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you wish feeling triggered wasn't so painful? Or that you were triggered less? Listen in as transracial adoptee Carlos shares how he sees triggers differently.https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-munez Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

As a wise mentor once said to me, the past is a place of reference not a place of residence. Understanding birth mothers' predicaments is incredibly healing. Listen in as birth mother and therapist Delores shares her journey and profound insights along the way so you can live forward.https://www.facebook.com/p/Delores-Sullivan-Therapy-100063634445824https://www.linkedin.com/in/delores-sullivan-4892ab25/https://www.deloressullivantherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/dssullivan1/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Would you like to feel more empowered? Listen in as transracial adoptee Julia shares her insights into empowerment and connection. She also talks about identity and being comfortable in her own skin.Julia Small is a transracial adoptee from Hunan, China who was raised in Topsfield, Massachusetts. One of her greatest passions is fighting for equity and social justice through grassroots advocacy, public policy and education reform. She has a particular interest in minority affairs and child and elderly welfare. She aspires to bring to light the experiences and challenges faced by adopted patients in the healthcare setting.https://twitter.com/julialsmall12https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliasmall/Here's a link to Julia's interview with Elaine and Ramyahttps://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/advocating-for-our-health-with-elaine-schulte-ramya-gruneisen-and-julia-kingHere's the link to the author I mention whose book is about the left and right brainshttps://chrisniebauerphd.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How do the emotional rollercoaster of reunion? Dawnie is right in the throes of figuring this out. She shares what she's learning as she goes and her insights on loving herself as well as putting herself first.https://www.facebook.com/AdoptedWithTheFrohttps://www.instagram.com/adoptedwiththefroblog/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you looking for answers? Because the truth sets us free right? Roxan wasn't told that she was adopted until her adoptive mother blurted it out in an arguments when she was 15. Listen in as she shares how she went from anger to curiosity and finally peace. Powerful and empowering.Connect with Roxan here:https://www.facebook.com/roxansherryWatch my video about the diamond and the truth of who we are here:https://www.facebook.com/simonjbenn/videos/706029451324458Find out about Adoptees United here:https://adopteesunited.org/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Adoption trauma often manifests in anger or a loud inner critic. Would you like more peace? Listen in as Aubrey shares her learnings and insights on how she's moving towards more peace. Aubrey Jackson is a former news anchor turned published travel writer and professional travel planner, specializing in luxury leisure travel.As an entrepreneur and travel professional, Aubrey has served as an on-air expert and in person for panel discussions. When she is not traveling or boldly representing her clients, she is advocating for adopted youth. As an adoptee herself, whose adoption was finalized in the state of Florida, a closed adoption state that does not allow adoptee’s acess to their original birth certificate, she is passionate about aligning herself with programs and causes that directly benefit youth in foster care and further amplify adoptee voices.In 2021, with the help of private investigative support, Aubrey met her birth family and is thrilled to have the chance, after 10+ years of searching, to build a strong bond with her relatives. Aubrey serves on the board of Adoptees United, an organization led byadoptees in the United States that represent the interests of all adoptees, whether domestic, intercountry, transracial, or former foster youth.https://growbeyondwords.com/adoptee-therapist-directory/https://www.facebook.com/ImAubreyJackson/https://www.pinterest.com/ImAubreyJackson/https://www.tiktok.com/@imaubreyjacksonhttps://www.youtube.com/aubreyonairhttps://www.instagram.com/imaubreyjacksonhttps://imaubreyjackson.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

What if what had happened to us happened for us? Adoptee and birth mother Monica shares her healing insights to help us heal and access our higher self. This has to be one of the most powerful and empowering episodes ever to air on this podcast.Monica was born in Canada, adopted by American parents, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. It was there where she spent the first sixteen years of her life and had many of the foundational experiences that drive her writing. Monica now lives in Northern California and began working on a memoir in Spring 2016 when her daughter urged her to document her extraordinary but painful past.As she has gained access to buried memories through the process of writing about her experiences, Monica has realized just how self-preserving the human mind can be. She was astonished to discover how much she had willfully forgotten, how much pain she harbored from her early years, and how much guilt she had repressed in her adult life. Digging to the core of her memories as part of the writing process has allowed Monica to begin healing her wounds, forgive both herself and the people who wronged her, and shed the guilt she has lived with for decades. Ultimately, she hopes her writing will inspire others by proving that it’s possible to overcome difficult circumstances and succeed.https://www.monicahall.com/https://www.facebook.com/monicahallwriteshttps://twitter.com/monicahallpenshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR6bzgbkwIySSxvZS938uHwhttps://www.instagram.com/monicahallauthor/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Would you like to handle change better? Life started with a profound change for those of us adopted as infants: a new family. Later - search and reunion can bring about huge changes in beliefs we've held for our lifetime. David and I dive into navigating change when life throws us curve balls.Here's more about David and his bookBLIND IN ONE EYEA Story About Seeing the PossibilitiesWhere was my brother, the one born seven years before me but kept by my birth parents? Was it really possible that, after the lifetime I'd spent wondering about him, he was the guy a friend had just seen on the subway – the one who supposedly looked like my older twin?Finding my brother would soon feel like a naïve goal. His secretive and frightened parents had far more to hide than I could have imagined, and they had worked hard to maintain the elaborate facade of an ordinary family. Breaching their defenses would trigger events that quickly took control of my life.Blind in One Eye is the richly detailed story of an adoptee finding, and being absorbed into, a shockingly troubled birth family – a story about abruptly leaving behind life as an only child. But it's also the story of someone with focused and demanding expectations who learns to see other possibilities, to see that the answers he actually gets in life might be more important than the ones he thought he wanted.The most remarkable discoveries seem to come while looking for something else – as long as you're open to the possibilitieshttps://www.amazon.com/Blind-One-Eye-Seeing-Possibilities/dp/0982971508https://blindinoneeye.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrford/https://twitter.com/blind1eyehttps://www.instagram.com/findford/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Confused about identity? Looking for clarity? Listen in as I take us through the layers of identity to the essential truth. The thing that's stationary in all that comes and goes. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Where are you on the trauma and healing journey? In today's episode I share the stages I've been through and what's helped me navigate them. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Learning to feel rather than numb feels really important for me at the moment. Here's some things I'm exploring. I hope they help you. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Is reunion confusing you? Are you caught between biological and adoptive families? Adoptee and therapist David talks about magic moments, honeymoon period and confusion in his reunion. We explore how that confusion has eased and become easier to live with over time.Here's a bit about David from his website:I am a counsellor and EMDR practitioner. I offer face-to-face therapy sessions, including video calls if needed.I was adopted as a young child so I understand the issues and challenges that come with that, I now work with many adopted adults in this country and abroad.I became a therapist after volunteering all my adult life working with children and young people and prison work. I wanted to formalise that as I enjoy making a difference to people's lives. I am friendly, empathic and offer a safe space for you to explore any difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, identity, family issues, post-natal depression, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, self esteem and confidence. I take a trauma informed integrative therapeutic approach. You will have your own space to talk about whatever you come to me with; there is no rush, it's a gentle way of exploring things.I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). I achieved my Foundation degree Arts (FdA) in Counselling, after attaining levels 2 and 3 in counselling. The Foundation degree involved two years of training and over 100 hours of supervised counselling practice. I have a CPCAB diploma and certification in EMDR from the Dominic Beirne School of Clinical Hypnosis & Psychotherapy and also the flash technique and dyadic resourcing. ​Because of my interest in adoption, I also completed the Attachment Matters and 'Healing your Inner Child' training, developed by Nancy Maillie. www.nmtrauma.co.ukMore at https://www.davidbenjamintherapy.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

What do you believe about yourself? How do you see yourself? Trauma messes up our beliefs and identity. Listen in as Michelle dives deep into busting beliefs and getting clear on identity. All so we can heal at a deeper level.Michelle Madrid is a powerhouse life coach and guidance mentor who is passionate about igniting the light within every adoptee and woman she coaches. She seeks soulful modalties of healing to support individuals in feeling a deeper connectedness with themselves and with others. Michelle is a former foster child from the United Kingdom and an international adoptee. She understands the nuances of this lived-experience and considers it a great honor to guide her clients back home to themselves as they embrace a deeper sense of identity and calling. Michelle is a Congressional Angels in Adoption® Honoree as well as an inductee to the New Mexico Women's Hall of Fame. She is a former Emmy-nominated television news journalist. Michelle is an in-demand high-impact speaker whose perspectives are renowned both domestically and internationally. Her illuminating content and coaching offerings can be found at TheMichelleMadrid.com. Michelle is a proud mother, animal lover, equestrian, and a world traveler who feels at home no matter where she is because she's found her home within.https://themichellemadrid.com/https://www.instagram.com/themichellemadridhttps://www.facebook.com/LetHerBeGreaterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-madrid-62b1661a/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you stuck in a rut on your healing journey? Unsure of what's holding you back? Listen in as Linda and I dive deep into how changing feelings kickstarts healing. We also cover what stops us changing for the better. And it's not what most of us think.Her first interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/freedom-with-emma-stevensHer second interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/becoming-our-own-guru-with-emma-stevensLinda Pevac aka Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from being an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” Because being relinquished and adopted has colored her life, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is dedicated to helping bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of adopted individuals. She believes strongly in adoptees finding their voice and discovering their truth to have a solid sense of self and to reclaim their identities. Through telling her story, Emma is dedicated to help redefine the narrative of adoption to include the entire complex truth.More about Linda/Emma at:https://linktr.ee/EmmaStevensWriterhttps://www.instagram.com/EmmaStevensWriterhttps://www.facebook.com/EmmaStevensWriterhttps://www.tiktok.com/@EmmaStevensWriterhttps://twitter.com/emmastevenswrtr Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you get the sense that there's more of you that needs to heal? Have you had glimpses of your whole self but you want to see and feel whole more of the time? Listen in as adoptee and therapist Kathy goes deep on how feelings change so we heal. Please note she does talk about her personal use of psychedelics in healing.Here's a bit about Kathy from her website:Long before I became a therapist, I was adopted. My parents had two biological sons and were unable to have a third child and wanted a girl, so they adopted me. Even before then, though, I was relinquished. I make the distinction between relinquishment and adoption, because those are two separate events, and I believe the root of many “adoption issues" lies with relinquishment and the experience of having been separated from one’s original parents, especially one’s first mom/birthmom. I was relinquished at birth, placed in foster care and then placed with my adoptive family when I was 10 weeks old. Even those of us who were relinquished at birth, before we developed conscious memory, lived through the experience, and our bodies remember, which often lead us to respond as though it is happening again—a post-traumatic response.My personal experiences led me to become a therapist who specializes in helping other adoptees, and the people close to them. I work with adult adoptees, adopted children/teens, adoptive parents, first/birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and the partners of adoptees, as well as others who have had similar experiences for other reasons. https://www.instagram.com/kathymackechney/https://www.adopteetherapy.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you yearn for more connection? With others? With yourself? Listen in as I explore why we feel like that, what gets in the way of connection and how connection happens. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you explode when triggered? Do you avoid situations that you fear might trigger you? Listen in as I take a deep dive into triggers so you can hear something new that brings you more peace. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

So many of us feel we're missing something and yearn for completeness. So how do we fill that void? Today's episode is a deep dive into that space where we feel peace and at home. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Looking to bounce back? Having a tough time riding the emotional rollercoaster of reunion? Listen into a particular empowering interview with Lisa as she goes deep on resilience, mindset, her take on our higher power and much more. Insights galore. Lisa A. Quaites was born in South Korea, but adopted to the United States and raised by a Black military family. She lived much of her life in America's Heartland, where she met her husband James. The couple raised two daughters, Capris and Candace, who also reside in the Midwest. Lisa's stepson, Chris, lives in Georgia with his wife and two children. Results from a consumer DNA test uncovered Lisa's Caribbean roots and unexpectedly matched her with biological relatives. Faith & Favor is Lisa’s debut memoir detailing her personal journey to discover her birth family. This inspiring story highlights her redemptive resilience as she navigates the challenges of being a mixed-race Korean. An IT professional by trade, Lisa travels for leisure as much as possible, plays volleyball and tennis, and loves the live music scene.Here's that link to the interview with Sara Easterly I mention if you'd like to hear more about her and her Adoptee Voices writing group https://pod.fo/e/1e4668https://summersolsticepublishing.com/https://www.instagram.com/lisaquaites Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you put other people's needs ahead of your own?Are you sick of doing that? People pleasing is so common amongst us. So how do we stop it? Listen in as I dive into this topic. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Seeing that you're whole is one thing. Feeling whole is another. How does that change happen? Listen in as I dive deep into healing. I hope you love that feeling. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you want to feel whole? Maybe healing isn’t about becoming whole. Maybe it’s about seeing our wholeness is hidden by trauma. Listen in as I dive deep into how we feel whole. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Looking for change? Listen in as I dive into what empowers us adoptees to change drawing from two fantastic guests on the Thriving Adoptees podcast Emma Stevens/Linda Pevac and Pamela KaranovaListen to their podcasts herePamela https://pod.fo/e/1e3ef3Emma/Linda 1st interview Freedom https://pod.fo/e/1f0bc4Emma/Linda 2nd interview Becoming Our Own Guru https://pod.fo/e/1e3eeb Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How do we bounce back? Listen in as birth mother and foster care alumnus Cynthia shares her insights on resilience and healing from the profound challenges she's faced. There's oodles (that's lots) of empowering wisdom on finding your own resilience and healing. Listen in for your own insights on progressing along life's learning curve.https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-rounds-mcguigan-144b3b13https://www.instagram.com/cindymc359https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.mcguigan Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How do we heal? The million dollar (pound or euro) question. Focusing on healing rather than trauma is a great start. Understanding what healing helps us to. Then we can get into the how to's and actions. I'd love your thoughts on this so email me at [email protected] Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you out of the fog and suffering from the pain that's been suppressed for so long? So how do you heal? We all have to find our personal pathway out of pain. Listen in as transracial adoptee and therapist Amanda shares her pathway to inspire and empower you along yours.https://constructiveparenting.com/https://twitter.com/ConstParenting/https://www.facebook.com/constructiveparenting/https://www.instagram.com/constructive_parenting/https://www.linkedin.com/company/constructive-parenting-pllc/https://www.pinterest.com/constructivepar/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Identity is tricky for us. As adoptees we're great at describing trauma, less great at describing identity. The truth of who we are is simpler than we've been lead to believe. But we have to go deep to see that simplicity. Today's podcast is my take on "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. I hope you enjoy it. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you feel there's something wrong with you? It's a feeling that has haunted many of us for as long as we can remember. So how do we finally see our worth? Ann shares insights along her long journey to feeling good enough so you can do the same.About AnnSince 1977, Ann Haralambie has been a trial and appellate attorney in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on children: custody, abuse and neglect, adoption, and child advocacy. Adopted in infancy in New York, where all records were sealed, she wanted to know her biological roots and the true stories of her birth families. As a preadolescent she knew that someday she would try to find her birth parents, even though she loved her adoptive family. After attending college and graduate school, earning a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in English Literature, she went to law school and learned about the new adoptee rights movement. She began her active search while still in law school, continuing for more than 35 years before finally finding the truth about her roots. She has been able to share those roots with her late daughter, Katherine, and grandson, Dominic. She lives in Tucson, Arizona and Silver Lake, New Hampshire, where she spends time protecting the loons and their chicks.About her book: "Not Nicholson: The Story of a First Daughter, an adoption search and reunion memoir" This is a story about family, adoption, heritage, and identity. It is also about place and people. Haralambie invites you to accompany her on her search for her biological roots, the hurdles and misdirections, and what happens when she finally finds out who her biological family members are. Every adoption search and reunion are different. The results, and how each adoptee deals with them, are also different. But everyone who has been touched by adoption—whether directly or through friends, professional clients, or patients—can learn from others' experiences. Haralambie's journey will intrigue readers and may make them laugh and cry. It will surely get them thinking about their own identity and heritage. Her message for readers is to approach the quest with kindness and understanding.Her website is https://notnicholson.haralambie.com/. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How do you keep going when your world has been turned upside down? When you find out that you've been lied to over and again? When the shocking truth comes out. Listen in as Michelle shares her inspirational story of resilience and dogged determination as she found out who she really is.Michelle Rice-Gauvreau is a native Mohawk woman born in Canada and raised in Connecticut via an illegal adoption, which was commonplace for many Indian babies throughout many years across North America. She is a compassionate advocate for all adoptees looking for their own truth, peace and hope. She hopes to instill her strength to any adoptee struggling to find their way.Michelle now works as a legal professional for a prestigious law firm. She resides in Connecticut with her husband of many years, and her two senior cats. She enjoys traveling and learning more about native cultures far and wide. Find out more at:https://www.michellegauvreau.com/https://www.facebook.com/adopteesmatterhttps://twitter.com/ladystarrehttps://www.instagram.com/ladystarre/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-gauvreau-45755919/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you looking for insights to help you heal? Many of us feel overwhelmed by our trauma. Engulfed by it. Consumed by it. Or perhaps tainted by it. I felt that way. I sometimes still that way. So how do we separate from our trauma to find healing and peace? Listen in. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

There's a LOT of secrecy and shame around adoption. So it's no wonder we are confused about our identity and wrong about our self worth. Listen in as I dive into our deepest questions: Who am I? What's wrong with me? Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Have you ever felt empty inside? Many of us seek to fill our aching emptiness through alcohol, drugs and other addictions. Anything to numb the pain. Adoptee Leon is in recovery and has been sober for 2 years. Listen in as he shares what he's learned on a long journey to being ok with being himself.Find out more about leon at:https://www.instagram.com/leonclowes/https://vimeo.com/user11974720https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC84DG4627RX9a95wZD1d_eAhttps://www.leonclowes.com/https://twitter.com/ClowesLeonhttps://www.facebook.com/leon.clowes Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

What if you could harness your trauma to grow? You can. Listen in as Steve shares the silver lining of what we've been through - the past that sometimes feel so painful. A truly transformational episode with conversation and poetry to help us tap into who we truly are underneath our trauma.Steve reads two poems from his book The Clear Light. And the transformation through turmoil material and his examples are from his book Extraordinary Awakenings. Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, and the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality. He is a past chair of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society. His new book is Extraordinary Awakenings: When Trauma Leads to Transformation, and his other books include The Clear Light, Out of the Darkness, Back to Sanity, The Calm Center, The Leap and Spiritual Science. His books have been published in 20 languages, while his articles and essays have been published in over 100 academic journals, magazines and newspapers. He regularly appears in the media in the UK, and has been recently featured on Radio 4’s The Moral Maze, BBC Breakfast, Radio FiveLive and TalkRadio. He writes blog articles for Scientific American and for Psychology Today. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Steve lives in Manchester, England, with his wife and three young children.https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevetaylorauthorhttps://www.facebook.com/stevetaylorauthorhttps://www.youtube.com/user/stevetaylorauthor/https://www.pinterest.com/stevetaylor1420/steve-taylor/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Self worth seems like a nice idea. Something we are working on. Something that we might have some day. What if that day is today? Listen in as transracial adoptee and therapist Sally gets right to heart of feeling our value for ourselves.Sally is a licensed clinical social worker, who enjoys working with adults who need support during a variety of life stressors. She understands how challenging it can be to trust someone new, so she does her best to earn your trust by being honest, consistent, following through, and prioritizing what you want to get out of therapy. Once that trust is earned, she enjoys the privilege of joining you in exploring your values, identity, habits that work and ones that don’t, skills to manage stressful situations, and responses that help you live a more manageable and enjoyable life. Clients say she is calming, honest, respectful, supportive, and encouraging. She helps people with adjustment to changes in life, anxiety, depression, stress, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, relinquishment and adoption issues, relationship difficulties, and grief. She values discovering the “Why” and shifting the focus to the questions of “How”, “When”, and “What” to help people move toward what is important to them.Working with individuals who are adopted is especially close to Sally’s heart because she was adopted at age 5 from Seoul, Korea. She presented on panels and individually at Bethany Christian Services, Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN), China Culture Club, Families for International Children (FFIC), Calvin Theological Seminary, Pine Rest’s CPE classes for pastors, Adoption Family Support Network (AFSN), and church groups to help educate and walk alongside adoptees, adoption workers, adoptive parents, pastors, foster parents, friends, and family as they learn to understand and work through the 7 Core Issues of Adoption (Deborah N. Silverstein and Sharon Kaplan, 1982). Since she is transracailly adopted, she also understands the challenges of being racially Asian and culturally white, so enjoys helping other transracial adoptees sort through the layers of their identities and belonging.She graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from Western Michigan University. Her clinical background includes working with adults at Pine Rest in various areas, such as Spruce Lodge, Mother Baby and Adult Partial Programs, and at the Pine Rest Northeast Clinic as an outpatient therapist for individuals and groups. She was also Executive Director of Ramoth House, an emergency shelter for abused women and children.Email her at [email protected] out more at:https://www.instagram.com/sallyvjo/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-verstraete-lmsw-2b7394b4/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you want to get clear on who you really are? Identity confuses the heck out of us adoptees. Until it doesn't. Listen in as we peel back the many layers of identity. We go beyond trauma to the very essence of who we are. One of the most profound interviews in over 350 conversations on this podcast.Here's a bit about David and his bookDavid Enker (Amsterdam, 1970) is a Dutch writer and artist. He was unofficially adopted as a baby, using the experience to explore the world from that unique perspective.An unusual adoption, a gruesome family discovery, a lonesome journey, a brush with death in the London Underground and a life-altering diagnosis are just some of the ingredients in this collection of short stories.This book will lead you on a sometimes heart-breaking, sometimes humorous journey of self-discovery that inspires hope and renewed appreciation for the blessings in life.https://www.davidenker.com/https://twitter.com/david_enkerhttps://www.facebook.com/davidenkerart/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidenker/https://www.instagram.com/davidje/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you believe you are unloveable? If so you're going to love this interview with Amy. She shares how she's deconstructed her beliefs. An incredibly vulnerable and empowering episode looking back at lessons from the ups and downs of a 25 year reunion that's now going strong. Find out more at https://www.instagram.com/amynicrn/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Are you looking for more balance? Is a negativity bias getting in the way of you enjoying your life? Listen as adoptee and psychotherapist explores balance (and balancing).Find out more about Kate:https://katemurphytherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/katemurphylcsw/https://www.facebook.com/katemurphy.therapyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/katemurphy1/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Would you like smoother relationships with others? And yourself? Grace makes relationships easier. Listen in as Melissa shares how she is finding grace for her adoptive mother and herself. The conversation was packed with insights for me and I'm sure it will bring you some lightbulb moments for you.Find out about Melissa's work supporting adoptees who want to be writers here:https://www.ulvencoaching.com/writingforadopteesFind out more about Melissa here:https://www.instagram.com/ulvencoaching/https://www.ulvencoaching.com/https://www.facebook.com/melissa.nelson.545 Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you struggle to see your own value? Has what you've been through impacted your self worth? Emberly was raised by foster parents and her grandfather because of her mother's addiction. She was verbally, physically and sexually abused. Listen in as she shares how she overcome the odds to see her true value and thrive.Find out more at:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emberly-zellars/https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-Maddy-Emberly-Zellars/dp/1667886789https://www.joiaboutart.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Do you believe you're broken? Or not good enough? These are things that we all struggle with. So how do we change our beliefs? How does trauma shape those beliefs? Listen in as Sara goes deep on the spiritual epiphanies that have improved her life.Here's a bit about Sara from her website:I’m an adoptee. I’m a mother (to two teen daughters). And I’m a writer (of books and essays).I am also a reading aficionado, and hold a special place in my heart for children’s literature. I’ve studied child development from an attachment perspective and am a trained facilitator with the Neufeld Institute. I’ve worked as an author publicist and event planner, and in corporate advertising and marketing.I love animals. I mean, I really love animals. I care for a menagerie of rescued fur-babies that currently include five indoor bunnies, three guinea pigs, and two darling dogs. In my free time I practice horse showmanship (a.k.a. informal equine therapy).Supporting my fellow adoptees and their families is deeply important to me. I’m Founder of Adoptee Voices, Co-Host of the Adoption Unfiltered podcast, and I regularly write and speak about adoption.My adoption-focused books include a spiritual memoir, Searching for Mom (Heart Voices, 2019), and Adoption Unfiltered (Rowman & Littlefield, December 1, 2023), co-authored with Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard (birth parent) and Lori Holden (adoptive parent).Find out more at:https://saraeasterly.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwOXVmp-TiNZIDQLj_8rPcAhttps://www.instagram.com/saraeasterlyauthor/https://twitter.com/saraeasterlyhttps://www.facebook.com/saraeasterlyauthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/168430.Sara_Easterly Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Who would we be without that voice in our head that tells us there's something wrong with us? That we're substandard? That our birth mother rejected us? That we'll never heal because we're forever stuck with our trauma? Listen in as I suggest answers to some of our most fundamental questions.Connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simonjbenn Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Have you felt uncomfortable in your own skin? Uncertain about who you are? Sensed something missing? Eric's anxiety about people sometimes compelled him away and he didn't know why. He felt incomplete. Listen in as he shares the most important things he's learned on the journey to feeling whole and healed.Eric’s life experiences inspired him to give back and to serve others. In 2005 while climbing Mt Denali in Alaska, Eric made the decision to seek out his birth family. After reaching out to Catholic Charities, he was connected with his birth family. The experience of meeting, establishing, and growing a relationship with them deepened Eric’s understanding of himself and was an integral part of his finding his identity both personally and professionally.https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtiseric/https://twitter.com/CurtisStrategy Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How do we heal from a poor adoption? Listen in as Gaynor shares some of her most important lessons in releasing trauma by being raised by a narcissistic adoptive mother.Here's a bit about Gaynor and her book.Gaynor Cherieann lives in Northamptonshire. She is married has four grown up children and four grandchildren.She was born in a church mother and baby home and adopted at six weeks old.She tells of her life growing up with a narcissist her reunion with her birth family and the life she has created for her own children.Her book is written in the form of letters to people throughout her life some who are no longer here others still in her life.It is the 1960s; a sixteen-year-old girl is in a mother and baby home; her heart is breaking as she prepares to give up her baby for adoption.Shunned by society, she has no choice.That baby was me.Join me on my life’s journey through the letters I have written to everyone who has shared my unique story. Follow me as I find the courage to share this story, from my birth to my unhappy adoption to getting married and becoming a mum and granny.Learn how I took control of my life after disassociating myself from my past, unearthing my birth family, and realising what true happiness means.Amazon USA https://www.amazon.com/Adoptees-Journey-Letters-My-Life-ebook/dp/B0BNQHB2CFAmazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BNQHB2CF Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.