Why Adoptee Heart To Heart?
A few years ago, when I first began connecting with other adoptees, my first connections were through Facebook groups. I read through people’s posts, clicked on articles, read blogs and books, I couldn’t get enough. I found some great podcasts, followed Instagram pages, watched Youtube channels and I love them all! For the first time, I didn’t feel alone. And when I found myself wanting more connection than reading and posting in groups, I ventured into online meet ups. It was so nice to talk to people who could relate to some of my story and struggles.
I couldn’t believe I had gone through graduate school for counseling and had no courses in trauma related to adoption. When I worked within the community and schools, I continued to see adoptees represented in substance abuse programs, diagnosed with mental health disorders while clinicians disregarded separation from first family as a source of their pain or treatment plan. I remember asking my highly trained, been in the field for a long time, supervisor if he had heard any studies, research about adopted people and representation in substance abuse treatment programs. He thought it was an interesting connection but said in all of his years as a therapist, he didn’t think there was a connection…that is when I began looking for my own resources. When I found the Primal Wound, I brought it to my supervisor and shared with my colleagues. It was clear to me there was a disparity in mental health practitioners understanding the long term effects of trauma related to adoption, foster care.
When opening up my practice, I not only wanted to normalize mental health care, I also wanted to represent adoptee mental health and work with adoptees who need someone well versed in adoption trauma. So while I’m slowly feeling comfortable sharing parts of my story on the internet, personally I have always felt more comfortable sharing in intimate spaces. And I’m thinking there are others who might feel the same way. And that’s how Adoptee Heart to Heart turned from an idea into reality.
As a clinician, I bring many years of experience working with therapy groups and community groups. As an adoptee, I understand the nuances around the different experiences adoptees encounter and the mixed feelings one can have around any given topic. I want to give the adoptee community what I have found to be so beneficial for my own journey and that is connection, conversation and support.
If you are looking to learn, share and connect with other adoptees this group is for you!
**added bonus that if someone in the group is having a tough time during one of the discussions, there will always be a clinician to make sure everyone is safe
