Relinquishment, Separation, Adoption, and the Baby's Experience

A Transdisciplinary Approach

A Unique Transdisciplinary Series Bringing More Awareness to the Baby's Experience

5 Speakers and a Panel Talk

There are about 1.5 million adopted children in the United States, which is 2% of the population, or one out of 50 children. Relinquishment or separation is the wound for many of these children. The process of adoption affects adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents and other birth and family members throughout life. The relinquishment, separation and adoption experience may contribute to feelings of loss and grief, questions about self-identity, or a lack of information about their medical background. Many people in the adoption triangle (adoptee, birth parent, adoption parent) seek healing and the understanding of their unique circumstances and therapists may or may not have perspectives that will bring them relief. In addition, many children spend time in foster care before they are adopted. The foster system is an additional layer in the experience of those involved in adoption. This 6 week course offers lectures by experts in prenatal and perinatal somatic psychology, attachment, infant mental health and more who have spent decades understanding the impact of relinquishment, separation and adoption on the baby and parents. It will also include perspectives from therapists who specialize in adoption and foster care and therapists who treat adults with the early adoption experience.

We have taken special care to bring speakers to this series who have experience with deeply understanding the baby's experience. Two of our practitioners have been trained by Ray Castellino, pioneer in prenatal and perinatal somatics and expert in understanding the baby's perspective. His trainings are profound and illuminate how sensitive and perceptive babies are and how they can tell their stories. Our other presenters have been carefully picked. We want to embrace the holistic approach that includes the baby's perspective and work together to improve clinical outcomes and overall human health.

List of Speakers and Dates:

  • Session 1: Karen Doyle Buckwalter, MSW, LCSW: Using Theraplay® to Strengthen Attachment and Connection with Adoptive Parents and Their Children
  • Session 2: Michael Trout, MA and Rebecca Molitor, LCPC, Prenatal Bonding (BA) Facilitator: Supporting Connection Between First Mothers and Their Unborns as an Antidote to Dissociation
  • Session 3: Alison Greene-Barton: Conscious Adoption: A Personal Story
  • Session 4: Kristin Sipley: A Journey of an Adoptee: A Glimpse into the Baby's Experience
  • Session 5: Becky Zal-Sanchez, LCSW: Raised by Committee: Restoring a Child's Identity and Security After Time Spent in Foster or Kinship Care
  • Session 6: Panel Talk


Karen Doyle Buckwalter, MSW, LCSW

Using Theraplay® to Strengthen Attachment and Connection with Adoptive Parents and Their Children


Rebecca Molitor, LCPC, Prenatal Bonding (BA) Facilitator and Michael Trout , MA

Supporting Connection Between First Mothers and Their Unborns as an Antidote to Dissociation


Kristin Sipley

A Journey of an Adoptee: A Glimpse into the Baby's Experience


Becky Zal-Sanchez, LCSW

Raised by Committee: Restoring a Child's Identity and Security After Time Spent in Foster or Kinship Care


Your Instructor


Kate White
Kate White

Kate White is an award-winning educator and an advanced bodyworker. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal somatic health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in parent-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for nearly 25 years. She is a mother of two children, holds a BA and MA in Communication, is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist in the Biodynamic Craniosacral method and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her work combines somatic trauma healing, energetic therapies, bodywork, pediatric therapies and education about the nervous system to help give families with babies and small children the best possible start. She is Founding Director of Education for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health where from 2013 – 2019 she created and ran the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate program, a large online educational program for professionals. She went on to found Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online and the Prenatal and Perinatal Somatics Institute. She teaches classes online and in person, and offers a training called Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics. She has a private practice in Charlottesville, VA called Belvedere Integrated Healing Arts (belvederearts.com) and offers her own seminars through the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, ppncenter.com


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
This is recorded from a live class with 60-90 minute sessions on Adoption topics. It is self-paced so start and end when it is suitable for you. The recordings will be available forever, and you will have access as long as you wish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

Get started now!