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

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