31- The Wound of Abandonment: Adoption, Attachment & Healing the Nervous System with Catherine Moore

In this episode, I’m joined by registered clinical counsellor, author, and adoption advocate Catherine Moore for a tender and deeply insightful conversation about adoption, abandonment, belonging, and healing the nervous system.Catherine brings a unique perspective as an adoptee, adoptive mother, counsellor, and co-director of We Are Adopted. Together, we explore the emotional complexity of adoption, including the impact of early separation, the longing to know where we come from, and the hidden grief, shame, and anxiety that can live beneath the surface.Catherine shares her own story of reunion, the silence and secrecy that often surround closed adoption, and how these early experiences can shape attachment, identity, relationships, and the felt sense of safety in the body. We also talk about how somatic therapy, mindfulness, movement, breath, and compassionate presence can help soften old imprints and support healing.In this episode, we unravel:The emotional complexity of adoption and reunionHow early separation can shape attachment and belongingWhy abandonment wounds often live in the nervous systemHow shame, anxiety, and hypervigilance can show up in adopteesThe difference between who we are and the adaptations we developed to surviveHow somatic therapy can help heal preverbal traumaHow to support someone you love who is adoptedWhy being seen, heard, and understood can be profoundly healingStay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca