Finding Peace As An Adoptee

— What does it truly mean to find peace with your adoption story? For many adoptees, questions about identity, belonging, loss, love, and family can linger for a lifetime. In this episode, Lauren Williams, a respected and dedicated psychotherapist and founder of Park Avenue Mental Health Counseling in New York City, explores the complex emotional landscape of adoption and the path toward healing, acceptance, and forgiveness. Lauren Williams discusses the realities and myths surrounding biological and adoptive bonds, the importance of releasing resentment and idealized narratives, and how embracing compassion for both birth and adoptive parents can create space for peace. Ultimately, Lauren reminds us that family is not defined solely by biology, but by the people who love, support, and cherish us throughout our lives. Join us for a heart-centered conversation about finding wholeness, belonging, and the freedom to create your own definition of family. Valeria interviews Lauren Williams — She is a psychotherapist and founder of Park Avenue Mental Health Counseling in New York City, and a graduate of Columbia University.  An adoptee herself, Ms. Williams' keen insights on how adoptees can navigate the complex relationships with birth and adoptive families, gain confidence in their identities and self-worth, and find peace and empowerment through their life stories has been recognized by the Marquis Who's Who, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, International Business Times, and others.  To learn more about Lauren Williams and her work, please visit: https://parkavetherapy.com/