Adoptees Dish

There is so much that goes into our names. In this episode we explore complexities names can bring to the adoptee community and how to navigate them.

Rarely does society make room for birth/first mothers to share their stories, perspectives, and experiences. In this episode Amy Barker D'Alessandro and Jennifer Joy Phoenix share their Fog Faze framework for birth/first mothers. This episode is filled with wisdom and insight as Amy and Jennifer share their heart's work with us. BOOKS: The Girls Who Went Awayhttps://www.amazon.com/Girls-Went-Away-Fessler-2007-07-17/dp/B0182PZAEK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=CIR2SJMEPENQ&keywords=the+girls+who+went+away+book&qid=1707937442&sprefix=girls+who+went%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-4Primal Wound https://www.amazon.com/Primal-Wound-Understanding-Adopted-Child/dp/0963648004/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7ZWH7OGP5BC9&keywords=primal+wound+book+adoption&qid=1707937565&sprefix=primal+wound%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1Relinquished https://www.amazon.com/Relinquished-Politics-Adoption-Privilege-Motherhood/dp/1250286778/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707937506&sr=8-1Concerned United Birthparents, Inc (CUB): https://concernedunitedbirthparents.org/ CUB's free monthly online support group for Birth Mothers:  https://concernedunitedbirthparents.org/zoom-support-groupsUpcoming Untangling Our Roots Conference: https://untanglingourroots.org/ More Resources: 1) link to our website to either contact us or get the Fog fazes for various constellation members: www.adoptionsavvy.com 2) Database for People looking for therapists and other professionals that are also impacted personally by adoption: “ Unraveling Adoption’s Healing the Adoption Constellation Database” https://unravelingadoption.com/healing/ 3) Some free safe online support groups for birth/first mothers        a) NAAP Happy Hour: 1st and 3rd Fridays (for all members of the adoption constellation) https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/national-association-of-adoptees-parents-457749      b) First Families: Birthparents Journeying Together an online Support Group facilitated by Amber Jimerson and Amy Seek- Once a month on      c)  Thursday Evenings: Follow the NAAP Event Bright collection for updated information:  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/national-association-of-adoptees-parents-12399641129#collections https://www.mybellis.org/ As Always, thank you for tuning in. Together we have the power to heal broken systems.

Dr. Susan Branco is a collaborator in the creation of the Adoptee Consciousness Model. In this episode she joins us to dive deeper into what this framework consists of and how adoptees may find affirmation in their experiences. This episode reminds us that we are not alone in our stories and there is community that understands and holds space for the wholeness of our experiences. Susan Branco, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, she/her/ella, is a transracial and transnational adoptee from Colombia, South America. She is an advocate for increased adoption related research and training within counselor education and is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for transracially adopted persons. Dr. Branco is a practicing counselor, clinical supervisor, and an Associate Professor in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University. Her research includes transracial adoption and mental health, Colombian adoption policy, and clinical training and supervision practices for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color counselors. In addition, she has multiple peer -reviewed publications related to her research interests and frequently presents at regional, national, and international counseling related conferences.    Website: https://www.drsusanbranco.com Instagram: @drsusanbranco Collaborators for Adoptee Consciousness Model: Susan F. Branco, JaeRan Kim, Grace Newton, Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter, and Paula O’Loughlin Research for Adoptee Consciousness Model https://www.drsusanbranco.com/_files/ugd/641244_cfdcfc5fae824790b80767fc7ab84a93.pdf Peer Reviewed Journal Article with trauma/somatic focus: https://www.ibpj.org/issues/articles/Susan%20F.%20Branco,%20JaeRan%20Kim,%20Grace%20Newton,%20Stephanie%20Kripa%20Cooper-Lewter,%20Paula%20O'Loughlin%20-%20....pdf

We are so excited to share this episode with all of you. Patrick Armstrong is a transracial Asian American adoptee, born in South Korea and adopted to a white family in rural Indiana in 1990. He is the host of the award-winning podcasts The Janchi Show, a show about the Korean + Asian adoptee experience, and Conversation Piece, a show about the missing pieces of the conversations we’re already having. He is also a speaker and has worked with universities (Purdue, Yale, IUPUI) and organizations (Indianapolis Colts, The Asian American Foundation, Asian Pacific American Public Affairs) to tell his story as well as amplify the stories of others. He currently resides in downtown Indianapolis with his wife, their newborn son, and their cat. Instagram: @patrickintheworld @janchishow @conversationpodpiece @asianadopteesofindiana

Many of us have heard the term coming out of the fog, but in this episode Amy Barker D'Alessandro, LMHC joins us for a rich discussion about what that actually means by breaking "the fog," into 8 steps. This framework is powerful and helps adoptees feel seen and understood as we navigate so much. Amy Barker D'Alessandro, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Group Facilitator, and Clinical Supervisor in private practice in Seattle and owner of Adoption Savvy. She’s also the Newsletter Editor for the nationwide organization Concerned United Birthparents, Inc. She’s a closed adoption Adoptee from the Baby Scoop Era in long- term reunion and has ongoing contact with her grown son of a semi- open adoption from the late ‘80’s. She works almost exclusively with Adult Adoptees, Birth Mothers, and people with DNA surprises. Thank you for tuning in. Together we have the power to heal broken systems.

Kathy Mackechney, LCSW, is an adoptee and therapist who specializes in working with other adoptees, which she started doing after her own experiences in therapy, where she had to educate her therapists about the issues adoptees commonly face. Kathy is an IFS (Internal Family Systems)-certified therapist and consultant in Denver. 

Rachel is a Korean-American transracial and transcultural adoptee and therapist who owns a private practice based in Connecticut. She works primarily with adults and specializes in adoption and attachment trauma. Her therapeutic approach is holistic and mind-body incorporated, with the intention of helping clients build a compassionate and confident relationship with themselves, increase self-awareness and strengthen self -leadership. Thank you for being here and for tuning in. XO. Amy & Marcella

Welcome back to season 2 of Adoptees Dish! We are so happy you are here with us. As Season 2 is launching in National Adoption Awareness Month, we wanted to create a tool fellow adoptees could listen to for grounding and affirmation. This meditation was created to breathe our support and love for our community into those listening. Please listen to this any time you are in need of a reminder or co regulation when things are feeling overwhelming or isolating. We see you and we are so happy you are here.

Welcome to Season Two! This is a quick welcome to our upcoming season and reminder to take care of yourself as it also marks the beginning of National Adoption Awareness Month. We see you and we are so happy you are in community with us. Thank you for tuning in, together we have the power to heal broken systems. XO, Amy & Marcella

Last episode of Season 1 !! Last episode we began unpacking some of the amazing questions all of our listeners sent in. In this episode we begin unpacking the remainder of questions listeners sent in. Thank you to all of those who participated, sent in questions, or tuned in. Together we have the power to heal broken systems. Tune in Next week for the Launch of Adoptees Dish, Season 2!

Many of you sent in profound and meaningful questions related to search and reunion. In this episode we begin unpacking and sharing our thoughts and responses to the questions you asked. There are not perfect answers to any of these questions, but there is community as we unpack and navigate them together. Thanks for tuning in. XO, Marcella & Amy

In this episode we get to chat with ML Trimble regarding search and reunion. She shares with us her insights as a transracial, intercountry adoptee and clinician. ML recently created a powerful workbook for adoptees to use as a tool as they navigate reunion. Thank you for joining us as we continue to dive into complex topics , we are so happy you are here. Maria Trimble (ML) is a licensed therapist and transracial and intercountry adoptee. Born in Peru and raised in Florida, ML has lived in New York, Hawaii, California and Wisconsin. In 2019, she was reunited with her biological mother and maternal family. Since reunion, ML has traversed the ups and downs of her reunion and became acutely aware of the lack of education and resources around search and reunion. ML's passion lies with helping others recover from complex and attachment trauma. ML continues to advocate for the mental health system to understand the impacts and nuances of family separation, adoption, and reunion. She believes the more we talk about our mental health, the less taboo it becomes and the more healing can happen in our communities.  https://www.amazon.com/Journaling-Through-Adoptee-Reunion-Navigating/dp/B0BZFNVCNT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27LQFMXYALRBP&keywords=adoptee+reunion+trimble&qid=1695754478&s=books&sprefix=adoptee+reunion+trimble%2Cstripbooks%2C91&sr=1-1 XO, Marcella & Amy

Next up in our mini series is the topic of reunion. Reunion is layered and can look different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to navigate this process or step. In this episode we chat about things to consider, things that were helpful for us, and how to engage in self care along the way. As always, thank you for tuning in and being in community with us. xo, Marcella & Amy

Actively searching for biological connection can feel overwhelming. In this episode we dive into what it means to actively look, how to take care of self, and things to consider. These are hard conversations, and we are holding each of you as you navigate so much. Thank you for being a part of our community and letting us in. With Love, Marcella & Amy

Search and Reunion is a massive topic and sometimes it can be so hard to know where to even begin. In this episode we chat about things to get curious about and reflect on when engaging in first steps towards searching for family or making connections with biological roots. Whether you are an adopted individual, adoptive parent, or biological parent, this episode is for you. As always these conversations can be intense and feel overwhelming. Our hope is you always remember you are not alone in navigating so much and we are honored you are in community with us. Thanks for tuning in, together we have the power to heal broken systems. XO, Marcella and Amy

In this episode we dive into meaningful conversation with Astrid Castro from Adoption Mosaic. She shares parts of her journey and how her work has influenced change and provided education to those touched by the adoption experience. Astrid Castro (she/her/hers) is the founder and CEO of  Adoption Mosaic. Adoption Mosaic is a BIPOC woman and adoptee-led business that seeks to build an inviting adoption conscious community by providing innovative adoptee-centered programs and support. Her life-long interest in adoption is rooted in her own adoption at the age of four from Colombia (along with her older sister). Astrid has been in reunion with her birth family in Colombia since December 2011. Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. Since 1992, she has traveled the country to lead adoptee youth groups, present workshops on transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption, and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Astrid has also worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations. Astrid’s personal experiences as an adoptee, a woman of color, and growing up in  a white family and community, fuel her professional path to helping others. As always, thank you for tuning in.

Search and reunion is complex. In this series we explore what search and reunion can look like for adoptees throughout the lifespan. We dive into breaking myths, navigating emotions, managing loyalty, and logistical barriers for adoptees. Thank you for tuning in.

In this episode Rebecca shares with us the concept of body lineage and how our relationship with food and our bodies is correlated to our sense of attachment and connection. She shares compassionately how we can conceptualize and get curious about our own patterns with food and eating. A bit about our guest: Rebecca Berg, MS, RDN (she/her/hers) is a Los Angeles-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a background in eating disorders and mental health diagnoses. After 3 years in group private practice, Rebecca founded No Strings Nutrition. She is passionate about helping adoptees and humans with “Type A” traits learn how to connect to and care for their bodies. Her practice focuses on addressing frustrating or shameful patterns of eating behaviors such as restriction, frequent dieting, binge eating, and irregular or inflexible eating. Rebecca uses a weight-inclusive, trauma-informed approach infused with compassion, humor, and collaboration. Rebecca is also a domestic, same-race, infant adoptee fully recovered from her own eating struggles. Rebecca hopes to bring more awareness to the rarely discussed and yet potent intersection between adoptees and eating disorders. She loves speckled ceramics, sunshine naps, Sam Smith, neighborhood cats, and deep conversations. Check out her website nostringsnutrition.com and follow Rebecca on Instagram at @no.strings.nutrition. Book Recommendations by Rebecca: For Adoptees: The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, by Sonya Renee TaylorWhat Happened To You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah WinfreyFor Parents: anything by Writer & Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith-Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture -The Burnt Toast Podcast-Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith on Substack For Clinicians:The Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. HarrisonFearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings 

If you have been to therapy before, or are contemplating beginning for the first time, it can feel overwhelming. Finding a clinician that understands the experience of adoption can make it even more challenging. In this episode we share insights on how to begin this process, some questions to ask providers, and some things to look out for. No matter where you are in your journey, you are so courageous and brave to be centering your healing and growth in your life. Thank you for tuning in.

Change is a natural part of life but change and transitions can be really hard on the adoptee identity. In this episode Marcella and Amy dive into why transitions can be so difficult and what we can do to prepare and take care of ourselves when life feels unpredictable. Take care of yourselves and thank you for tuning in!

Ambiguous loss is a fascinating topic and this week we dive in to what it means. Guest Amy Geller, LCSW helps us identify what ambiguous loss means, how to identify it in our own life, and what we can do to cope through it. Amy shares her wealth of knowledge and lived experience both as an adoptee and adoptee clinician. Amy shares how she is using ambiguous loss theory to conceptualize her work when working with adoptees and their families. A bit about our guest: Amy Geller is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and family therapist in Bergen County, New Jersey. Amy has a general practice where she has provided psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families since 2011. Prior to that, Amy has extensive experience providing social work services in inpatient and community health settings, of which, hospice care was a particular passion. Amy’s area of clinical interest and expertise has evolved towards working with all members of the adoptee kinship network (adoptees, adoptive families, and birth parents). Initially interested in working with adolescents, it became evident to Amy that a high degree of her adolescent clients were adoptees and that, despite their diverse backgrounds, there were similarities in their experiences and behaviors. An adoptee herself, Amy became particularly curious about understanding and meeting the needs of adoptees and their families as well as educating the mental health and school communities on the unique needs of this population.  In addition to her private practice, Amy is the Clinical Director of the New Jersey chapter of A Home Within, a non-profit organization that provides open ended, individual psychotherapy, free of charge, to current and former foster youth.  Amy is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at The Rutgers University School of Social Work where the focus of her scholarship and research is on adoption. As part of her studies, Amy presented a case study outlining strength-based interventions for building attachment between adolescent adoptees and their adoptive mothers. Amy is currently engaged in a qualitative study that examines “The Experience of Adult Adoptees in Psychotherapy”. In addition to her private practice, Amy lectures at Rutgers University School of Social Work and has appeared on several podcasts to speak about adoption related topics. 

Mother's Day can be a triggering day of the year for adopted individuals. Did you know there is also a Birth Mother's Day too? Not many know about this day reserved to honor biological mothers. This episode talks about a full spectrum of emotions, experiences , and thoughts from our clinical and personal lenses. Holding space for everyone impacted by adoption as we lean into such a big weekend. Thank you for tuning in! Together we have the power to heal broken systems.

Adoptee Community is a sacred and special space for so many of us. In this episode we dive into what we love about our adoptee community and how we grew into finding our voices and place within it. Book Referenced by Amy in episode: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Adapted-Young-Readers/dp/0593240189/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3IRJKECD7OGN8&keywords=austin+channing+brown+i%27m+still+here&qid=1682960282&sprefix=austin+chan%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1

In 2021 Amy Wilkerson wrote her first children's book called, "Being Adopted." Amy wanted to create a representative space where all adopted children were able to see themselves in this complex narrative. In this episode Marcella interviews Amy on what inspired her to write this book and what impact it has had so far. Thanks for tuning in!

Too often when adoptees share their lived experience they are met with resistance. In this episode we unpack what adoptees face when they share experiences that challenge the narrative around adoption. We invite you to get curious alongside us as to how we can create more safety in these conversations and how we can advocate for more safety for adoptees to minimize and elevate harm. In this episode we chat some about current events as they are related to Colin Kaepernick. Together we have the power to heal broken systems.

Lina Vanegas, MSW (she/her) is a displaced person from Colombia. She is a national speaker, trainer and consultant on suicide, trauma, and family separation and a Master of Social Work. She is an advocate for for making what is known as "adoption" an adverse childhood experience. She is also the co-creator and co-host of the podcast, Rescripting the Narrative. She has been featured on NPR, multiple panels, and podcasts. You can find her on Instagram as @linaleadswithlove and on Twitter as LinaLeadsWLove. She will be offering multiple virtual trainings in 2023. Book Lina referenced in our podcast:https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Suicidal-Thoughts-Harbinger/dp/1648480241 Please join us for this powerful conversation with Lina Vanegas, MSW. Thank you for tuning in. Together we have the power to heal broken systems.

In this episode we dive into what it means to be an adoptee clinician. We share how our worlds collide navigate our own healing while holding space for others to do theirs. We share our greatest challenges, joys, thoughts, ideas, and hopes for our community in the future. As always, thank you for tuning in.

When it comes to adoption there are tons of conversations that are difficult and hard. Whether it is uncovering difficult truths, navigating tricky conversations, we are here to unpack it all.  Join us this week as we chat about how to talk about the hard stuff when it comes to adoption. 

Traveling to birth country is a life changing experience. No matter an adoptee's age, the impact tends to hit the system with intensity and healing. In this episode we share our experiences of being in our birth countries as well as offering insights on how to take care of yourself and prepare for experience. 

In honor of Valentine's Day we wanted to debunk an age old myth around adoption : love is enough.  There are so many complexities in this narrative, we wanted to shine light on how these complexities impact attachment and ultimately love. Come join us for this important conversation.

This episode is an overview of international adoption. We dive into topics around colonialism, corruption, identity, grief, and loss.  There are so many complexities to the adoption narrative and international adoption is a whole layer within itself. Tune in and share your thoughts. 

Life feels so heavy these days. We cannot turn on the news without being bombarded with horrific images or devastating realities. This episode pauses and reflects on how to care for yourself when things feel like too much. For those who have complex trauma and live with chronic stress we see you and know how exhausting things can feel right now.  You are seen and have community here. 

Last episode we did a deep dive on one of our favorite modalities, EMDR. This episode's chat focuses on EMDR within the context of adoption.  As always, thank you for tuning in. 

EMDR is a treatment modality that has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. Both Amy and Marcella are trained in EMDR, and in this episode share insights from a client perspective as well as being a clinician. Please tune in to learn more about how this modality is used to process trauma. 

Last episode we chatted about a buzzword in parenting spaces called co-regulation. Today we chat about co-regulation within the context of adoption. Join Amy and Marcella as they dive into another topic, sharing both clinical and personal perspectives. 

Co-regulation is such a buzz word but what does it even mean? It is so important when creating spaces of safety within relationships. We all deserve to have others to support us during our hard and messy moments and Amy and Marcella dive into why that is.  

Understanding attachment is so crucial when in relationship with individuals who are adopted. Listen to Amy and Marcella dive into this hot topic within the context of adoption. 

What does attachment mean and why is it important? This episode we dive into these topics and how to enhance relationships. 

When a child is adopted and raised outside of their race we call it transracial adoption. In this episode Amy & Marcella share personal, professional, and clinical perspectives surrounding this complicated topic.

There are so many myths that circle the adoption narrative.  In this episode Amy & Marcella explore the top myths they see in their clinical practice. 

Healing comes in so many forms. Whether it is our internal work, familial work, or changes within our system- it is all within our capacity.  Join Marcella and Amy as we navigate healing systems of all types. 

What is adoption trauma? Marcella and Amy dive deep into exploring adoption trauma while sharing clinical and personal experiences.  

What is Trauma? How do we define trauma? Marcella and Amy do a quick deep dive on how they define trauma and exploring how it impacts all of us and our communities. 

What makes and ally? What is social justice? Tune in to listen to Marcella & Amy break it all down in the context of adoption.  

Welcome to Adoptees Dish!  We are so excited you are here.  Amy & Marcella are transracial and transnational adoptees who are also both in private practice.  Amy and Marcella specialize in complex trauma and the complexities of adoption. Come learn a bit about who they each are and why they are so passionate about their work.