Adoptees On

Is adoption really as traumatic as some people say it is? Lesli A. Johnson, MFT teaches us about what the word trauma means and confirms that indeed a trauma occurs when an infant, a baby, a child is separated from their mother. There’s even brain science to prove it! The process of separating a baby from its mother is coded in the nervous system as traumatic for both the mother and the baby. We chat about ways to heal from adoption trauma and Lesli suggests three books for further reading on the topic. Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

An in-depth discussion with a first mother and daughter (Maret Headley and Erica Curry VanEe) that is one of the most touching and intimate views I’ve ever had of a reunion. They were extraordinarily candid with me about what’s been lost because of adoption. Three adoptees (Ruth Rawlin Tacoma, Lisa Floyd, and Michelle Madden) tell me, “what do you really think about adoption?”, “what would you say to your family of origin if you had the chance?”, and “what do non-adopted people need to know about adoptees?”.  And, as per usual, I cry while describing a moment at the conference I will never forget.    Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Mike McDonald, the host of The Rambler podcast, tells us about his experiences as a Korean adoptee, his work with the Also Known As Teen/Youth Mentorship Program and why he did DNA testing before he got married. Mike teaches us about the extensive Korean adoption program and tells us that there are over 200,000 Korean adoptees worldwide.   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Pamela Cordano, MFT and I discuss anger. What is it and why are so many adoptees accused of being “angry adoptees”? We discuss the reasons we have for legitimately being angry. Pamela teaches us about different types of anger and gives us some practical exercises to work on. I find out I’ve been engaging in Spiritual Bypass, and why that is so toxic. Anger is a powerful emotion, let’s harness it to make it work for us, and not against us.   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Lesli A. Johnson, MFT answers the question, “How do I tell my adoptive parents I’m searching for my biological family”. An adoptee’s desire to search is not a rejection of their biological parents. It’s a natural, normal desire to want to know your biology, to know the circumstances of your birth, and to see someone who resembles you. Lots of great takeaways in this episode!   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Keith Sciarillo is a late discovery adoptee. His cousin accidentally told him he was adopted when Keith was 33 years old. No one would confirm this for Keith, so he went on to search and find out for himself. We talk about how almost everyone in Keith’s extended family knew and just assumed Keith knew too.   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

We talk with Katie Jae Naftzger, LICSW about what to do when you don’t find answers at the end of your search. Katie shares about her trips back to Korea to search and her two moments of clarity during her second trip. One while hearing babies cry all night long at the adoption agency and another when a birthmother asks her, “What’s the hardest part about being adopted?”. We’ve got four steps to finding some peace when those answers never come.   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Anne Heffron (author of You Don’t Look Adopted) goes deep into all kinds of things in her story, including failures that she attributes to adoption trauma, things she’s working on to find healing, what “write or die” means to her, and we find a way to laugh a lot.    Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

We talk with Melissa K. Nicholson, LMSW about adoptee suicide (sometimes in a graphic manner and so please listen at your discretion). An incredibly important topic as adoptees are at a greater risk for suicide than the general population. We talk about some warning signs, how to get help, how we can intervene and also therapies that are beneficial for adoptees who may struggle with suicidal ideation.  If you are suicidal, please reach out for help: USA: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Canada: http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/ (There’s local numbers for each province, sometimes for local communities as well) Things to look up in your area “crisis centre” “distress line” “suicide hotline” You can also call 911 to be connected to a suicide hotline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines Melissa K. Nicholson www.mkntherapy.com   Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group  

Fellow adoptee and therapist, Lesli A. Johnson, MFT teaches us all about EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing by Dr. Francine Shapiro). We talk about what it is and Lesli explains why it is so incredibly effective for adoptees.     Full Show Notes Here   Connect With Us Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Monthly Newsletter Send a Note or Record a Voicemail   Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Play | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube   Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group