Holding Yourself In Compassion After Adoption Reunion

Learn self-care, compassion and communication from two women who learned the hard way, through experience. Mother Barbara and daughter Vicky share wisdom and insight from their own loving, messy and ongoing relationship after closed adoption. By the end of this seven day course you will be better informed and prepared for the reunion experience.

Leçon 1: Exploring Expectations

What does adoption reunion mean for you?
While the media portrays a brief, heartwarming moment of reconnection, what happens within takes longer to process. Many people are not prepared for the emotional tsunami that accompanies this experience. Barb and Vicky discuss common myths through the lens of personal experience, and ask you to consider your own expectations.

Leçon 2: Emotional Preparation

What are your self-care tools?
Barb and Vicky share resources that helped them over their decades-long quest to forge a relationship after 30 years apart. During your own journey, you will need emotional support. Different approaches may resonate as your needs change. There are incredible resources available and the important thing is to find what works for you.

Leçon 3: Ongoing Reunion Support

What type of support resonates with you?
Finding like-minded people with similar experience is powerful. Even within the adoption community, each perspective is unique. Having a safe place to share your secrets can be deeply healing. Barb and Vicky struggled without support. There are many adoption-informed services available to help you, and you deserve the best.

Leçon 4: Open Hearted Listening

How would it feel to be deeply heard by another?
Barb and Vicky explore the meaning of open hearted listening, and discuss wisdom offered in simple techniques. As two strangers creating a new relationship, their listening was complicated by hurt, guilt, and love. A formal container or centering ritual may help you navigate these deep waters.

Leçon 5: Your Sacred Story

How does your sacred story serve you?
If you have been silenced in the past, it can take great courage to open up. Since a relationship is based on connection, it can be difficult to navigate reunion. Barb and Vicky review simple techniques they each find helpful, hoping you will find something that resonates. Using your words well is both empowering and gratifying, and gets easier with practice.

Leçon 6: Give And Take Of Communication

How do you stay in the moment when communicating?
It took time for Barb and Vicky to feel safe enough to speak and hear each other. Because there were some painful truths, from different perspectives. Today they discuss how to nurture this fragile new relationship with compassion.

Leçon 7: Holding Onto Compassion

How’s it going? Reunion is a life-long journey. This final lesson reminds you to hold compassion for yourself and others. The complexities of adoption take years to unravel, so take the long view, put your oxygen mask on first, and don’t forget your sense of humor.

Reviews

This was a wonderful course. It has given me so much support and great advice for my journey of reunion with my daughter. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 💕 💖 💗