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 Taylor
What 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. Harrison
Fearing 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!