Please join me as I speak with Dr. Abby Hasberry, a transracial Maryland adoptee from a closed adoption. Dr Hasberry has a BS in African American Studies and Sociology, her MA in teaching K-12, and her PhD in curriculum and instruction. She is currently studying for her MEd to become a licensed marriage and family therapist specifically to address the lack of African-Amderican, adoption-experienced counselors. 

Mentioned in the interview:

Mutual Contact Registry: a mutual contact registry is a registry that allows adoptees to leave contact information for interested family members. If the family member(s) have left their own contact information or do so in future, the registry will notify the adoptee. 

Search person/Intermediary: a search person may be a person who searches for free, such as a Search Angel with the Search Squad, or a payed person who acts as a go-between. Some states mandate that adoptees utilize the services of a designated intermediary in attempting to obtain documents and make contact. 

Maryland Adoptee access to records laws: for an easy to understand overview of the states closed access status visit adopteerightslaw.com

Ghost Kingdom: the Ghost Kingdom is the space where an adoptees relatives live in their imaginations. It is a term coined by psychologist Betty Lifton

Brain-spotting: brainspotting is a form of therapy that utilizes the eyes and eye movement during talk therapy to assist clients in dealing with topics such as trauma and anxiety.