Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from first being relinquished, and then becoming an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” 

Her childhood upbringing of an authoritative, cult-like family, predisposed Emma to several more struggles. One of them was falling prey to an exploitative therapist where she unknowingly entered a cultic, one-on-one relationship with her psychologist. Someone who was supposed to help, support, and provide healing – instead, held Emma captive in a psychological nightmare. 

Because of these past traumas, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is dedicated to help bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of adopted individuals, as well as bring awareness of the exploitation that can occur by the hands of counselors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. By sharing her experience of being exploited by her abusive psychologist/social worker, Emma feels strongly to expose and bring light to what an unethical, boundary-less, UNprofessional therapy situation may look like. 

This memoir is Emma Stevens’ second book. Her first was The Gathering Place: An Adoptee’s Story. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and has completed Master’s level course work in psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child counseling. She has two adult children and two cat children who she adores.

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT AND EXPLICIT TOPICS

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

Christine Famous is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 7.  She was born and adopted in Florida, and she grew up with a younger brother who was also adopted.  At the age of 12, she found out that her adopted father had never wanted kids, and this propelled her onto a path of self destruction. Recently, Christine has come out of the fog and is on a journey to find her authentic self. 

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT

Simon is an adoptee who always knew he was adopted. Simon didn’t really experience any personal adoption trauma until he hit 40 years old when he found out that a teddy bear he'd had since childhood was actually a gift from his birth mother. This news immediately triggered feelings of anger and rejection, but ultimately sparked a curiosity inside Simon that led to healing and a need to help others on their adoption journey.

Simon has said that his personal story is just that, it’s very personal to him. And from my experience from speaking with him myself, he loves to question and go deep into introspection and theories to discover the truth about himself. Everyone’s combination is different, and you may not agree with some of the things expressed today, but I ask you to keep an open mind about what you hear. Have an open curiosity. Simon loves to explore possibilities and is on a mission to find his true self and possibly help you find yours as well.

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

DISCLAIMER: LISTEN AFTER DARK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG LISTENERS.

STORY LOCATION: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

WHEN: 2012-2015

Welcome to Shea's nightmare. 

Do you believe in the Boogey Man?

Shea had just moved in to her parents newly renovated apartment with her husband when things quickly became terrifying and violent.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT

Sometimes as adoptees, we feel a little out of place when personality, looks and gifts are not mirrored for us in our adopted families.

Lorah Gerald was lucky enough to see some of her gifts reflected and nurtured by her adoptive mother AND found out her bio family on both sides also had many of the same gifts she did. 

She is a writer and content creator as The Adopted Chameleon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Pinterest. She found writing and being creative was therapeutic. She believes that telling our stories helps others not to feel alone.  She writes to help herself and educate people on the trauma of adoption.

She is a trained Kundalini yoga instructor, TIYT-Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, instructor, Reiki Master, and Intuitive. With her training in energy healing, trauma and breathe work training, She has studied methods that help regulate our nervous systems. These techniques allow us to become more aware and focused on the moment.

Along with her training, she was born with abilities that allow her to see/feel/hear things that other people may not. She found out after reunion with her siblings, that a strong intuition ran in her genetic family on both sides, as well as with her adoptive mother. With her intuition and training, she has come up with ways to help herself and others heal.

Connect with Lorah Gerald: https://lorahgerald.com/

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT ABOUT ADOPTION, DRUG USE AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Beth Syverson is an adoptive mom of a 19-year-old son Joey, who has been struggling with addiction and mental health issues for several years. She struggles with addiction as well, though not with the same substances as her son. This experience has given her empathy for her son's struggles. She is walking beside Joey as he struggles with his recovery, while she works on her own personal growth and healing. 

Joey and Beth started Safe Home Podcast, now called Unraveling Adoption, in August 2021 in order to help other families avoid the pain they've endured. Six weeks after it started, Joey relapsed, but he gave Beth his blessing to continue this important work, even suggesting an episode about relapse. Now the podcast has a new name - Unraveling Adoption - and she is continuing the work, focusing on supporting adoptive parents. Last fall she started APtitude: A Support Group for Adoptive Parents Facing Adoption’s Challenges. Beth is committed to destigmatizing addiction and mental illness, and she wants to help other families touched by adoption to find their own healing path.

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT ABOUT ADOPTION.

What should be the very first thing an adoptee or anyone in the triad should do when they discover they have been in the fog?

Have some compassion!

Yes! Compassion! Compassion for themselves first and foremost! For what? For what you didn't know, didn't do and didn't realize. For self sabotaging, putting up walls, hurting others and the list goes on. But if you don't know better, you can't do better. 

So, now the blinders are off and you see all the ways adoption has affected you and those around you. Now what? 

How do you find compassion for not only yourself, but those that have hurt you in your adoption journey?

Are you ready to take your power back and make some positive changes for the yourself? 

I have done it, and I share how in this episode. 

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT ABOUT ADOPTION AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. 

***SOME ADULT LANGUAGE

Have you ever considered that everyone in the adoption triad could be in the FOG?

I have discovered since delving into the adoption community that it is not just adoptees that are in the fog. It is also Birth Mothers and Adoptive Parents as well. What did the fog look like for each of them and how did the narratives that we are all told keep us in the fog?

This is a candid discuss of listening, learning, understanding and compassion. 

A huge awakening is happening not only for adoptees, but for all that are involved. When we know better, we can do better, and the adoptee community has never been more ready to hear our stories, and to understand our pain. 

Do you want to be part of the awakening by telling your story?

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

***MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERING CONTENT ABOUT ADOPTION

How do you heal that little adopted girl still inside of you? Or the adopted rambunctious teenager? Or the still struggling adult?

Emma Stevens, adoptee and author of 'The Gathering Place' masterfully weaves the secret of how she did this in her book. She writes her story in a way I have not experienced in a book before. It's a must read!

Today she tells us how she found the happiness and healing she was searching for her entire life. 

Emma Stevens

Author of The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story

Emma Stevens Writer | Facebook | Linktree

FB/IG/Twitter & TikTok: EmmaStevensWriter

If you or someone you know would like to tell their adoption story on the podcast (anyone in the adoptee constellation), please send an email to [email protected], and your story will be considered for the podcast.

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Please seek professional help if you find yourself struggling with some of the realizations that you may experience during this episode.

This podcast's mission is on adoption education. If you have an expertise that you think would be beneficial to anyone touched by adoption and would like to be on the podcast, get in touch with me. I love to help fellow adoptees by helping to promote your latest project or expertise. It's time WE educate the world!!

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠

DISCLAIMER: LISTEN AFTER DARK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG LISTENERS.

STORY LOCATION: ANONYMOUS

Welcome to "Mark's" nightmare. Mark is a semi-recent homeowner with his wife and daughter. The family notices someone watching them from a mysterious car that is hanging around their neighborhood. The family was nervous, but became terrified when things escalated. 

_________

Due to the LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL FALLOUT that can be part of adoption, I highly support the GENTLE HEALING SUPPORT of SMGI: Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery. For more information on this groundbreaking and highly successful method, go to ⁠https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com⁠

Check out my website for other resources, all episodes of the podcast, and more about me!

⁠https://www.mindyourownkarma.com⁠

Follow me on Socials!

MYOK on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mind_your_own_karma⁠

MYOK on Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindyourownkarma⁠