089: Transracial Adoption Mental Health w/Cam Lee

Transracial adoption is a complicated problem with no simple solution. I’m not a parent of transracial adoption, nor am I a transracial adoptee myself, but I am learning alongside all of you how to be more kind to all those who are or have been involved in it. There is a cultural narrative surrounding transracial adoptions that is ill-conceived and often downright harmful. We need professional help and advice in learning how to navigate this issue. I brought on Cam Lee to begin a conversation on this topic for all of us. He is a licensed clinical counselor who is himself a transracial adoptee. He specializes in adoption-informed mental health services. In this episode, we discuss the truth about transracial adoption and the mental health problems that come with it. Show Highlights: Cam’s own adoption story and how that led him to become a licensed clinician.  The most common mistakes people make when they tell stories of transracial adoptions.  How to dismantle the harm of the system. How parents who recognize the harmfulness of the adoption system can navigate that conversation with their children. How Cam works with his clients to heal their racial trauma. What to do when your children are struggling but aren’t interested in therapy. How to deal with your adopted child’s body image issues.   Links (affiliates included): The Girls Who Went Away - https://amzn.to/3h5l98h  Adoptee mental health and suicide: https://www.wearekaan.org/post/adoptee-mental-health-and-suicide-what-s-the-connection https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784288/  2-Night Workshop Sep 2020 https://therapyredeemed.wordpress.com/2-night/ Suggested Resources (camps, colleagues, adoptee voices, book recs, etc.) https://therapyredeemed.wordpress.com/shop/ Join us at the Parenting Forward Patreon Team - https://www.patreon.com/cindywangbrandt Parenting Forward, the Book - https://amzn.to/3g0LJPn   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com