Unearthing Adoption: Normalizing Positive Perspectives

Laura X. Williams is a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Relational Psychotherapist in the Denver area.

Beth Syverson is an adoptive mom, wife, musician, and as of 2021 a podcaster, activist, and public speaker.

Since 2019, her son Joey has struggled with addiction to substances plus serious mental health issues. For the first year of that roller coaster ride, she and Joey were both derailed. Beth tried to “fix” Joey, and her Supermom cape was tied on tight. But when nothing worked to “fix” him, she sought help for herself, which improved her own life and also her relationship to her wife Jan and to Joey.

She and Joey created Safe Home Podcast in August 2021, with the purpose of helping other families avoid some of the pain we’ve experienced.

“Pain that’s not transformed gets transmitted.”

We are trying to transform our pain into practical guidance for other families with struggling teens.

Beth adopted Joey from Japan when he was 7-1/2 months old. We now realize that his relinquishment trauma is the core issue that caused him to seek substances. Beth is a leader for other adoptive parents who are coming “out of the fog” and realizing that the adoption that created their family also created trauma for their child.”

Contact Beth directly by emailing [email protected]

https://www.rootedrhythm.com  

"In my therapy practice, I specialize in helping children, young women, and parents shift limiting patterns so that they can step into the truth of who they are. My approach combines the art of attuned listening with the science of understanding nervous system patterns to help you develop a deeper relationship with yourself and others so you can show up in your life with more confidence and ease!  

I have 10 years of experience in working with children and families. My previous experience includes in-home, school based, and outpatient individual and family therapy for multiple community based agencies, as well as serving as the lead play therapist at the Denver Center for Play Therapy. During college, I spent time as a pre-school teacher and mental health support at a psychiatric day program for adults, as well as serving as a research assistant at Harvard Medical School’s Laboratory for Youth Mental Health. I have formal clinical training in Synergetic Play Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). My greatest learning, however, lies in my personal story of healing and growth into the person I am today. 

With an undergraduate degree in child development and psychology from Tufts University and a graduate degree in social work from the University of Denver, my approach is strongly rooted in trauma informed and body oriented methods and aims to work closely in relationship with you. I am gentle, loving, and playful while also clear and direct in order to create an emotionally safe place for you to grow outside of your current comfort zone. In my personal life, I maintain deeply spiritual & meditative practices. These approaches are often blended into therapeutic work for those that are wanting them. 

Rooted Rhythm™ Psychotherapy and Parent Coaching was born out of the belief that children must get to know the beat of their own drum in order to confidently reach their potential…and that the best kind of parent is one that is Rooted in their own Rhythm."

"Pam and her husband Dan are the adoptive parents of two children, a daughter who was born in Korea in 1986 and a son who was born in India in 1989. Her children catapulted Pam into life and career interests she never imagined. Pam’s position as Executive Director has evolved over the past 20 years as she was a volunteer Executive Director for the first 7 years, then the only part-​time paid staff person, then a full-​time paid position, and finally to overseeing with the Board of Directors the addition of two more part-​time paid staff. Pam and Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families have been the recipient of the Minoru Yasui Volunteer Service Award, Asian Education Advisory Council Community Service Award, Channel 7 Everyday Hero, Asian Pacific Bar Association Minoru Yasui Community Award, the Korean American Coalition of the U.S., Bridge Builder Award, and the National Angel in Adoption Award.  Pam has been appointed to the Denver Asian Pacific American Commission, and was on the capital campaign committee of the Asian Pacific Development Center. This “labor of love” at Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families has truly become a life’s work for Pam, one that never would have happened without her own wonderful children."

Yoselin is an adult adoptee from Honduras, and first attended Latin American Heritage Camp as a camper back in the 90s. Over the course of 17 years, she has served as a Counselor, Coordinator, Presenter, and Director at LAHC, and has also assisted with coordinating Adult Adoptee Meet-Up Events. Yoselin comes to HCAF after studying Psychology in her undergrad, and working predominantly in workforce development, services for those experiencing homeless, and residential and community mental health for the last nine years. Despite the change in industry, Yoselin is passionate about advocacy, and educating communities on expanding cultural empathy and awareness, increasing efforts towards equity and inclusion, and identifying outlets for others’ growth and empowerment. In her free time, Yoselin can be found hiking, checking out a concert, gallery, or museum, spending time with friends, volunteering in the community, or finding outlets for her human rights activism.

Tough Love Instagram @tough.love.podcast

Email @[email protected]

"Gina Heumann is a true Renaissance woman: wife, mother, architect, designer, instructor, author, speaker, and adoption advocate. She and her husband, Aaron, adopted Landrey in 2001 from Guatemala and then went back for Maddox three years later. Gina’s love of learning and dedication as a mother inspired her research of different treatments and therapies that eventually led to this inspirational success story about conquering Reactive Attachment Disorder.

​Gina is an accomplished speaker who covers the subjects of adoption, reactive attachment disorder, children's mental health, PTSD, infertility, and parenting. She is available for keynote speaking, workshops, or to attend your book club, either by Skype or in person."

Join us for a conversation with Gina Huemann, Author of "Love Never Quits." 

Visit Gina's website: https://www.ginaheumann.com

Gina's TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/gina_heumann_childhood_trauma_affects_us_all

Join us for an in-depth conversation between two couples as they discuss adoption and relationships. 

Contact us: [email protected]

Find us on Instagram @tough.love.podcast

Trigger Warning: Suicide, Self-Harm, Abuse, Drug Use

This is a very difficult but important episode with Cosima Octavia who shares their adoption experience with us. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us or someone you know for support.

Dr. Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org  

Interested in being on the show? Know someone who might be interested? Email us: [email protected]

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Elizabeth A. Suter (Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Affiliated Faculty in the Gender and Women's Studies Program at the University of Denver. She identifies as a feminist, social-justice-oriented interpersonal and family communication scholar. She views the family as a politicized institution animated by the broader discursive, material, and political environment. Primary contexts of study include transracial, international adoption and lesbian co-motherhood. Recently she developed the Critical Interpersonal and Family Communication (CIFC) heuristic, calling for the centering of power, praxis, and reflexivity in contemporary studies of relationships and families. This work appears in the the Journal of Family Communication, Communication Monographs, and Communication Theory. She lives with her partner and two daughters in Denver, Colorado.

Email us: [email protected]

Find us on Instagram @tough.love.podcast