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Grief & Loss Across the Adoption Constellation
10AM-Noon Zoom
Loss is a fundamental and unique theme in adoption that impacts and bonds each constellation member. Each member experiences challenges and complexities throughout their life related to loss and grief. Please join us for a 3-part training series that explores this concept through the experience of constellation members. Sessions take place on September 21, October 19, and November 16. Participants will earn 2 CEUs per session!
Session Descriptions
Session 1: Understanding Grief & Loss: Helping Birth Parents Heal
September 21 | 10-Noon EST | Zoom
Birth mothers have long been the forgotten population within the adoption constellation. Adoption professionals serving first families are not equipped with best practices and recommendations for counseling birth parents, whether immediately after placing or years down the road.
This training will highlight the scarcity of available resources for counselors and outline modalities for disenfranchised and ambiguous loss. We will break down existing grief resources that share themes with adoption trauma and loss and suggest specific therapeutic interventions for birth parent healing post-relinquishment.
Session 2: Understanding Grief & Loss: Helping Adopted Children Heal
October 19 | 10-Noon EST | Zoom
Losses must be acknowledged, validated, and grieved for children to heal. If their losses are not grieved, their ongoing hurt and pain may negatively impact their ability to form healthy, secure attachments.
In this training, participants will explore the different types of loss and grief as well as develop an understanding of how loss and grief show up developmentally, emotionally, and behaviorally for children and will learn strategies for helping children heal and feel emotionally safe in their family.
Session 3: Understanding Grief & Loss: Helping Adoptive Families Heal
November 16 | 10-Noon EST | Zoom
For many prospective adoptive parents, the route to adoption comes after a diagnosis of infertility or unsuccessful fertility treatments, which is often accompanied by the experience of grief and loss as well as tangible financial and physical costs. Adoption helps to build families; it doesn’t “fix” the losses inherent with infertility. It is important that parents reflect on and validate the impact of their losses as this increases their emotional availability to connect with and help their children heal.
In this training, participants will learn strategies for helping parents heal and increase emotional availability to help their children process their losses.