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Is Adoption Trauma? by Robyn Gobbel, LCSW
I met a man today and we struck up a casual conversation. He asked about the types of clients I see.
Logan: A Sweet Kid With A Volcanic Temper
Logan* is 14 years old. His mom, Linda, received a call from CPS (Child Protective Services) three days following his birth, and the worker said, “I have a baby boy and we can’t find a home for him.
Attachment Therapists: Do You Keep Parents In Their Child's Therapy?
As an attachment therapist, I typically write articles for adoptive and foster parents.
Adoption & Fostering: It Isn't for Sissies
When a parent adopts a child or becomes a foster parent, they give up the luxury of traditional parenting . . .
Moms Speak Out: Parenting A Special Needs Child
I don’t believe you set out thinking one day you want a child with special needs...I just think one day it happens to you.
Do The Holidays Trigger Your Child?
As my daughter and I shop at the mall for our remaining gifts, we eye Christmas ornaments, stocking, lights, and decorations.
The Invisible Disability: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD affects 1 in 100 infants each year. FASD is not a genetic condition and is completely preventable . . . if the birth mother does not drink alcohol during her pregnancy, the child is fully protected from the disorder.
6 Ways to Develop Secure Attachment Qualities
Secure Attachment
Most of the time, parents focus on insecure attachment characteristics, and identifying their child’s particular style.
Megan Terry's "Riding the Attachment Roller Coaster- On and On and On and... "
Today's post is contributed by Megan Terry author of blog, Millions of Miles. Megan is a wife and mother who calls the Louisville, Kentucky area home.
The Secret to Improving Your Child’s Behavior: Behavior Modification Plus Therapeutic Healing (Part Two)
Today’s post is a continuation from part one of “The Secret to Improving Your Child’s Behavior” which posted two weeks ago.
The Secret to Improving Your Child’s Behavior: Behavior Modification Plus Therapeutic Healing
Individuals with a history of trauma or loss may have parts of their personality that protect them through defensive behaviors, thoughts and feelings. Defensive behaviors, thoughts and feelings hide a person’s authentic ones out of fear.
Dos & Don’ts: An Adoptive & Foster Parent’s Letter to Friends and Family
Have you ever noticed that adopted and foster kids are especially cute? Their beautiful eyes, cute noses, and charming smiles often call attention to them and to their family.
The Adoption and Fostering Community: Supportive or Critical?
How would you describe your community? Do you find most parents and professionals are kind and supportive of you and your family, or do you walk away from situations feeling criticized and demeaned?
Outside the adoption and fostering community parents may expect to
Searching for an Attachment Therapist? 4 Suggestions to Ponder
As parents consider therapy for their adopted or foster child, they often consult other families to gather names of potential therapists.
Top 7 Ways to Respond When Your Child Shares Feelings
One of the most important skills for a child’s emotional healing is the ability to identify and express emotion. When a child can communicate their internal experience, he or she creates the foundation to alleviate past loss, abandonment, or trauma. When the child connects to caregivers through sensiti
6 Practical Strategies to Improve Avoidant Attachment
Attachment is the reciprocal energy and unspoken dynamic in a relationship between a parent and child. Available, consistent, and sensitive caregiving forms healthy, secure attachments while inconsistent, insensitive and unavailable caregiving forms insecure or dysfunctional attachments.
What is Abusive Head Trauma?
Social workers, like every profession, must earn continuing education credits in order to maintain their professional license. This past Friday I went to a new class our profession is required to take, “Pediatric Head Trauma.” To be quite honest, I was not excited to go. Usua
A New Test to Determine The Right Medicine for Your Child
Note: Today’s post is not an attempt to encourage or discourage families from the use of medication. There are many children who already take medicine and there may be families who are considering a trial of medicine; this post is intended to provide information for them.
Give-A-Way!! Korean Doll in Traditional Wedding Dress
Hi Friends! I am giving away a beautiful 6 inch doll I bought from a lovely woman at our local Korean grocery.
The New RAD Question
OLD QUESTION: Does my child have RAD?
NEW QUESTION: What is our (myself and my child) attachment style?
Is Grief A Lifelong Thing? 7 Ways to Help Your Child Cope
Parents understand their child has grief from past trauma and loss, and often they worry, “Is this a lifelong thing?” Grief resulting from trauma and loss is revisited throughout a person’s lifecycle. Grief may show itself through different symptoms, and may be triggered by v
The "Connect Back:" A New Tool to Identify Past Trauma
As a parent, do you worry about and attempt to persuade your child to stop certain behaviors? Do you find yourself pleading, yelling, or becoming frustrated with your child’s choices?
Of course, it is a parent’s job to lead
Top Reason to Consider EMDR as Part of Your Child’s Therapy
In a traumatic event, an individual experiences a threat or an assault to their emotional or physical safety or well-being. Trauma can be one large event, ie: natural disaster, physical assault or a series of smaller events, ie: bullying, name calling, intimidating glares.&
8 Ways Parents Can Help Their Child Deal With Rejection
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
~e.e.
Adopt-a-Village: Young Volunteer Connects With His Guatemalan Heritage
Adopt-a-Village is a small, grassroots non-profit that works with remote villages in Guatemala. This is an area of extreme poverty with few public services or other forms of assistance.
Top 7 Reasons for Parents to Remain in Their Chid's Therapy Sessions
We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
Adoption- It's Not All Hearts and Smiley Faces
Today's post was submitted from Creating a Family, one of the top adoption education and support organizations in the US.
Here is more information about Creating a Family: Our mission is to help prepare families pre-adoption and then support them post-adoption. All of our r
Poem: "He's Only Nine"
Today’s guest post was contributed by The Marks Family (all names have been changed to protect their confidentiality). Parents, Susan and Bill, along with older brother, Joseph, adopted Darian at the age of three. Darian had lived in a Guatemalan orphanage from the age of nine months until two
Are You A Bucket Dipper or A Bucket Filler?
For this week’s post, I decided to review a children’s book. As I was choosing a book, one of my amazing adoptive moms, Beth, offered her newest find-- ”Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids.” Together, Beth and I wrote this review. Thanks
Telling Stories
Today’s post is written by guest blogger, Liz, who authors the blog, “Inventing My Life.” Liz shares the following information about herself: In the summer of 2007, I turned 40 and decided that I could officially call myself a grown up - so I had better figure out what I wanted to
Ways to Break Free From Unhealthy Family Dynamics
“If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got."
--W.L.
Karen Belanger's "Unhappy Birthday"
Today’s post is contributed by a guest blogger, Karen Belanger. Ms.
6 Ways to Guide Your Child's Teacher
Though the hot, humid days of August are still upon us, summer break will soon end, marking the start of a new school year. This beginning can bring about feelings of anticipation and anxiety for adopted and foster children. Parents can help navigate these first days by steering their child an
Key Reasons for Children to Know Their Life Story
Every time I meet a new family, I enjoy getting to know each family member. I delight in hearing their stories: how the parents met, circumstances that led to their adoption, the child’s life story. I am continually amazed at the strength and resilience the children have shown as they faced tr
Top Ways to Modify a Child's Behavior
Glancing at the title of this post, you may be tempted to skip it, “Behavior management is simple –I don’t need to read this.” But don’t underestimate the power of knowing the basics which helps parents to be purposeful in their parenting, and ultimately leads
An Adoptive, Biological, Frazzled, Honest Mom Speaks
Today’s guest blogger is Kate Hlava. Kate Terry Hlava lives just outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband, 4 children, 3 dogs, 2 cats and a lizard (who remarkably enough is an invited guest).
"After the Airport" by Jen Hatmaker
Today's guest blogger is Jen Hatmaker. Jen is an adoptive mom, author, blogger, and a leader in the ministry.
6 Ways Parents Cope With Shame
“The difference between guilt and shame is very clear—in theory. We feel guilty for what we do. We feel shame for what we are.”
--LEWIS B.
Meet the (Birth) Parents
OUR YOUNGER PARTS HOLD TRAUMA
Have you ever been in a situation where your child was triggered, and before your eyes he or she became a “different” or much younger version of him or herself? We all have multiple parts within us . . .
Understanding RAD, Trauma, and Attachment
In the adoption and foster care community, there’s a lot of confusion about the differences between Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), trauma, and attachment. Oftentimes, parents hear symptoms associated with RAD and assume their child is RAD. In actuality, m
In a Moment’s Notice: Caring for a Child with Mental Illness
Our guest blogger is Lori Gertz. Lori makes her living as a strategic marketing consultant, writer, and reiki master and is currently studying to be a homeopath.
PARENT’S ROLE AS CARE MANAGER
Who advocates for your child?
Who is the lead provider or care manager for him or her?
Commonly, parents believe that their child’s pediatrician or another significant professional will guide their medical and mental health care. In actuality, this is often not the case due to e
"Mission Possible" by Gem
Welcome today’s guest blogger and adoptive mom, Gem.
Biography of ThreeBecomeFour
My name is Gem and I'm now in my 20s for the third time! My husband, Mike, and I have been together since 1990, having met when I joined his band as a singer. We've been married since 19
