In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Dr. Brett Furst, a clinical psychologist and adoptee who specializes in treating adult adoptees struggling with substance abuse and personality disorders. Dr. Furst shares his personal adoption story and the specialized treatment programs he developed after noticing adoptees weren't responding to traditional interventions.

Understanding the Gap

Dr. Furst discovered that adoptees in treatment took longer to recover and responded differently than non-adoptees despite presenting similar issues. His research revealed that adoptees are 1.7 times more likely to struggle with addiction, making up 7 to 15 percent of the treatment population. This insight led him to create the first inpatient programs addressing the intersection of adoption, attachment, and addiction.

Resources for Healing

Dr. Furst emphasizes that adoption creates an attachment break that can absolutely be healed at any stage of life. He recommends directories like Grow Beyond Words and Unraveling Adoption for finding adoption-competent therapists and encourages adoptive parents to address their own attachment patterns alongside their children.

This episode offers practical guidance for families navigating the connection between adoption and addiction while providing hope for lasting recovery.

Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.

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In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Linda Sexton, an adoptive mom who became an open adoption pioneer over 30 years ago when she and her husband were rejected by traditional agencies for being "too old" at 36 and 42.

Building Connection Linda shares how she initially believed open adoption benefited birth parents most, only to discover the real winner is always the child. She reveals the defining moment at her son's birth mother's wedding when 4-year-old Finley ran from the altar into her arms, proving there was room for both mothers in one child's heart. Her children now maintain relationships with biological siblings, with Finley having a full birth brother after his birth parents later married each other.

Practical Wisdom Linda explains why adoptive parents should actively seek connections with birth family members even when birth parents aren't available, emphasizing that children need these relationships for identity development and stability. She addresses common fears about confusion and competition, sharing how mutual respect between families creates magic for everyone involved.

This episode shows how open adoption creates opportunities for children to grow up whole when families approach relationships with flexibility and love.

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Follow Linda R. Sexton: AUTHOR of award-winning THE BRANCHES WE CHERISH: AN OPEN ADOPTION MEMOIR :- LindaRSexton.com | Bookshop | Amazon | LinkedIn | Instagram | X(Twitter) | Facebook

“If you loved The Branches We Cherish, a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference!”

Liz DeBetta always carried a deep intuition that her birth mother loved her and was thinking about her. As a domestic infant adoptee who grew up in a loving family in New Jersey, she discovered at 14 that writing could help her process the big emotions she felt but couldn't name.

Connection

In this episode of the Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Liz shares the beautiful moment she received her birth certificate on her 40th birthday and reached out to her birth mother, who responded saying she had been waiting for this day for 40 years. Her birth mother had even changed back to her maiden name hoping it would make her easier to find.

Creativity

Liz reveals how poetry and creative writing became her pathway to self-discovery, eventually leading to her award-winning solo show "Un-Mothered" and her "Migrating Toward Wholeness" process that helps adoptees and families strengthen their connections through creative expression.

Growth

This conversation offers adoptive families practical tools for keeping adoption conversations open, staying curious about their children's inner world, and creating space where all feelings can coexist alongside love and gratitude.

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Follow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliam

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