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.

#AdopteeVoices #AdoptionTrauma #AdoptionAndAddiction #AttachmentTherapy #AdopteeHealing #AdoptionAwareness #AddictionRecovery #AdoptionCommunity #AdultAdoptees #TherapyForAdoptees #AdoptionSupport #MentalHealthMatters #AdopteeJourney #HealingForAdoptees #VoicesOfAdoption

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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.

Build stronger adoption relationships by subscribing to Voices of Adoption.

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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.

Strengthen your family's adoption journey - SUBSCRIBE to Voices of Adoption.

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In this episode of Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Gene Trowbridge shares his perspective as both an adoptee and adoptive parent. His multi-generational adoption story includes a childhood sister who mysteriously vanished, a 50-year wait to search for birth family, and lessons from both sides of adoption.

Loss and Search

Gene discusses receiving his adoption papers at 16 and waiting decades before searching, eventually discovering six half-siblings and a deceased birth mother. He opens up about his daughter Amy's 17-year battle with addiction and her fear of writing the letter that could have connected her with her birth mother. His other daughter Emily now co-hosts an adoption podcast 'Hey! Am I Adopted? Podcast' with him and is pursuing foster-to-adopt herself.

Reunion and Wisdom

The episode highlights his wife Kay's reunion with her biological father, who became "Grandpa Gravy" to their daughters for 25 years. Gene advocates for adoptive parents to maintain connections with adoption agencies, sharing annual updates, and keeping doors open for biological family contact when medical or emotional needs arise.

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In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Craig S. Hyman, an adoption life coach with 35 years of experience helping adoptees and families. Craig shares his complete adoption journey from being placed at 11 months old into a loving extended family to his transformative reunion with his biological family in 1987.

Growing Up Adopted Craig describes his vibrant childhood with an "angelic" adoptive mother who became the center of his universe, surrounded by extended family gatherings of 30 people every Sunday. Despite this foundation of love, he experienced the complex identity questions many adoptees face, leading him to search for answers about his origins at age 26.

Musical DNA Discovery The breakthrough moment came when Craig learned his birth mother loved singing and piano - explaining his lifelong passion for music. His subsequent search revealed that nearly his entire maternal family worked in music, validating the genetic connection he'd felt throughout his life. The 11-month pre-internet search led to reunion, expanded family connections, and confirmation that adoption literally saved his life.

Craig now channels his experience into his Inside Out Expressive Arts Adoption Healing Seminar, helping thousands find community and healing.

Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more adoption stories and healing resources.

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In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interview Amy Geller, therapist, researcher, and adoptee born in 1970 during the peak year for domestic infant adoptions. As the only girl and only adoptee in a family with four biological sons, Amy shares perspective on adoption dynamics that help families thrive across generations.

The Discovery That Changed Everything
At 14, Amy discovered her adoption paperwork while searching for letterhead. Seeing herself listed as "Baby Girl" sparked questions that led to a connection with her birth mother. Her adoptive parents' initial uncertainty gave way to support, demonstrating that families can navigate reunion together with openness and courage.

Decades Later, Clarity Arrives
Amy explains "coming out of the fog" as recognizing how adoption has shaped your entire life. Her doctoral research revealed that adoptees benefit most from therapists who remain open to learning alongside their clients. She discovered a 1964 book advocating for acknowledging adoption differences that remain largely unknown today, offering wisdom that can help families build stronger connections.

Amy's journey demonstrates how adoption complexity unfolds across decades, creating opportunities for deeper understanding and stronger family bonds.

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In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Emily Meikle, who placed her daughter Beth for adoption at age 16 and reunited with her 17 years later. Emily's story demonstrates how faith, supportive parents, and divine guidance can transform an unplanned pregnancy into a journey of love, sacrifice, and eventual reunion that honors both birth and adoptive families.

Choosing Through Revelation

Emily shares how her mother's immediate embrace and unconditional support gave her the strength to consider adoption. Through prayer and what she describes as personal revelation, Emily felt drawn to a family with a three-year-old son, receiving multiple confirmations including matching fabric on gifts exchanged at their first meeting and the boy's insistence that the baby's name would be "Beth," Emily's grandmother's name who became the child's guardian angel after passing away a year later.

Placement and Healing

Emily describes placement as the hardest thing she'd ever done, crying for six months while simultaneously feeling peace about her decision. She wrote a song to Beth while pregnant, expressing hope they might reunite someday. Though the pain was immense, Emily never doubted her choice, sustained by faith in Jesus Christ and her parents' support. She later married, had children, and built a life while maintaining hope for connection with Beth.

Full Circle at the Wedding

Through Ancestry DNA, Emily and Beth reconnected when Beth was 17. Their reunion felt familiar and natural, leading to a relationship that includes both families. Emily was invited to Beth's high school graduation and ultimately sang a duet with Beth at her wedding. Two days before the ceremony, Emily took Beth wedding dress shopping when Beth's original dress didn't feel right, creating memories Emily never imagined possible.

Emily's story shows how adoption can honor birth mothers' love while providing children with the families they need, and how faith and open hearts can create relationships that bless everyone involved.

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Social Media links for Emily Meikle Music

Website: emilymeiklemusic.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilymeiklemusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilymeiklemusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilymeiklemusic/

One Day Song:

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-day-single/1787820259

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oWagoHgSsFQwV2Fl66K7m

Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0DRC7WZ3X?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_jLQ6yod8f1iq3ry3HeM6whF1E&trackAsin=B0DRC9HCHX

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gbvv3e2vV-4?si=Vja82y17HmNpg1mH

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith, Indigenous writer and survivor of Canada's Sixties Scoop, a government policy that forcibly removed an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children from their families between the 1950s and 1980s. Taken from her mother at age three alongside her sister, Christine experienced abusive placement, foster care cycling, and complete disconnection from her Cree heritage and language.

Finding Voice Through Story

Christine shares her journey through failed adoption, mental health challenges including anorexia and severe depression, and eventual healing through writing. Her memoir "These Are The Stories" uses non-linear Indigenous storytelling traditions to document snapshots of survival, humor amid trauma, and the powerful moment witnessing her niece's birth that motivated her recovery. Writing became her pathway to reclaiming stolen identity and creating space for collective healing.

Reconnecting With Roots

After aging out of foster care, Christine actively searched for her biological mother, finding her on the adoption registry just one week after registering herself. Their reunion provided the biological connection she craved throughout childhood, spent wanting to "paint herself white" to escape racism. Though her mother struggled with mental health issues stemming from residential school trauma, Christine treasured their relationship until her mother's death eight years ago.

Christine's story demonstrates how Indigenous adoptees can reclaim culture while acknowledging complex realities, and why adoptive families must honor Indigenous children's heritage through active cultural connection and community engagement.

Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for conversations about identity, healing, and honoring cultural heritage in adoption.

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