Dr. Deborah Sweet is a licensed Psychologist who specializes in adults recovering from childhood trauma. To treat trauma she uses Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Brainspotting, the Havening Technique, IFS and the pit model.

She is also certified coach for personal growth. Before her career in mental health, she worked in the music and film businesses. She was the founder of the Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles and is currently working on a book.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Trigger warning:
In honor of Joshua’s life, Nicholas Fontana agreed to film with PBTR a few years ago to share his experience of losing his adopted friend Joshua to suicide. I ran into Nicholas at a mutual friends party a few weeks ago. Everything fell away as we began to speak about the effort to heal and all of the ways he has made progress. I asked Nicholas if he would be willing to be on the podcast to talk about the ideas he shared during our conversation. This led me to think about how to deal with our diverse levels of pain in a way that I have never considered before. His inspiration for self exploration came from; Gangaji, Alan Watts. Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle and Terrence McKenna.

It is important to understand that the people who love adopted people hurt when we hurt. Adoption is not a singular event that happens to one person. Adoption loss extends out from us; it affects our relationships, our parenting and our ability to feel worthy. In reintroducing you to Nicholas and Joshua we hope you feel inspired by the courage, friendship and the bond they shared. We honor Joshua and his brave battle, we honor all of the warriors we have lost. Remember you are worthy in fact you are spectacular!

-Joshua Samuel Kukla -
Father, friend, musician, brother, son, adoptee

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Ashley is a 40-year-old wife and mother of three. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ashley moved to New York City after college and has remained in the area ever since. She now resides in South Orange, NJ, a town she loves. She enjoys a balance of yoga and tennis and cherishes her friends and close-knit community. Professionally, Ashley holds a hybrid role that blends project management and executive support, allowing her to work primarily from home, a flexibility that's especially valuable as her children grow and need her in new ways. Ashley was adopted at birth, and after processing much of her pain, she is passionate about sparking conversations that could eventually lead to adoption reform. She believes it's essential for both those considering adoption and those who have adopted to understand its complexities, so they can provide the support and guidance necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/