Some (but not all) of the workshops I’m planning to go to at the conference:

Adoptee Psychology—John Sobraske

Adoptee psychology is complicated. This workshop will explore issues like “soul hunger,” precocity, regression, creativity, existence anxiety, buoyancy, hoarding, hypervigilance, hyperadaptibility, hypercontrol and just plain hyper. Special focus will be given to identity paradoxes and diagnostic conundrums. (This guy is up against Joe Soll — seems like six of one, half dozen the other but still. I interviewed Joe Soll way back when and he was very nice but given that Madison is precocious, creative, buoyant and a touch hyper, I’m heading to this one.)

The Hidden Relationship in Adoption - A Look at the Inevitable Ties between Birth and Adoptive Parents— Melissa Holub.

The majority of professional and community attention in adoption is paid to the relationship between adoptive parents and their children by adoption, between birth parents and the children they did not parent, or is focused on issues within individual triad positions.   This presentation will consider a critical, yet often ignored relationship, that of adoptive and birth parents.  Whether they are in regular contact or never expect to know each other’s identities, birth and adoptive parents are bound by the children they share.  This presentation will address the necessity of acknowledging this parental relationship and the ramifications of trying to avoid it.   Conversation between birth and adoptive parents will be encouraged in this workshop.

(Again, two other workshops — one on ethics and one on “Growing up biracial in adoption” tempt me but I think this is where I’m going to be.)

Ethnic Community Connections and Boundaries— Chris Winston

Many acknowledge that it is important for adoptive parents to provide their children adopted interethnically with ethnic community connections. This workshop will present a model of how this can happen in practice.

What Makes An Open Adoption Survive and Thrive— Micky Duxbury

Workshop will explore what birth and adoptive parents need from each other and from professionals as they navigate open relationships. What changes are needed in adoption practices  to  be more inclusive of both birth mothers and birth fathers? How can we help birth parents understand the positive contribution they can make to the child’s developing sense of self?  Duxbury will share the results of her research for her book on fully open adoption along with a challenging dialogue about what each member of the triad can bring to improve open relationships.

(This is up against “Adoption is a Feminist Issue” but I really want to support Micky because I love her book and want to hear more about what she has to say.)

Relationships: From Discord to Harmony— Nancy Verrier

Difficulties in relationships can be found in all parts of the adoption triad. The reasons for these problems are often misunderstood. This workshop will pinpoint the difficulties as well as offer solutions for the healing of relationships for triad members and their significant others. Harmony is possible!

(There’s another workshop at the same time that interests me but how can I pass up the chance to see Nancy Verrier speak?)

And then I can’t decide between these next two:

Open Path Forever a Different Identity–René Hoksbergen

This workshop will include the film The Struggle, featuring Suzanne, a foundling in India who was adopted in Holland. Interviewed at age 12 and again as an adult woman, Suzanne reflects on her comments as a girl as well as her thoughts on being abandoned and adopted and her feelings towards her adoptive parents, boyfriend, and brother. Suzanne’s reactions in the film concern her struggle for identity. René will lead a discussion following the film on the manner in which abandonment and relinquishment inform development.

From Supporter to Skeptic: One International Adoptee’s Journey—Joan M. Schumack

An intensely personal narrative traces the transformation of one international adult adoptee, from ardent supporter of transnational adoption to extreme skeptic, after meeting her birth family in Greece. Handouts list books and websites on international adoption, plus a timeline of her metamorphosis from supporter to skeptic of transnational adoption.

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