Navigating the Stages of Adoption: Helping Children Develop a Healthy Sense of Self

Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA

About the workshop

What are normal and healthy developmental stages in the identity of an adopted person? How do you know when you see these stages emerging?

How do therapists, caseworkers, or parents best support the process of an integrated healthy identity in adopted (or fostered) children? This workshop will address these issues, and discuss the requisities for developing a healthy sense of self as an adopted person. The day will give practical techniques to help children moving through the grieving process, and missing their birthparents.

The workshop will include the next level of complexity: the further impacts on adopted children's development when they:

are without parent figures for a period of time;
left to lie in cribs without care;
have been moved between caregivers; have been emotionally, sexually or physically abused; or have been given the responsibility of taking care of themselves-or other children.

This workshop is required for those enrolled in the Certificate Program in Adoption and Foster Care Therapy.

About the presenter

Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA , is a national trainer, a psychotherapist in private practice, and the author of the well-received book, Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents, Perspectives Press, 2002. Her second book, Nurturing Adoptions: Creating Resilience after Neglect and Trauma is available. To find out more about it: Click here

Deborah has spent 20 years helping children develop attachments and work through trauma and grief. She was the 2008 Henry W. Maier Practitioner in Residence at the University of Washington School of Social Work. She teaches in both graduate adoption therapy programs at Portland State University and Northwest Adoption Exchange.

About the particulars

Location:

Shoreline Community College at Lake Forest Park (Third Place Books)

When: October 24th, 2009
Hours: 9:00am-4:30pm
Fee: $125.00 US
CEU info: 6 CEUs Cascadia Training is approved by the NASW, Washington State Chapter, to provide continuing education units to Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. Certificates of Completion are awarded to attendees at the end of each workshop. Provider number #1975-118, and is an OSPI approved provider of in-service education. This is a "Washington State Approved Clock Hour Offering Workshop."