Healing Series: Adoptees ON Podcast Support Groups with Jeanette Yoffe M.F.T.

by CeliaCenter | Feb 16, 2018 | Blog, Featured

Jeanette Yoffe was interviewed for this podcast on February 16, 2018.

Podcaster Haley Radke invites Jeanette Yoffe to share what inspired her to begin a support group for adoptees. Discussion covers how to start your own group and best practices for peer-facilitated groups.

If starting or joining a support group feels too intimidating, don’t worry! Jeanette has a great idea for free support: find a listening partner.

— Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Topics Discussed:

• Celia Center
• The Adoption Constellation: New Ways of Thinking About and Practicing Adoption by Michael Phillip Grand
• Using the term adoption constellation vs adoption triad
• Adopt Salon constellation groups can include: adoptees, adoptive parents, first parents, foster youth, foster alumni, foster families, social workers, spouses, siblings
• Suggested Support Group Rules:
• We support each other here, we don’t fix each other – no unsolicited advice
• Everyone gets a turn to share (5 minutes). What’s your name, what are you here for – do you have a question, do you want support for something in particular? You can share briefly about your story.
• You can ask questions if you do want advice.
• You can be here and not share: OWL (Observe, Watch and Listen)
• Keep everything confidential that is shared in the group
• We need firm and safe group rules so we don’t experience secondary trauma
• Constellation groups help us examine adoption from multiple angles; helps in growing compassion and acknowledging it is a shared experience.
• Celia Center support groups have been featured on OWN’s Television Show, “Raising Whitley” and TLC’s “Long Lost Family”
• If you can’t find a group, don’t feel comfortable going to a group, don’t want to start your own… Find a listening partner! Book a regular call that is to someone who will just listen. Listen, receive and acknowledge.
• Support groups to listen, share and support; you can also have guests come in and present, maybe for 15 minutes on different topics – mindfulness, an education piece about trauma, sharing their story… but leave space for the group to still share and discuss.
• If a group has different members of the adoption constellation present, it’s best to have a licensed therapist to facilitate. For peer-led support, just having adult adoptees (for example) is safer.
• Celia Center Arts Festival | Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity
• Celia Center Arts Festival 2016 Summary Video
• Check out adopteesconnect.com for new peer-led groups starting in the United States (started by Pamela Karanova of How Does it Feel to be Adopted)
• If you have another resource of places to find in-person adoptee support groups, please get in touch so I can list it here.

— Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

source: <http://www.adopteeson.com/listen/hssupport>