Adoption Collective Healing and Growth for the Adoption Community
The Adoption Collective serves adoptees / adopted people, first / birth parents, and adoptive parents by providing safe, sacred spaces for healing and belonging, while also respecting each person’s individual autonomy.
These programs are rooted in wisdom traditions, restorative justice, and the latest trauma, attachment, and neuroscience research. They include Collective Circles, coaching and support, mindfulness and self compassion classes, ceremony, workshops, and retreats.
Purpose and Beliefs
We believe that every single person is naturally creative, resourceful, and whole; no one is broken or needs fixing, despite experiencing trauma and other difficult events (including adoption-related ones) that can make us feel that way.
We support adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents in reconnecting with their own inherent wholeness, who they fundamentally are: unique, beautiful beings deserving of love and compassion. When we connect with our wholeness, we heal ourselves, and that ripples out. to others. We do this work together because connection and the community have the power to Help transform isolating feelings of unworthiness, shame, grief, powerlessness, and separation. Shared compassion, ceremony, humour, and joy enhance this potent healing medicine.
As an adoptee, Mary Beth Leisen views supporting fellow adoptees (and also birth parents/ birth moms and adoptive parents) in their healing and growth as her soul’s purpose. She is also Writing books to facilitate more understanding and conversation between adoptive parents and adoptees (visit the Books page for more information.
Explore current offerings below, and more will be added as the need and interest arise – and check out the Adoption Collective YouTube channel!
Origins of Healing Circles
Healing Circles, or Wisdom Circles, trace their roots back to ancient indigenous traditions practiced by Native Americans, First Nations, and other cultures worldwide. These Circles were sacred gatherings where community members would come together to share stories, offer support, and collectively heal through the power of communal connection and mutual understanding. We acknowledge and honour all those who have shared this simple, powerful framework for healing.
Collective Circles for Adoption Healing
Healing Circles tend to all parts of us. Circles create a safe and respectful space where individuals gather to share their experiences and promote emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. Members are asked to come with an open, non-judgemental, curious heart and to keep what’s shared in Circle confidential.
Everyone sits in a circle (or keeps the spirit of the circle in online groups) and agrees to abide by the group’s shared agreements, fostering equality and mutual respect. The Circle Keepers ensure participants guide the process of opening ritual, rounds of sharing, and closing ritual and also participants.
Members take turns speaking from the heart (or may choose to pass) while others listen attentively and without interruption, providing care, compassion, and support. Their shares go into the middle, to be held collectively by the Circle. The pacing of sessions allows participants to gauge their own comfort level and build trust over time: the first few Circles focus on getting to know one another and then progressively
explore topics identified by the Circle Keepers or that come from the group.
The sacred space and structures support Circle members as they generate their own insights and share them with others who have had a similar experience, thus cultivating collective wisdom from which all members benefit. The Circle Keepers hold the space and guide the process of opening ritual, rounds of sharing, and closing ritual. They also participate as a circle member.
Collective Circles: Adoptees, First/Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents
Adoptees / Adopted People
For adults who were adopted in infancy or early childhood, including open and closed, familial, domestic, and international adoptions. [Note: We may also Circles for teens soon – please let us know if you’re interested here
First / Birth Parents / Birth Mothers
For birth / biological / first parents, including but not limited to those who participated in open or closed adoptions, who legally consented to their child’s adoption or who had their parental rights terminated. These Circles are typically comprised solely of birth mothers / birth moms, but may also include birth fathers.
Adoptive Parents
For Adoptive Parents, including but not limited to those whose children were adopted through in open or closed, family or nonfamily, national or international adoptions. While these Circles are often comprised solely of adoptive mothers / adoptive moms,adoptive fathers are also welcome.
More Circles Coming
As we continue to grow this community, we may offer more specialized Circles as interest and need arise (e.g., transracial or international adoption, open adoptions, adoptees who know their birth parents, adoptees searching for their birth families, and others).
Additionally, after participants have experienced at least one circle, they may be invited to participate in advanced circles that include different members of the adoption constellation (e.g., adoptees and adoptive parents, birth mothers and adoptive mothers, adoptees and birth moms), leading to greater understanding, healing, and growth for the entire adoption community.
Additional Programs for Adoptees, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents
In addition to Collective Circles, the Adoption Collective also offers classes, workshops, coaching and retreats for members of the adoption constellation.
Click on the + (plus sign) below to learn more.
Adoptee / Adopted People Coaching and Support
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Classes
Mindfulness and compassion have been shown to be powerfully transformative in general well-being and in healing, and cultivating self-compassion is one of the most beneficial things that adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents can do for themselves. Classes are for specific groups: adoptees, for adoptive parents (often adoptive moms), and for birth parents (often birth mothers) so that the experience is tailored to the unique issues and needs of the respective groups.
Ceremony for Adoptees, Adoptive Parents, and First / Birth Parents
Humans have practiced ceremony and ritual for healing, growth, and celebration as long as we’ve been upright: it’s literally in our DNA. Through the use of fire, water, stones and other elements of nature and through presence and intent, we create a sacred space where adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents can fully acknowledge and begin to heal the ache of so many things that happened or that never could be: loss, grief, shame, guilt, deep longing, powerlessness, alienation, lack of acknowledgement, and other painful experiences. The wisdom of nature and our human ancestors show us the way to powerfully transform pain into healing and growth for ourselves, our communities, and our world. By honoring and releasing the pain, we make more room for love, belonging, and beauty in our lives
Adoptee Workshops and Retreats
For adoptees who want a deeper experience, we offer virtual and in-person workshops as well as retreats. These experiences focus on cultivating connection, belonging, and healing both within oneself and with other adoptees. These environments provide time and space to explore and process, often including the medicine of ceremony and nature.
Note: we may also hold retreats for adoptive mothers, for birth mothers, and possibly even mixed groups in the future, as need and interest arise.
Let’s Connect
Stay in touch about programs and events for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents or
schedule a call to learn more here