The American Adoption Congress 
is an international organization comprised of individuals, families and groups committed to adoption reform, and represents those whose lives are
touched by adoption or other loss of family continuity. While the organization tends to lean toward issues relating to adopted people and birth families, all members of the adoption “triad” or “constellation” are welcome. As an adoptive parent, I found myself in the minority but felt genuinely welcomed and included. Initially, my intention for this four-day event was to sell my book and network, but it became much more than just selling books. It brought me a much deeper understanding of my precious Casey, adopted from a Polish orphanage. In addition to adopted people and birth parents, we met activists, clinicians, therapists...

I received a phone call of yesterday from Glen. I couldn’t have been more pleased to hear that familiar voice. A rather curious comfort flooded over me when his first words were, “Are you OK, the girls here at the Convenient Mart said you needed to talk to me?” I... Read More →

I first wrote about the tension between feminism and science some years ago, after a conference dinner at which the person next to me asked what sort of psychologist I was – probably expecting to hear about my ‘specialty’. My response, no doubt naive, was to describe myself as a feminist psychologist. ...

Although the term, ‘active listening’ is not new, unless you are familiar with it, you may not really fully understand or appreciate in full what it is and more importantly why it’s so important. Active listening is a technique used in communication, especially by Counsellors and those who ...

Joseph Campbell, as the popularizer of the hero’s journey, has been criticized by feminist scholars for creating a somewhat lopsided and masculine view of the role of mythology in personal and cultural development. For example, in a lecture* on Joseph Campbell’s chronicling of the hero’s journey, Christine Downey argued the ...

On February 28th, 2014, it was reported that 382 babies had been rescued from four child trafficking rings, spanning over 27 provinces of China, leading to the arrest of 1,094 people suspect of buying and selling babies. The sting operation for this investigation had begun last year after Chinese police had uncovered websites, forums ...

In the Spotlight The April 15th deadline for filing individual income tax returns, also known as Tax Day, brings to light the state of the nation’s tax system and how it impacts those living in poverty. This year, the continued debate over the federal minimum wage and the varied effectiveness... Read More →

I guess I get to say I told you so.  After reading hundreds of thousands of words about economic inequality written by the world’s greatest minds, I sense consensus is moving towards what this social worker had figured out five years ago.  Wealth and income inequality is growing and it ...

When you get a job interview you are no doubt excited and nervous about your opportunity and the possibilities that the job presents. So when you get to the location and introduce yourself to the Receptionist, there are a number of options you have once the Receptionist says, “I’...