Normalizing Adoptee Feelings with Amy Wilkerson

Open Adoption Project

Chilean adoptee Amy Wilkerson, LCSW, shares her adoption story in this episode. Amy was adopted as an infant by a family in the United States, and, uniquely, was able to reconnect with her biological family as a teenager. She shares the struggles of balancing honoring and remembering culture in adoption, including her biological heritage as a Chilean and her adopted heritage being raised in a Jewish family.

Amy Wilkerson is a therapist and social worker who wrote the book “Being Adopted” to help adoptive families discuss adoption with adoptees in a way that empowers kids to share their feelings and feel psychological safety. “Being Adopted” was written for younger adoptees of any background, and outlines adoption experiences aimed at helping adoptees process and reflect on their individual circumstances and emotions. This book offers an opportunity for adoptees to normalize thoughts and feelings. Additionally, this book comes with a guide for caregivers to adopted children. You can find Amy at growhealblossom.com or check out her new podcast Adoptees Dish.