Inside Out Adoption Comes to the New York City Area!

WHO:  Inside Out Adoption

WHEN: Saturday, March 30, 2013 10:00am until 6:00pm

WHERE:  Evan B. Donaldson Institute, 128 E. 38th St., New York, NY 10016

WEBSITE: Inside Out Adoption

Healing Adoption Wounds

The seminar offers the opportunity to identify deep wounds and challenges, and use creative expression and spiritual practices to foster healing. Created and facilitated by Craig Hyman and Patrick McMahon.

REGISTRATION FEE: $100 Includes all materials.

To Register, please visit: http://insideoutadoption.com/

What to bring to the workshop: Feel free to bring your own lunch if you like as we have a refrigerator and a microwave for heating things up, as well as a full kitchen on site (otherwise a list of local restaurants will be provided to you at the workshop before our lunch break). For some of the activities, floor seating is optional, so if you like, bring a pillow, a yoga mat and/or blanket, or a yoga cushion or low beach chair for your comfort. Chairs will always be available. A sweater or light jacket is advised in case it’s a cool day.

Lastly, we are going to be creating together a puja table http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism) as a ritual at the beginning of the day, and adding things to it throughout the day. So for this we suggest (but it’s not required) that you bring something related to your adoption or personal life experiences that are dear or important to you, that you will place up on this mantle to honor, be reminded of, have with you in spirit throughout the day; or something that is simply special to your person or that makes you happy, feel safe, or close to home so to speak. Examples of these items a.k.a. talismans if you will http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talisman, are photographs of your biological parents, adoptive parents, siblings (bio or otherwise), a deceased loved one or pet, an artifact, a lucky charm, a flower in a vase, your birth certificate, a childhood toy, a musical instrument, a Tchotchke also known as a nik-naks, a photograph of your pet, everything and anything that is silent but carries emotional, spiritual or adoption weight and worth for you that you would like present in the room during the workshop.
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As adopted persons, both Craig and Patrick have experienced the depth of separation trauma from blood relatives, as well as the transformative, healing process of the mind, body, and spirit. We now wish to provide adopted persons and parents involved in adoption the opportunity to identify and validate their deepest wounds and challenges, and use creative expression and spiritual practices to foster resolution and healing. We also aim to promote personal growth in order to educate and enlighten broader society about the long-term effects of separation and connection.

During the seminar, attendees will experience a safe environment in which a variety of creative expression techniques will be used, each led by Craig, Patrick, and other local leaders in their fields. These may include meditation, movement, collage, journaling, role-play, art therapy exercises and more. These techniques will assist attendees in accessing their deep wounds, whether they be pre-verbal feelings and experiences or current challenges related to adoption. Throughout the day, there will opportunities to externalize these wounds, leading to a sense of release and resolution. The day will conclude with a group dialog and playful closing to promote a smooth transition out of the seminar, identify tools for continuing growth and empowerment, and encourage a sense of community and ongoing support.

“Inside Out was an experience I will never forget! The experiential interventions helped me explore my inner self like I had never done before. I highly recommend this workshop for any member of the adoption community as well as any professional. Kudos to Craig and Patrick.”

Jeanette Yoffe, M.A., M.F.T. -Child & Family Psychotherapist, Co-organizer of Adopt Salon Conference

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About Inside Out Adoption Hosts

Craig Hyman

Craig honors a lifelong calling to service in the areas of adoption education, healing and spiritual growth. He is an Adoption Life Coach for adoptees, biological parents, adoptive parents, their families and significant others; and specializes in the areas of general adoptions issues, search, reunion and post-reunion complexities. He has founded and facilitated post-reunion and support groups in New York City and Marin and Sonoma counties in Northern California. Craig facilitates the Male Adoptee Issues workshop and Spiritual Perspectives Panel for the annual AAC conference as well as other national conferences. He resides in New York City coaching and educating globally.

Patrick McMahon

Deeply committed to spiritual healing through expressive arts, Patrick is a frequent speaker at national conferences, classes, and seminars, as well as the author of Becoming Patrick, a memoir about reconnecting to his family of origin. Applying his skills as a photographer, artist, and musician, he has developed expressive arts workshops and Exploring Our Roots, a multimedia arts event illuminating the complexities of adoption in our culture. He has created a line of greeting cards for those involved in adoption, and advocated for adoption education and reform. Patrick also facilitates an adoption support group in San Diego, where he currently resides.