Beyond Words Psychological Services

From Struggles to Strengths: Reframing the Seven Core Issues in Adoption
2024-11-15 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Virtual Webinar
Hosted by Hudson Valley Professional Development for New York Psychologists seeking continuing education credits. The seven core issues in adoption are often perceived as barriers to an adopted individual’s ability to be healthy and successful. But what if we viewed these issues – loss, rejection, guilt/shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and control – on a spectrum that ranges from struggle to strength? Join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker as she guides you into the extraordinary and often overlooked world of adoptee strengths and superpowers. Learn to support your adopted clients’ natural tendencies, embrace their unique methods for problem-solving and navigating relationships, and empower them to feel proud of the remarkable ways in which they contribute to the world.

AKA Conference 2024: Reframing Adoptee Struggles into Superpowers
2024-11-08 15:45 - 17:15 | Adoption Knowledge Affiliates
Adoption Knowledge Affiliates Virtual Conference 2024: The seven core issues in adoption are often perceived as barriers to an adoptee’s ability to be healthy and successful. But what if we viewed these issues – loss, rejection, guilt/shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and control – on a spectrum that ranges from struggle to strength? Join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker as she guides you into the extraordinary and often overlooked world of adoptee strengths and superpowers. Learn to support your natural tendencies, embrace your unique methods for problem-solving and navigating relationships, and empower yourself to feel proud of the remarkable ways in which you contribute to the world. REGISTER NOW!

The Weekend University's 2024 Holistic Attachment Summit
2024-10-28 - 2024-11-01 | The Weekend University
Mind, Body, Social, & Spiritual Approaches for Healing Attachment: 30 World-Leading Pioneers Share Their Best Practices
Attachment wounds and developmental trauma are often the root cause of many mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, BPD, and addiction.
Understanding attachment dynamics is therefore vital for anyone working in the helping professions today.
This summit will explore the most essential ideas in attachment theory, research, and how they can be applied to create deep and lasting healing for clients — enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care.

The sessions will be spread across a 5 day period, with each day covering a specific theme. Below, you can find a taste of what to expect on each day:

The Big Ideas: An overview of the foundational principles and core concepts that are vital in attachment-based work, including: the relationship between Trauma and Attachment (Dr. Bessel van der Kolk), the role of Personality & Wholeness in Wellbeing (Dr. Daniel Siegel), A Holistic, Contextual View of Attachment (Linda Thai), Applying Attachment in Therapeutic Practice (Prof. Jeremy Holmes), and Society & Attachment (Thomas Hubl).
Working with: This day focuses on working with specific types of attachment issues, such as: relationships (Dr. Stan Tatkin); avoidant, anxious, and disorganised attachment patterns (Dr Graham Music), grief & bereavement (Dr Joanne Cacciatore), intergenerational trauma (Dr. Alicia Lieberman), adoption (Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker), and eating disorders (Rachel Lewis-Marlow).
Creating Earned Security (Mind): Day three explores the most effective mind-based approaches for creating internal earned secure attachment. It features sessions with the late Dr. Sue Johnson (on EFT), Dr. Laurence Heller (on NARM) Dr. David Elliott (on his groundbreaking “Ideal Parent” Model), Dr. Eboni (on attachment and racial trauma), Gayle Williamson (on Internal Family Systems), Dr. Laurel Parnell (Attachment-focused EMDR), and Dr Janina Fisher (on healing traumatic attachment).
Creating Earned Security (Body): The penultimate day of the summit will introduce on body-based modalities for repairing attachment wounds and developmental trauma. Dr Pat Ogden will introduce how sensorimotor psychotherapy can be applied to heal pre-verbal centres of the brain and nervous system, Irene Lyon will explore the intricacies of nervous system regulation and the dangers of misattunement in early life, Deirdre Fay will discuss the surprising link between ancient wisdom traditions and modern attachment research, and Dr Maureen Gallagher will share her unique approach to healing which combines Somatic Experiencing with Inner Relationship Focusing. This day concludes with an exclusive session with Dr Stephen Porges on how Polyvagal Theory can help us better understand and heal attachment wounds.
Creating Earned Security (Spirit): The final day of the summit will explore the spiritual and existential aspects of attachment healing. Speakers include: Dr. Richard Schwartz (Internal Family Systems), Professor Steven Hayes (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Dr. Margaret Paul (Inner Bonding), Dr. Bonnie Badenoch (Relational Neuroscience & Spirituality), and Professor Paul Gilbert (interviewed by Jeremy Holmes on the relationship between attachment theory and the new science of compassion).

LEARN MORE & REGISTER NOW!
Email lally@theweekenduniversity.com with questions.

Bringing Race Into the Room: Understanding & Supporting Racial Attachment Needs with Transracially Adoptive Families
2024-09-27 08:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Webinar
Virtual training for FamilyForward in St. Louis, MO.

Join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker for an insightful and enlightening discussion addressing the complex dynamics of transracial adoption. Through the lens of the seven core issues in adoption combined with her groundbreaking model of the racial and cultural identity needs of transracial adoptees, she will provide compassionate and comprehensive support to professionals who work with transracially adoptive families. Grow your awareness of the internal and external experiences of adoptees of color as they strive to build a positive racial and cultural identity, enhance your understanding of the role race plays in parent-child attachment patterns, learn to discuss race and racism using developmentally appropriate language, identify strategies to guide adoptive caregivers’ understanding of their own racial biases, and build the confidence to bring race into the room in a manner that promotes safety, empowerment, and connection.

How to Talk About Difficult Birth Histories with Adopted Children
2024-08-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Foster Adopt Minnesota
Hosted by Foster Adopt Minnesota.

The histories of youth in foster and adoptive families often involve details that can feel difficult to discuss as a caregiver. Learn how to share your child’s history with them in ways that promote healthy communication, offer developmentally appropriate language, and support the reduction of potential negative internalizations. Navigating these conversations with youth whose backgrounds specifically include abuse/neglect/domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration, rape/prostitution, and human trafficking will be discussed.

Chinese Heritage Camp II: From Struggles to Superpowers: Reframing the Seven Core Issues in Adoption
2024-07-26 10:50 - 12:00 | Front Range Community College
Private in-person event hosted by Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families – Chinese Heritage Camp II.

The seven core issues in adoption are often perceived as barriers to an adoptee’s ability to be healthy and successful. But what if we viewed these issues – loss, rejection, guilt/shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and control – on a spectrum that ranges from struggle to strength? Join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker as she guides you into the extraordinary and often overlooked world of adoptee strengths and superpowers. Learn to support your adoptee’s natural tendencies, embrace their unique methods for problem-solving and navigating relationships, and empower them to feel proud of the remarkable ways in which they contribute to the world.

Webinar: The Seven Core Struggles in Adoption: Supporting Your Teen Through the College Years and Early Adulthood
2024-07-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Foster Adopt Minnesota
Hosted by Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Adoption is a lifelong journey, and adopted individuals face different challenges during each stage of life. The late adolescent and early adult years offer unique opportunities for growth, independence, and identity formation, but also create new obstacles as life experiences expand beyond the shelter of the familiar. Build your knowledge of the common developmental struggles of adoptees in this age group through the lens of the seven core issues in adoption and learn the best ways to offer support and guidance as a parent, caregiver, or professional. Warning signs of more serious issues requiring professional intervention will also be described.

Mental Health Awareness Month: 3 Things I Wish Every Person Could Know
2024-05-30 11:30 - 12:15 | Virtual Webinar
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker – licensed psychologist, transracial/international adoptee, and adoptive parent – as she describes three key themes that commonly arise in therapy sessions: Binary vs. Continuum Thinking, Systemic Impacts on Individual Self-Worth, and Healing as a Spiral. Learn how to apply these concepts in your own life to feel more self-aware, self-compassionate, and self-empowered. Q&A time will be included.
This webinar is open to all members of the adoption constellation, foster community, and mental health field. The event will be recorded and available for unlimited viewing until 6/30/24 for all registered attendees. Registration fee of $10 is non-transferable and non-refundable. REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Virtual Panel: Adoption-Informed Counseling: Themes and Reflections for Chinese Adoptees
2024-05-29 17:30 - 19:00
Join The Chinese Adoptee Alliance, Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, and Joy Lieberthal Rho, LCSW for a virtual event centering the adoption-informed counseling experiences of Chinese adoptees.
CAA is hosting a special panel event, “Adoption-Informed Counseling: Themes and Reflections for Chinese Adoptees,” with Joy Lieberthal-Rho, LCSW, and Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, PsyD, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Attendees will learn about adoption-informed treatment, screening questions for prospective therapists, specific questions when considering therapy, and common clinical experiences specific to Chinese adoptees and their families. This adoptee-only event will also include a Q&A session.
Registration @ Chinese Adoptee Alliance – SPECIAL PANEL: Adoption-Informed Counseling: Themes and Reflections for Chinese Adoptees (Adoptee-Only) (fccny.org).

How to Talk about Difficult Birth Histories with Children in the Child Welfare System
2024-04-27 09:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Webinar
Private event for Foster Source families. The histories of youth in foster and adoptive families often involve details that can feel difficult to discuss as a caregiver. Learn how to share your child’s history with them in ways that promote healthy communication, offer developmentally appropriate language, and support the reduction of potential negative internalizations. Navigating these conversations with youth whose backgrounds specifically include abuse/neglect/domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration, rape/prostitution, and human trafficking will be discussed.

From Blow-up to Bonding: Finding the Balance of Attachment-Focused Discipline
2024-03-16 09:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Webinar
Private event for Foster Source families. How can you turn moments of struggle into moments of connection? Discover how brain development, implicit memories, and the “6 F’s” (Fight, Flight, Freeze, Friend, Fidget, Flop) can influence your foster or adoptive child’s reactions to traditional methods of discipline, and develop compassionate, creative, and effective strategies for limit-setting and consequences that simultaneously enhance healthy attachment patterns in the child-caregiver relationship. Tools to cope with common struggles will be addressed, including separation anxiety, transitions, homework, aggression, lying, stealing, hoarding, argumentativeness, and sleep anxiety.
