Webinar: Exploring the 7 Core Issues of Adoption with SallyRose and Gail

For many people, experiences of loss, rejection or identity disruption occur later in life. For adoptees, these experiences are woven into their life-story from the get-go. Developed by Deborah Silverstein and Sharon Kaplan in the 1980’s, the Seven Core Issues of Adoption is a conceptual framework that describes seven common emotional experiences triggered by adoption: loss, rejection, shame/guilt, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery and control. In this webinar, VANISH post-adoption support workers SallyRose and Gail explore the Seven Core Issues to better understand and normalise the lifelong impact of adoption for adoptees, drawing on both their professional expertise as well as their lived experience as adoptees. The intention is not to pathologise adoptees. These are just common emotional themes that many adoptees experience throughout life. Some of the core issues will resonate with you more than others. Knowledge and understanding can help us respond to ourselves with empathy rather than judgement, and hopefully contribute to healing over time. About the presenters: SallyRose has been involved with VANISH on and off for over 20 years. Her current role at VANISH is support and project worker, which includes the facilitation of both the online and the Ballarat support group for adult adoptees. She brings both professional experience and personal experience of separation of family as an adopted person to her work supporting others impacted by adoption, as well as the belief that everyone has the ability to grow, flourish and live a life aligned with their own individual passions, beliefs and values. SallyRose is also a lifelong advocate for adoptee rights and an emerging textile and sculpture artist. Gail worked at VANISH for twelve years, in roles including search & support, support group facilitation, community education and brief support. She brings together lived experience of adoption and many years of listening to the stories of people whose lives have been shaped by adoption. Gail believes that adoption can have a lifelong impact, while recognising that every adoptee experiences and makes sense of their story differently. She believes every adoptee should have the opportunity to tell their unique story, in their own voice. Understanding the impacts of adoption is not about seeing something as “wrong” with adoptees. It is about having the language to understand experiences that can be difficult to name and to challenge some of the old stories we have been told about adoption. VANISH provides free, specialist support to adults affected by adoption, donor conception, and family separation. Find out more about our services and upcoming webinars at www.vanish.org.au