Cameron Lee Small – The Adoptee’s Journey

‘Adoption is often framed by happy narratives, but the reality is that many adoptees struggle with unaddressed trauma and issues of identity and belonging'. 

Brent is joined by Cameron Lee Small to talk about his new IVP book ‘The Adoptee’s Journey: From Loss and Trauma to Healing and Empowerment’.

Cameron is himself an adoptee. He faced his own tumultuous search for and reunion with his mother in Korea.  Cameron is now a licensed clinical counsellor, and mental health advocate based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He was born in Korea and relinquished into foster care at age 3.  He was then adopted in 1984 to a family in the States.  His private practice, ‘Therapy Redeemed’ specializes in the mental health needs of adoptees and their families wherever they may be in their own adoption journey.  

• (1:30) Why are people critical of adoptees?
• (2:35) Cameron’s own story;
• (3:50) Social purification and welfare centers;
• (8:00) The child welfare system;
• (9:30) The church’s role;
• (10:50) Identity for adoptees;
• (11:40) Post-adoption services;
• (13:20) Developmental trauma disorder;
• (15:00) A journey map;
• (17:30) Telling your story;
• (19:20) Cameron’s reunion journey.

Links mentioned in this episode:

www.amazon.com.au/dp/1514007045?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz

www.ivpress.com/lifeguide-bible-studies

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