Deciding If Adoption Is Right For You

Taking the first steps on your adoption journey can be an overwhelming experience. Whether you are transitioning from infertility or are considering adoption for other reasons, you'll undoubtedly have a lot of questions as you get started. This episode of Adopting! explores some of the common topics and emotional stumbling blocks with experts Kathy Fountain and Dr. Deborah Simmons. Some of the questions explored include:

• How do I know if I'm ready to transition from infertility treatments to adoption ?
  
• Can I love and bond with a child that is not of my body, not of my genetics?
• What does open adoption really mean and is it something I should fear?
  
• What are the financial considerations of adopting?
  
• How can I balance my second guessing, self-doubt, and the importance of trusting my intuition?

Show Notes

Kathy Fountain, Fountain Fertility Counseling: www.kathyfountainfertility.com

Kathy Fountain is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a National Board Certified Counselor specializing in fertility and infertility issues. Her practice includes counseling individuals and couples experiencing the stresses that accompany fertility issues. She also works with doctors, lawyers and agencies specializing in reproductive technologies, and is experienced in evaluating and counseling those considering IVF, third-party reproduction, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation and surrogacy. She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and also my co-facilitator for the Tampa chapter of Resolve, the national infertility support and advocacy organization. She is a certified professional instructor of the Mind Body Program for Infertility, having trained with Dr. Alice Domar at the Mind Body Center for Women’s Health in Boston. Kathy is the founder of the Mind Body Program for Infertility in Tampa Bay.

Dr. Deborah Simmons, Partners (in)fertility: www.partnersinfertility.net

Dr. Deborah Simmons has provided counseling for infertility-related trauma and pregnancy loss for more than 20 years. She offers clinical hypnosis, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, couples therapy, and energy work. She prepares straight and gay couples and single women and men who wish to pursue IUIs, IVF, donor eggs, donor sperm, donor embryos, surrogacy, and adoption. She prepares gestational carriers for surrogate pregnancy. Dr. Simmons consults with the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Minneapolis where she screens potential egg donors. She is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Resolve and on the board of Fruitful Fertility. She frequently does decision-making with clients who are considering a variety of paths to family building.

Transcript

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About this Podcast

Join adoption consultant and host Nicole Witt in this illuminating podcast for people who are considering adoption. Get invaluable suggestions and information from respected adoption professionals and guests. If you are getting serious about adopting, you won’t want to miss a single episode of Adopting! The Podcast.