Workshops

Since 2006, Forget Me Not Family Society has held a variety of workshops on post-adoption issues.

Workshop reports and articles:

2026 May Workshop: Navigating Grief and Ambiguous Loss After Adoption, an adoption healing workshop by Ashleigh Martinflatt

2023 June Workshop: Presenting “@ghostkingdom” Searching for Connection Beyond the Ghost Kingdom, an adoption healing film and workshop by Brian Stanton

2019 November: An Adoption Reunion Workshop with Catherine Moore, MA, RCC

2015 October Workshop: A Girl Like Her with Ann Fessler

2014 November Workshop: Blank, a play by Brian Stanton, Actor and Writer, Adoptee and Good Girls Don’t, readings by Patti Hawn, Author

2013 October Workshop: Releasing Our Voices – Sharing Our Stories, Writing to the Heart with Ray McGinnis, Grief and Loss Workshop Facilitator and First Nations Healing Circle with Sharon Jinkerson-Bass and Brenda Ireland, First Nations Adoptees

2012 November Workshop: Releasing Our Voices, with by Brian Stanton, Actor and Writer, Adoptee

2011 October Workshop: Good Grief! Can it Help Us in our Adoption Journey, with Joe Soll, LCSW, Therapist and Author, Adopee

2011 May Workshop: True Colours: Our Personalities, by Betty Conroy, Certified True Colors Facilitator, Counsellor, Life Coach and Group Facilitator

2010 October Workshop: Gone to an Aunt’s, by Anne Petrie, Broadcaster and Author and The 40 Year Secret, a TV Documentary produced and directed by Mary Anne Alton

2010 Spring Workshop: Confessions of a Social Worker with Ray Ensminger, MSW, Ensminger Consulting, reunion facilitator, retired Social Worker

2009 October Workshop: Awareness, Authenticity and Accountability with Nancy Verrier, MFT, Psychotherapist, Author

2008 October Workshop: Reunions and Expectations…and What to do About Them with Joe Sollwith Joe Soll, LCSW, Therapist and Author, Adopee

2007 November Workshop: Taking the Next Steps: Healing Your Adoption Story with Lee Crawford, Registered Clinical Therapist and Art Therapist

2006 November Workshop: Adoption Healing…A Path to Recovery with Joe Soll, LCSW, Therapist and Author, Adopee

What people say about our workshops:

Every time I attend a workshop I have hope and strength to go further into reunion. (2015 Member Survey)
I always learn a lot at these conferences. Being with others who understand without a long explanation is wonderful. (2015 workshop)
As usual it surpassed my expectations. The variety of these workshops allows me to delve into many emotional layers that I’m uncovering. (2015 workshop)
I never want to miss any experience involving this group. (2015 workshop)
It was a wonderful weekend – my first workshop with the society, and it was amazing. I’ve done a lot of personal growth workshops over the years, and this one just hit the nail on the head for me. The big take-away from the workshop for me was having the opportunity to be heard in an accepting, non-judgmental, loving atmosphere, by people who ‘get it.’ It was transforming for me – I feel more solid and grounded in who I am than I ever have. I have clarity and focus and an ability to be present for others that I didn’t have last week – something profoundly healing happened to me there, as I was able to release some grief, shame and longing. The feeling of being victimized has been replaced by a renewed energy to be my own person, rather than what others expect me to be, and it feels awesome. DM, an adoptee (2013 workshop “Releasing Our Voices – Sharing Our Stories”)