adoptee Archives - David B. Bohl

Am I Insane or Am I Courageous?

A long time ago when I first visited the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, I learned a term, “Character Defects.” This term was a part of

August 15, 2023

Developing Your Own Narrative Promotes Lifelong Healing

I am often asked about the title of my memoir, Parallel Universes, and how I came up with it. There are many different reasons it

July 14, 2023

Feed the Expansion, Not the Pain

Sometimes I imagine past trauma as one of those Choose-Your-Own Adventure situations, where turning to page XYZ essentially puts me back in a sad loop

June 30, 2023

Additional Insights on Roszia and Maxon’s
Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency

Sharon Kaplan Roszia and Allison Davis Maxon have co-authored the book Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency: A Comprehensive Guide to Promoting Understanding and

June 20, 2023

Families Like Mine: Wisconsin Relative Caregivers for Children Conference Presentation on Complexities of Addiction

I had the honor of presenting The Complexities of Addiction: Implications for Foster, Relative, and Adoptive Families at the Families Like Mine conference, a statewide

June 5, 2023

The True Magic of Connection: Sometimes Healing Happens in Mysterious Ways

I have a confession to make. I believe in magic! Yes, yours truly, whose practices are grounded in evidence-based engagements and interventions, the man who

May 1, 2023

Identity Development: Sometimes Healing Happens in Mysterious Ways

The process of Identity Development is important to all human beings, and although associated with adolescence, it is a profess that for a number of us is

April 25, 2023

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: FAMILY OF ORIGIN SEPARATION TRAUMA AND ADDICTION – CARE PLANNING AND RECOVERY MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

I was honored to speak to the clinicians at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation today, especially as a graduate of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate

April 19, 2023

Bill W was a Relinquishee

Imagine being an 11-year-old boy and having your childhood shattered after being abandoned by both your mother and father. The carefree days spent in rural

April 17, 2023

HIGH-VALUE-ADDED CONSULTING CASE STUDY:
IAN

I met the B. family after the mother (Mary) reached out to me once she read my memoir, Parallel Universes . She emailed sharing that

April 5, 2023

HIGH-VALUE-ADDED CONSULTING CASE STUDY:
MELANIE

I met 29-year-old Melanie at an adoption event that she attended with her adoptive parents. We met in a social setting, and I shared that

April 5, 2023

Haymarket Center Spring Workshop: Family of Origin Separation Trauma and Addiction – Care Planning and Recovery Management Implications

I was honored to have kicked off the 2023 Haymarket Center Spring Workshops with the presentation: Family of Origin Separation Trauma and Addiction – Care

March 27, 2023

Confirmation Bias and What Trust Has to do With It

One of the most challenging aspects of growing up with developmental trauma is having to unlearn certain beliefs—beliefs that might’ve served us at one point,

February 28, 2023

Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Hospital Seminar –
Adoption and Foster Care: Considerations for Medical Practice

I once again had the opportunity to present to Dr. Samantha Wilson‘s class at the Medical College of Wisconsin titled Adoption and Foster Care: Considerations

February 7, 2023

On Grieving Many Times, and Many Times Over

My beautiful, sweet mother died last week at the age of 90 years old. She passed while I was on a plane on my way

January 30, 2023

The Antidote to Shame

I was relinquished at birth, then adopted into a new family at the age of one-week old. I entered this world without the safety net

January 16, 2023

ANNOUNCING: A NEW PARTNERSHIP, A NEW HOPE Click here to read an introduction I wrote to the Adoption Constellation. I have the honor of collaborating

December 30, 2022

Announcing: A New Partnership, A New Hope

Addiction and Adoption Constellation Support Group Meets every other Tuesday at 5:30 pm PST, 8:30 pm EST Register Here As you know from

December 19, 2022

DAVID B. BOHL

Author, Speaker, Addiction & Relinquishment Consultant, Relinquishee, Adoptee, MPE