Let's Talk About Parts
If you’re like me, you may have noticed that at times, different parts of your self come out. For example, I have a strong inner critic who loves to tell me the many things I could do better. Or the worrier, who sometimes makes sure I think about every possible thing that could go wrong (especially when I’m trying to get to sleep!). Also taking charge at times is a manager, who, on her good days ensures that I get things done, but on her bad days comes out as a control freak.
There are so many more parts I’m acquainted with, and perhaps some I’m not. What can explain all these parts of my one self? The Internal Family Systems (IFS) framework asserts that everybody consists of different parts. Our guest today, Kathy Mackechney, LCSW, IFS therapist, and adoptee, further believes that for adoptees, “not all parts get adopted.”
How Can That Be, that Not All Parts Get Adopted?
And what does that mean for the adoptees we love and for us as their parents?
Do you want to know more about why some parts are left behind? About how might adoptive parents may inadvertently contribute to this phenomenon?
And what about the idea that the adoptee has parts that don’t want to be adopted by us?
Would you like to know more about supporting our adoptees’ lifelong quest to figure out who they are, to pursue self-acceptance, integration, and wholeness?
I do. Every guest I’ve interviewed and every topic I’ve covered has been because it’s something I’m curious about and wish I’d known more about earlier. No time like the now, so here, for all of us to get curious about understanding parts and integration today, we welcome Kathy Mackechney.
Kathy Mackechney, LCSW and Adoptee
Kathy Mackechney, LCSW, is an adoptee and therapist who specializes in working with other adoptees, which she started doing after her own experiences in therapy, where she had to educate her therapists about the issues adoptees commonly face.
Kathy is an (Internal Family Systems, or IFS-certified therapist and consultant in Denver and the creator of the “Not All Parts Get Adopted” IFS workshop. Kathy wrote a chapter on Internal Family Systems and Adoptees for the book Altogether Us about the integration of the IFS model with different populations, modalities, and trends.
Ep 510: Adoption and Internal Family Systems
In ep 510, Kathy explains how adoption and Internal Family Systems intersect, especially for adoptees. She tells why some of her adoptee clients prefer the term “relinquishee” to “adoptee.” She shares why not all parts get adopted, and what that means for adoptive parents.
And most importantly, she helps us understand what it takes to support an adoptee on their lifelong quest to get to know all their parts and integrate all into Self. Much like all humans, adopted or not.
Show Notes for ep 510 with Kathy Mackechney, LCSW
- Website: AdopteeTherapy.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @adopteetherapy
- Book: Altogether Us
- Adoption Unfiltered Roundtable (mentioned)
- December 2024 workshop for Adoptive Parents: Not All Parts Get Adopted
- What if I’m Raising Someone Else’s Child? (mentioned)
- Ep510 transcript
How to Tune In Regularly
You can find Adoption: The Long View on Adopting.com and on these other platforms.
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Amazon Podcasts
- Castbox
- Search for “Adoption Long View” on your preferred podcast platform.
A new episode comes out the first Friday of the month. Thank you for sharing, subscribing, and rating this episode wherever you listen!
