Parenting a child of a race different from yours adds a whole new element to adoptive parenting. And while this conversation with Dr Chaitra focuses on raising an interracial adoptee (also called a transracial adoptee), becoming more comfortable with talking about race is a worthy goal of any parent – any person, really. So keep reading and listening about how to talk about race with adoptees, even if you think this episode isn’t relevant to your particular situation. (And if you have or love an elementary-aged child, make sure you check out her fundraiser to ensure that Adoptees Like Me, Dr Chaitra’s children’s book series, continues.)
With episode 406 of Adoption: The Long View, we go from basics to deeper levels about the concepts of race and how to navigate race in today’s highly charged climate. Disclosure: I am a white woman, who is not parenting adoptees of color. I am learning along with you listeners, from one of the experts in the field of transracial parenting and adoptive parenting, a gem of Colorado’s adoption-competent therapy scene – and beyond, as you’ll discover.
My guest for this month’s episode of Adoption: The Long view is Dr Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, a fellow Coloradoan who has navigated adoption and race issues her entire life.
About Dr Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
Dr Wirta-Leiker is a licensed psychologist, international/transracial adoptee of color, and an adoptive parent. She specializes in providing mental health support, focused on adoption, trauma, and racial identity work, through her private practice based in Denver. Dr Chaitra is a frequent speaker and trainer at adoption agencies, camps, and conferences throughout the US, and the creator of the National Adoptee-Therapist Directory . She is the author of The Adoptee Self-Reflection Journal, The Adoptive Parent Self-Reflection Journal, and the Adoptees Like Me illustrated series for elementary readers. I definitely recommend you check out these resources — with even more below in the show notes.
Find links to all of Dr Wirta-Leiker’s work at Growbeyondwords, including her fundraiser to self-publish more children’s books in the Adoptees Like Me series
Show Notes: Ep 406 with Dr Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
- Chaitra’s website, Growbeyondwords
- Adoptees Like Me books
- Adoptees Like Me fundraiser
- National Adoptee-Therapist Directory
- How to screen for an adoption-competent therapist
- Ultimate Adoption Resource Guide
- Ep 307 with Tony Hynes, interracial adoptee
- Ep 308 with Lynn Brown, Black transracial adoptive mom
- Adoptee Lounge with Angela Tucker
- Adoption Mosaic with Astrid Castro
- Adoptees Connect chapters around the US
- Transcript of Ep 406
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