Support Groups For Birth Mothers in Colorado
By Connor Shelton
Choosing to place a baby up for adoption is one of the hardest tasks a birth mother can face. It forces one to acknowledge that they’re not ready or capable of raising a child at this time. This can be uncomfortable to process, given it seems to suggest failure. Let it be clear that adoption does not make you a failed mother. Instead, it shows how selfless birth mothers are when they place their child’s needs above their own. It’s why adoption can be so difficult for people and why we’re here. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we seek to provide you with the counseling and emotional support you need during and after your pregnancy. Here’s how to go about things.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
You’re Not Alone In Colorado
It’s natural for birth mothers to feel confused, afraid, and saddened when they find out they’re pregnant. You didn’t expect this to happen and know that you have a lot to go through. Support is key as you go through your pregnancy, adoption process, and post-placement period. It might be hard to open up at first, given how personal this is. We understand, but we also encourage you to share because the act of talking can be liberating. Sharing your emotions with a counselor can give you power over your situation. At the same time, your counselor or private adoption specialist will simply listen and provide comfort. They’ll give you the control needed to accept what you’re going through.
Support Groups for Birth Mothers who Choose Private Adoption in Colorado
If you don’t already know this, support groups are meant to connect people with shared experiences. It is here that you can express your feelings, coping mechanisms, and advice you have to other birth mothers. Conversely, they’ll share their struggles and experiences with you, allowing all to grow together.
When it comes to specific support groups for birth mothers, there is a variety that you can choose from. Whether it be Birthmom Buds, DailyStrength, or Lifetime Healing, these groups are here to help you focus on healing at your own pace. That’s because grief is an emotion not subject to schedules and timetables. You can be fresh from post-placement or several years removed from when your child was adopted. It doesn’t matter where you’re at, grief is grief, and these support groups understand this. It’s why they exist, so they can give a space where it’s okay for everyone to talk about the sensitive side of adoption.
Counseling Resources for a CO Adoption
Perhaps the most difficult time for birth mothers is when the adoptive parents officially take their baby. You’ll no doubt want to share what you feel, but not with a whole group of people. That’s perfectly fine. Some thoughts are confidential, which is why Adoption Choices of Colorado offers free and private counseling sessions. Unlike the support groups, which are made up of women from any number of backgrounds, you’ll be talking with a trained professional. Don’t let their credentials intimidate you, though. They’re just here to help you unpack all the tough emotions.
Beyond counseling for yourself, we also offer services for the child’s birth father (assuming he is present and supportive). Likely, he’s just as emotionally vulnerable as you, so we mustn’t overlook him. After all, if you don’t open up, one person’s emotional turmoil can theoretically ricochet onto everyone else. It’s why we provide counseling for other family members, though only for those involved in the birth mother’s life. By covering all these bases, we can ensure that any pain you feel doesn’t overwhelm anyone.
It’s Okay to Choose Adoption in Colorado
At the end of the day, we want you to know that what you’re doing is okay. Accepting this reality goes a long way in helping you through the post-adoption blues. After all, if you understand that your choice is selfless, you’ll be less inclined to beat yourself over adoption. Of course, this isn’t to say that you won’t experience grief or sorrow. It’ll still hurt to see them go, but that’s perfectly normal.
Knowing the burdens of private adoption in Colorado, we want to stress that it’s normal to look to others for comfort. Sometimes your family won’t quite understand the pain you’re going through. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re sharing too much. In any event, know that counseling is here specifically for your needs. By talking with other birth mothers and/or a counselor, you’ll be one step closer to a brighter and happier future.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!