Adopted shortly after her birth, Maxine is committed to helping all involved in the adoption process (birth parents, adopted parents, and adoptees) to view the experience through a positive lens—no matter where they are in the process. Dr. Bryant holds a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Master of Arts Degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services Degree. All of her degrees have a concentration in Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Rachel Boyer is a transracial adoptee, retired choir kid, and tripaw cat mom from Eagle River, Alaska. Unable to sit still, Rachel has called Minneapolis and St. Paul, Austin, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. home. A graduate of the illustrious Howard University School of Social Work, Rachel recently passed her first licensure exam to earn her LMSW and currently works at the National Association of Social Workers as a Public Policy Associate. Rachel’s journey with understanding and accepting her adoption has included a lot of research, connections with fellow adoptees, an internship at an adoption agency, and a whole lot of academic and personal writing to process her feelings. In her free time, Rachel can be found leaning hard into her love of Star Wars by watching the movies and tv shows on repeat or relaxing with some reality TV. Rachel is also always writing something in her collection of notebooks and hopes to be published someday.

Candace Cahill is a first mother and a late discovery step-adoptee. She grew up in rural Central Minnesota with no running water or electricity, and by the time she graduated from high school, she’d learned books were an oasis and her guitar a good friend. After earning a Social Work degree, she embarked on a year-long bicycle trip across North America before settling in Alaska. An artist at heart, she is a self-taught silversmith, singer/songwriter, and plays the guitar, banjo, bass, and saxophone.

This session will explore complicated grief for all members of the adoption triad, with a focus on the birth mother experience. Using her personal story of relinquishment, reunion, and the subsequent death of her son, Candace will explore ambiguous loss and disenfranchised grief and provide tools and tips for healing.