Connect with Mike here - https://www.facebook.com/mike.potratz.2025

Keywords
adoptee, resilience, somatic healing, trauma-informed coaching, mental health, self-discovery, emotional healing, personal growth, community support, empathy

Summary
In this episode of the Resilience Project Podcast, host Julie Brumley interviews Mike, a client who shares his journey as an adoptee navigating trauma and healing. They discuss the challenges of feeling like a misfit, the turning points that led Mike to seek help, and the transformative power of somatic work. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, trust, and self-discovery in the healing process, as well as the unique experiences of adoptees. Mike's insights provide encouragement for others facing similar struggles, highlighting that change is possible and worth pursuing.

Takeaways
Mike describes feeling like a misfit in his own skin.
The turning point for Mike was discovering the book 'Primal Wound'.
Adoptees often adapt to fit in, leading to a chameleon effect.
Isolation can be exacerbated by past relationships and societal perceptions.
Building trust in a coaching relationship is crucial for healing.
Somatic work has provided Mike with tools to connect with his emotions.
Writing has become a powerful tool for self-reflection for Mike.
Mike emphasizes the importance of empathy in relationships.
The journey of healing is not easy but is worth it.
Mike encourages others to seek help and not to fear the process.

Sound bites
"I belong everywhere and nowhere."
"You don't have to live like this."
"Empathy was locked away inside me."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mike's Journey
03:48 Exploring Identity and Adoption
05:42 The Impact of Divorce and Loneliness
07:42 Understanding the Need for Change
09:05 Navigating Relationships and Acceptance
10:53 The Role of Coaching and Support
12:39 The Power of Somatic Work
15:12 Experiencing Empathy and Healing
20:45 Exploring Emotional Awareness
22:24 Uncovering Life Patterns
24:12 Accessing Inner Worlds
25:02 Empathy and Relational Changes
26:42 Pride in Personal Growth
27:55 Navigating Difficult Emotions
29:39 Encouragement for the Stuck
29:59 Facing Fears in Healing
30:27 The Value of Shared Experience
31:40 The Coaching Experience
33:14 Hope for the Future
34:27 NEWCHAPTER

Website

Instagram: @juliebrumley_

Facebook: julierasbrum

TikTok: @juliebrumley_

Click to Join My Free Adoptee Facebook Group

You Tube: @julie_brumley

In this week’s episode of The Resilience Project, I’m joined by two of my closest friends — Becky and Erin — for a raw and tender conversation about grief. Not the polished kind, not the kind we talk about in theory… but the grief that lives in real life, real bodies, and real friendships.

We recorded this together in La Quinta, sitting in the same condo with mountains behind us and a whole lot of emotion between us. Each of us showed up carrying something different - Becky in the fresh ache of losing her mom, Erin reactivated by memories of the loss of her own parents, and me navigating the layers of grief tied to the two year anniversary of my divorce.

This conversation was three women showing up honestly with what was real - and realizing there was something here worth sharing.

Together, we talk about:

• how grief moves differently for each of us
• what it looks like to hold space for friends you love
• the waves of sorrow and joy that often coexist
• how grief shows up in the body and what somatic awareness can reveal
• the simple, practical ways we can care for each other through loss
• and how love - even in grief - continues to change form without disappearing

If you’ve ever found yourself grieving while trying to stay present for the people you love…
If you’ve ever felt the duality of laughing through tears…
If you’re longing for friendship that feels like a safe place to land…

this conversation will feel like you’re sitting right beside us.

Grief is a shared human experience.
It transforms, it teaches, and it brings us back to what matters most - connection, compassion, and the courage to sit with one another in the hard things.

Connect with Becky here - https://www.instagram.com/becky_aste/

Connect with Erin here - https://www.instagram.com/erinantroinen/

Website

Instagram: @juliebrumley_

Facebook: julierasbrum

TikTok: @juliebrumley_

Click to Join My Free Adoptee Facebook Group

You Tube: @julie_brumley

The Adoptees Journey - Cameron Lee Small

https://a.co/d/4PYHq1p

The Grief Recovery Handbook

https://a.co/d/b3z5QR1

The Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency

https://a.co/d/gHgj3LI

Processing Emotions Exercise

https://www.cominghometoself.co/offers/btaYBmJo/checkout

Grief Recovery Specialist - Adoptee - Karen Kagawa

https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/karen-kagawa

Keywords
adoption, grief, unresolved grief, disenfranchised grief, emotional processing, healing, adoptee experience, personal stories, societal impact, grief recovery

Summary
In this episode of the Resilience Project podcast, Julie Brumley delves into the complex topic of grief as it relates to adoption. She distinguishes grief from loss, emphasizing the unique challenges adoptees face in processing their emotions. Through personal stories and insights, Julie highlights the importance of recognizing unresolved grief and the societal factors that contribute to disenfranchised grief. She shares tools and methods for emotional processing, encouraging listeners to embrace their feelings and seek healing.

Takeaways
Grief is a physiological response to loss.
Unresolved grief can manifest physically in the body.
Disenfranchised grief is often overlooked by society.
Adoptees experience unique layers of grief.
Emotional processing is essential for healing.
Grief can impact relationships and personal identity.
Society's lack of recognition can exacerbate grief.
Healing from grief is a lifelong journey.
It's important to communicate unresolved emotions.
Grieving is a necessary part of the healing process.

Sound bites
"Grief is different from loss."
"Disenfranchised grief isolates us."
"Grief can manifest as anger or guilt."

Chapters
00:00 Understanding Grief in Adoption
02:56 The Impact of Unresolved Grief
05:25 Disenfranchised Grief and Its Effects
08:19 Personal Stories of Grief and Healing
10:49 Navigating Grief Through Emotional Processing
13:28 The Role of Society in Acknowledging Grief
16:22 Tools for Processing Grief
18:53 Moving Forward with Grief Awareness

Website

Instagram: @juliebrumley_

Facebook: julierasbrum

TikTok: @juliebrumley_

Click to Join My Free Adoptee Facebook Group

You Tube: @julie_brumley