Supplementary Training – Private and International Adoption Seminar Reviews
We LOVED this training! It gave us such great information about private and international adoption. We now understand in a very different way, all the details about adopting privately in Ontario, and about open adoption with birth family. Before this training, we were very uncertain about how we felt about having contact with birth family, but now feel totally comfortable. I never thought my husband would! And since we haven’t decided yet about considering international adoption, this course was great to help us understand this as an option. Sofie sent such helpful information as links, that were invaluable. She also shared all of her personal stories as an adoptive parent, which really helped. The bonus is that we met other couples, and we are staying in touch. We do not know anyone else adopting, so this was a welcome surprise. We highly recommend this training!!”
Jennifer Tweed
I took the training after it was recommended by my adoption Practitioner. I was hesitant at first but I am so glad I took it. I learned so many things that I hadn’t thought about before and that my pride training through OCAS didn’t really touch on. Like for example what the Private Domestic Adoption process entails. And things like sleep and eating and creating a routine once the baby comes home. We also talked about positive adoption language which is so important. Sofie is a phenomenal trainer and I highly recommend this training to everyone involved in the adoption process. Family, friends etc. Take it. It will open your eyes and help in your adoption journey.
Anna Van Hardeveld
“I recently attended Sofie’s training session “Beyond PRIDE”. I found this so valuable and very educational. PRIDE training provides a lot of education on fostering and adoption, however I found this program much more relevant, and tailored to the type of adoption my husband and I were working towards. Sofie is a great facilitator and educator, and the guest speakers were a great way for us to see how the lessons learned can, and will, need to be applied to our life once we adopt. Definitely a worthwhile day for anyone looking to adopt.”
Domenic Callagiglia
“What an amazing training. We are looking to adopt internationally, and this session gave us such great ideas about how to prepare, and things to think about. Sofie is an excellent trainer, and we learned so much in that one day. Things we had not even thought about, like how to use positive adoption language, for the sake of our future child. And, the child’s adjustments and how to deal with them. We also learned about open adoption, and how important this is for the child. Also, how to deal with extended family. We are definitely sending our family to Sofie’s Family and Friends seminar. The day was filled with such useful information about the adoptee (adopted at any age really), that we really did not know about before. How could that be, after all the research that we thought we had done? I am very glad my wife “convinced me” to come. Worth every penny. Thank you Sofie, for opening our eyes. Our future child thanks you!!”
Raj Gupta
“I took the online PRIDE course and felt that I hadn’t learned a lot about private domestic adoption. Taking this supplemental course, filled in the gaps that were missing. It was VERY worthwhile and relevant to our situation. We learned SO much and the time flew by. The guest speakers were well spoken and very interesting. They were very relevant because they explained what they went through (recently) in Ontario. The instructor, Sofie, is positive, enthusiastic and genuine. She works in the field and also has first-hand experience that is so valuable. I really appreciated this course and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone going through private adoption. “
Erin McHardy
“My wife and I had originally been planning to adopt through the Children’s Aid Society, and we took this course as we wanted to learn more about adopting privately in Ontario, as well as more on international adoption. We really were not expecting though, to learn as much as we did. About our losses, and, the specifics of what our child’s adjustments will be, and how to deal with them. We really do feel more prepared now, in a way we never thought we would. Especially about how to navigate a relationship with the birth family. We really needed that advice, and Sofie delivered this with heartfelt personal examples. All the various speakers brought everything together so well – the adoptees, the birth mother, the adoptive parents… Wow. Sofie is clearly a professional presenter, as she kept us engaged for the whole day. That is so surprising, since it was on zoom. The time just flew by (it really did). Thank you Sofie!”
Bill Kanelas
* Brilliant
* Informative
* Not to be missed
* Enriching experience meeting people in the same boat
* It’s the best seminar on adoption that we have been to
Sandra and Dr. Neil Kessler
“I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the seminar. You were so well organized and managed to give a personal touch to all of us. The facilitation of information was excellent with a variety of delivery methods so that different learning styles were appealed to. And the information itself was relevant. I have done a lot of research on adoption process and parenting and I found your session validating and it filled in a lot of extra pieces I had not yet received. Even though you covered a ton of ground, you have the ability to deliver the key message on each subject in a concise and condensed way. It was time and money well spent!”
Sherrie Hyde