UNDERSTANDING MALE GRIEF IN FAMILY BUILDING: A WORKSHOP FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Presented by: Michele L. Cole, LCSW, NJ, NY, Director, The Family Building Support Center, LLC, at The 35th Annual Adoption Conference, Sunday, November 22, 2015 , Brooklyn, NY.

Grief around infertility, pregnancy loss or a loss of genetic connection to a child are universal but often we are focused on women’s grief. Understanding that men grieve these losses equally but differently is an important part of helping couples support each other through the family building process. In this workshop, we will be discussing the different ways men and women grieve, explore how partners can better understand and support each other and help create an opportunity, often unexpected, in such difficult times, to strengthen their bond and commitment.

The 35th Annual Adoption Conference is sponsored by the Adoptive Parents Committee, Inc. (APC) and will be held on Sunday, November 22nd from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York. Please join Michele and take part in other great workshops and information offered at this conference. For more information about the conference, please call 212-304-8479 or visit their website at www.adoptiveparents.org.

TWEEN BOYS ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUP- Ongoing one Sunday Monthly from 6:00 to 7:00 PM- Westfield, NJ

Looking for one or two more tween boys, ages 12-13, who have joined their families through adoption and would like to meet other boys who have also been adopted to join this very successful and ongoing group. This is a great opportunity to share experiences, thoughts and feelings not only about adoption but about other issues facing middle-aged school boys. It’s also a lot of fun!

Through talk and various activities we explore topics including:

• Describing what it means to be adopted
• Dealing with loss or grief
• Exploring issues around open and transracial adoption
• Coping with the unknown and questions about birth families
• Exploring identity
• Defining family
• Integrating the many aspects of self.

Meetings are held at The Family Building Support Center, LLC, 519 Westfield Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090. The fee is $60 per person, per session. For more information, please contact Michele Cole, LCSW, at 908-232-7277 or at mcole@familybuildingsupport.com.

Are you considering building your family through egg donation or already pursuing it? Come join us for a day of education and support in this professionally-led workshop. Topics include: 

• Exploring the journey…from deciding to use egg donation and selecting a donor to becoming a parent and starting a family
• Moving through the process while taking care of yourself
• Deciding what to do with any leftover embryos
• Supporting your partner and your marriage under stress or when there are differences
• Grieving the genetic connection of one or both partners
• Preparing for pregnancy
• Planning for parenthood
• Talking to family, friends and co-workers
• Deciding whether and how to disclose to children about their donor origins
• Looking at the future for families created through egg donation

Location: The Family Building Support Center, 519 Westfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 (45-minute drive from NYC and free parking available, just steps from the New Jersey Transit Westfield Train Station)

Fee: $75 per person or $100 per couple (includes handouts and materials, light refreshments will be provided)

TO REGISTER: Please contact Michele Cole, LCSW at 908-232-7277 or by email at mcole@familybuildingsupport.com. Pre-registration is required for this workshop. 

Announcing New Groups and Workshops for Fall, 2014! 

• Moms’ Support Group- It’s back-to-school…drop off the kids, grab a cup of coffee and join other moms for sharing and support. Wednesdays, 9:15 to 10:45 AM, beginning September 17, 2014 at our Westfield, NJ office. The fee is $30 per person, per session.
• Building Your Family Through Ovum Donation- A Six-Week Fall Workshop Series for Couples. Sundays 10:00 to 11:30 AM- September 14, 21, 28, October 5, 19, 26, 2014 at our Westfield, NJ office. The fee is $50 per couple.

New Online Support Groups Forming!

• Online Pre-Adoptive Parent Support Group- For Couples & Singles Expecting A Baby or Child Through Adoption
• Online Coping With Infertility Support Group
• Online Adoptive Parent Support Group

For more information on these groups, please go to “Webinars and Workshops” on our website.

For additional information or to register for a group, please contact Michele Cole, LCSW, at 908-232-7277 or at mcole@familybuildingsupport.com.

New Group for Summer, 2014! 

Building Your Family Through Ovum Donation: A Six-Week Summer Workshop Series for Couples

Beginning the week of June 30, 2014

Whether you’re just considering building your family through ovum donation or you’re already in the process, come join other couples and explore your thoughts and feelings in a healing, supportive environment. Topics will include:

• Grieving the genetic connection of one or both partners
• Choosing a donor
• Moving through the process while taking care of yourself
• Deciding what to do with any leftover embryos
• Working through issues or differences in your relationship
• Preparing for pregnancy and parenthood
• Disclosing to family, friends and co-workers
• Talking to children about their donor origins

Specific day and meeting time will be based on the availability of the majority of participants. Meetings will be ninety-minutes long and held at The Family Building Support Center, 519 Westfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090. The fee is $50 per couple, per session.

For more information or to register, please contact Michele Cole, LCSW, at 908-232-7277 or by email at mcole@familybuildingsupport.com