by GIFT Coach | Apr 15, 2015 | Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion
What It Means to Belong About two weeks ago, Lynn Cooper–one of my partners at GIFT–and I (Joann DiStefano) attended and presented at the AAC (American Adoption Congress) conference. One of the prominent speakers at the conference, Bennett Greenspan,...
by GIFT Coach | Jul 12, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion, Post Adoption Challenges & Behaviors, Strengthening Family Relationships
When I went to the dictionary to look up the word addict, the definition that most resonated with me was from the Franklin Language Master. It defined addict as “one who devotes or surrenders oneself to something habitual or excessive”. From this definition, one might...
by GIFT Coach | Mar 5, 2012 | Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion
Our lives are all different in the fact that everyone experiences different things each and every day. Even if we go to the same event, each of us will respond to the experience differently based on our history, values and beliefs. We are also conditioned to respond...
by joannd | Feb 3, 2012 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, General Discussion
While adoption can be built on seemingly a strong foundation – with parents who outwardly appear secure in their relationship and successful in their life – the inner structure may have some hidden issues that will need to be addressed. Like a house, the...
by joannd | Oct 16, 2011 | Adoptive Parenting Skills/Tool, Blogs by Joann DiStefano, Foster Parenting, General Discussion
It has been my experience that in order to understand how to be in a state of “calmness”, we must first understand the terms Projection and Perception. Projection is the “emotionally charged” part of us that we want to hide from others. It is...