the stories that root us
Explore the psychological foundations of storytelling, trauma, and healing that inspired the story
Adoption Themes
about the author
I practically grew up in the library. It was where I spent much of my childhood, and the place where my curiosity about life, people, and stories first began. Books were one of the first places where I learned that perspective can shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. My mom even used books to introduce adoption into my identity when I was a baby, and that experience became the foundation for how I think about healing, learning, and belonging today.
As a former elementary school teacher, I quite literally fell in love with the art of storytelling and teaching—not just delivering information, but intentionally creating spaces that spark curiosity, invite reflection and creativity, and encourage meaningful dialogue. I love designing classrooms, using metaphors, telling stories, encouraging creative expression, and shaping the climate of a group. But more than anything, I love watching people discover new ways of understanding themselves through different perspectives.
Today, as I continue my education in Research Psychology, I’ve begun connecting my own healing journey to the research behind trauma-informed and creative therapeutic practices.
about rooted
Rooted in Love began as a personal creative project I committed to in 2020, during the start of my therapy journey exploring my adoption story. With the support of my therapist, I was able to process some of the complex emotions surrounding my adoption by developing and writing the storyline for this book. What started as a deeply personal journey has since grown into something I’ve been able to expand into a learning, creative, and therapeutic space for others.
In doing this work, I’ve realized that storytelling, metaphor, and creative expression aren’t just art forms—they’re ways the body can speak and process experiences when words can’t. In therapeutic spaces, learning, reflection, dialogue, and creative expression can help us make sense of the kinds of experiences that often live deep within us, especially the implicit or preverbal wounds that many adoptees and others with early separation experiences carry.
Those discoveries have inspired me to continue developing trauma-informed reading and creative programs—like my book club, Not Your ARTinary Book Club—designed to support literacy, child and adolescent development, and emotional well-being.
Below, you can learn more about some of the research, therapeutic approaches, and psychoeducation that continue to shape both my healing journey and the work I do today—from adoption trauma and somatic healing to EMDR, creative therapies, and other integrative approaches to healing.
about the illustrator
Shakerra Monét is a contemporary artist from St. Louis, now based in Denver. After completing her studies in fashion design and merchandising, she realized her true passion was creating art beyond design. This inspired her to experiment with and perfect various artistic mediums. Monét is known for her vibrant, expressive portraits. In her recent work, she strives to capture the essence of candid moments from a diverse range of individuals.
about the work
