Milestones & Transitions
60 St. Clair Ave. W. Suite 301 M4V 1M1 Toronto, ON, Canada

Social workers provide essential emotional and practical help to those facing covid-19. Contact us at Milestones & Transitions if you need support. [email protected] https://www.cbc.ca//hospital-social-workers-help-covid-19-

Brilliant, insightful article by a geriatrician who learned personally what her patients and their families go through.

Male Infertility is an issue in society too. The biggest issue is that it is not talked about. Men feel a lot of shame [it is NOT their 'fault'] and there are few resources for them. It is important to start talking about male infertility, how to enhance male fertility and it is equally important to support men who are facing this. If YOU want support, contact us at: [email protected] https://www.tvo.org//a-lot-of-shame-why-we-need-to-talk-ab

Beautiful sentiments from one mother to another. This adoptive mother always keeps her daughter's birth mother in her thoughts and in her heart. How are YOU [birth and adoptive mothers] celebrating the other mothers in your child's life? Or any other mothers? I honour the mothers of my daughter in laws who are, of course, the mothers of my grandchildren.

FALSE claims regarding the covid-19 vaccine. It does NOT effect your fertility!

All of us know someone who has died...and our worlds are empty without them. The fact that most of us cannot say goodbye at their bedside or take comfort in what used to be the normal rituals surrounding death makes our losses even more horrific. So tragic and sad. So many lost.

Delayed Grief. I often see this in my practice. Adults who lost a parent or grandparent during their childhood and were not permitted to go to the funeral or actually mourn their loss. Those feelings often come full-force in adulthood when another person dies. Sometimes this also leads to complicated grief. Essentially the individual is mourning both the original death alongside the current loss.

Well thought out and well written article. However, we want to address the issue of 'Open Surrogacy', based on our extensive work in Adoption both traditional 'closed' adoptions and 'open' adoptions which have been prevalent for about 30 years now. It's late now [11:49 pm]....we'll comment more tomorrow!

Do not be afraid to mention the deceased....this is so true. We want those we have lost to be remembered.

Post Partum Depression is very real. There IS help. If you are suffering from it [or are 'blue' and crying all the time and perhaps feeling worthless and unable to care for your baby] or if your partner or friend is suffering, talk to her....and tell her you want to help her find the help she needs.

Various techniques to deal with STRESS. Yes, it will be a long winter; yes,we are in a pandemic. Let's all use whatever we can to reduce stress. And, remember, we, at Milestones & Transitions are happy to work with you. Contact us at: [email protected] for more information about what we do. We are ready to serve you.

Thank you, Lisa Raitt, former cabinet minister, for sharing your story. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease. You are a strong and courageous woman. Your bravery in sharing your story will help others

If It had not been for Covid. Funerals and Mourning In The Time of Covid. https://milestonesandtransitions.com/funerals-mourning-tim/

November is National Adoption Month. Here is one adoptive mother's story about what NOT to say to adoptive parents. Adoption is one way of becoming parents. Thank you, Maria Lourdes, for sharing your story. You became a mother 16 years ago and you have raised your daughter with love. Read the comments too...many friends have provided loving support to this family....which is what EVERY family, no matter how it was formed, needs. Lou and her daughter's father have raised their daughter with love.

Infertility can affect people in many ways. You feel overwhelmed by many emotions, like frustration, anger, grief and the loss you feel inside can be too much to handle. If you are in a relationship, it may be very strained as a result. At Milestones & Transitions, we are here to help! We are offering a four-session infertility support group online with a clinical social worker who will be guiding the sessions. A registered nurse specializing in infertility will be joining ...for one session. Our goal is for you to feel heard, to have your loss, frustration, anger and grief be recognized and respected. In an online group setting, you will feel cared and comforted by the group leader and others who are also facing infertility and loss. Your benefit plan or extended health care coverage may cover your cost. Sign up today by calling 416-271-1770 or email [email protected]

Take a long, deep breath and hit 'Pause'. We, at Milestones & Transitions, work with children, parents and families. Life is complicated and often 'messy'. This father loves his daughter and wants to make the best plan for her. But terminating the mother's rights [or as we prefer to say, the CHILD'S rights to her parents] is not the solution. Yes....talking to a family lawyer and getting some clarification, yes....talking to a therapist, both for himself and for his daughter, yes...finding a nanny / caregiver to assist him...all of these are good steps. Our best professional advice? Keep talking to his girlfriend, help her focus on her mental health and keep his daughter foremost in his mind. No need to 'take action' so quickly, especially regarding terminating anyone's rights.

Anonymous sperm donation. Is it a thing of the past? Even with this story, which documents the lies and harm of 'anonymous' sperm donation, it is still going on today, with even more calculation and lies. This donor has been responsive and responsible in terms of sharing information and even meeting some of the children he helped to create, but the lies of the clinic he donated to have caused immeasurable heartache. Even though he was motivated partly by altruism. This still goes on today!

Adoption: ALWAYS a big decision. Educate yourself; talk to other adoptive parents; take courses; read; talk to adoptees and then, make the decision that is best for you! We congratulate this man and his partner for coming to the decision not to adopt 'after all'. So much the best decision for them and definitely for any child they may have felt 'obliged' to adopt. If YOU are thinking about Adoption, we, at Milestonesandtransitions.com are happy to begin that conversation / consult with you.

Re-reading Debbie Riley and John Meeks excellent book, "Beneath the Mask" as I'm working on an educational program for parents and teens in our series, 'Adoption is a Lifelong Journey'. For some, issue of abandonment or what FEELS like abandonment is a significant and troubling feature. I put the book down and read today's news and found this INSPIRING story....about a teen who really was abandoned as an infant and adopted about a year later. She is devoting herself to finding 'forever' homes for abandoned senior dogs and in so doing, is repairing her own wounds as well as caring for animals who need homes. Quite a story; quite a remarkable teen. I love her story! https://www.cnn.com//teen-senior-dogs-adoption-/index.html

Adoption Reunion. Many stories, some heartbreaking, some inspiring, all important. At Milestones & Transitions, we are developing educational programs in regard to Adoption As A Lifelong Journey and Loss, Grief & Bereavement. These topics deserve much more attention. Stay tuned for more updates. If you are wanting to learn more about our services, contact us at: [email protected]. We are here to walk with you. https://www.cnn.com//sisters-reunited-after-53-/index.html

THE SHAME IS OURS: THE SHAME CONTINUES. This short documentary film is well worth watching and I hope that each and every one of you who sees it will sign the petition. This is OUR shame. Canadians allowed this to happen and Canadians allow the shame to continue and not be addressed. The mothers, fathers and children affected and their extended families DESERVE and are owed an APOLOGY by the Government of Canada and by each and every province.

This just popped up on my timeline. Seems like ages ago that I sat in my office and saw clients in person. However, I truly believe that the quality of our work together has not changed. I am 'present' as is the client by virtue of our being able to see, hear and communicate with each other by way of Zoom or sometimes, FaceTime. My colleagues and I are providing all our services virtually for the great most part. Betty Ann Streeter has a Home Visit today [part of an Ado...ption Homestudy] and there will be masks and appropriate physical distancing. I am seeing one teen on my deck [fortunately, weather has permitted this] and Patricia Fenton has also done at least two Adoption Home Visits. Most of our work, however, has been virtual since mid-March. Safe for all of us and frankly, more convenient for clients without sacrificing any clinical work. YOU can reach us for an initial consult @ [email protected]. We are registered social workers, licensed to work with anyone in the Province of Ontario, which means that you don't have to worry about driving or distance from our 'office'....our office is as close as your smartphone, tablet or computer. Do visit us at: milestonesandtransitions.com to see what services we offer. See more

Teletherapy [including by video] is the way most therapists and counsellors are seeing their clients. Please visit us at our Blog at Milestones and Transitions dot com to see our take on how this works and how it could work for YOU. For a complimentary consult, please contact us at: [email protected] or by phone at; 416 271 1770. https://www.nytimes.com//teletherapy-mental-health-coronav

Grief Counselling vs Grief Therapy. What is Grief and how do I know what I need? Grief Therapy vs Grief Counseling Lately, I have been thinking about some of the differences between Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy. As we [all of us, worldwide] are in the midst of a global pandemic of a disease that continues to account for many unexpected and untimely deaths, it seems reasonable to consider what grief is. Grief, as defined and discussed by Therese A. Rando, Ph.D, a...Continue reading

Quite an amazing story. Infertility, heartbreak, miscarriage, heartbreak, stillbirth, heartbreak, surrogacy and pregnancy and now two babies and lives with joy and excitement and sleepless nights! Full genetic siblings with an incredible bond with their aunt. The strength and openness these parents [Margo, Ian and Meena] have shared with each other and with us bodes well for the whole family. At Milestones & Transitions, we work with families experiencing Loss [Infertility, Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Neonatal Loss] AND parenthood, surrogacy and Adoption. Contact us at: [email protected] for a complimentary 20 minute zoom or telephone consult. We are here to walk your journey with you.

I, Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, volunteered at the beginning of the pandemic to provide services to COVID healthcare workers. I have provided over 8 hours of free service to healthcare workers in need. I have found this work to be very gratifying and was 'happy' to provide what I could to support those who are serving all of us! I received this note from the Network last week. Dear COVID-19 Mental Health Network Volunteer:... We want to let you know that we've decided to wind down the initiative at the end of June. Thank you for volunteering to provide pro bono teletherapy for frontline COVID healthcare workers. Since March, we have sent out over a thousand referrals. That's a lot of folks we have helped get through the worst of the crisis. We are now receiving only a handful of requests a week. In part this is because there are more mental health services available. Our initiative was part of a larger conversation about the need for counselling/therapy not just for frontline workers but for all. When we cease active operations our home page will stay online till the end of 2020 to provide a list of available counselling services. Thanks again for taking part, and we wish you all the very best, The Team

What strange times we live in Yesterday, I attended my first virtual funeral. It felt strange but also strangely beautiful. The deceased was a woman I knew who belonged to my faith congregation. I didnt know her extremely well, but I knew that she was one of the founders of our congregation and I knew how much she loved our community. She was an integral part of it. Every single time I saw her, she greeted me with a wide smile and that smile was her hallmark. She was ...a warm, outgoing, caring woman; you could not help but respond to her warmth and friendliness. She was in her late 70s, I would guess, married with three adult children and four grandchildren. Her brother and sister in law also survive her. And.her husband. A lovely man who already seems so bereft without his beautiful wife of more than fifty years. During this pandemic, funerals are limited to 10 people, usually including the clergy, one cemetery worker and a funeral director. That leaves only 7 places for family members. I attended the funeral by logging onto the link provided by the funeral home. I could see the hearse drive up and saw the pallbearers make the sad procession to the grave carrying the casket. I watched as the family members---just a few of themgathered at the grave. The rabbi began the prayers and offered a eulogy. At the end of the service, after the internment and final mourners prayer, the family made its way back to their cars. There were 38 other computers or smartphones or tablets at the service with me. It was remarkable. I felt so connected and so close to the mourners and I was pleased that I, too, could accompany the deceased to the cemetery even though I did not do so in person. In fact, I WAS there as were all who attended whether in person or virtually. During these strange times when we have to stay at home and avoid all gatherings of more than five people and do not even have the opportunity of visiting loved ones who may be in hospital, it was a privilege to be able to attend this funeral, thanks to modern technology and the foresight of the funeral home in making the funeral accessible to extended or distant family and friends. I have found video calls and even telephone calls to be so much more intimate during these past three months, moreso than ever before. We ARE able to reach out and connect with others; we are able to be with friends, we are able to comfort the mourners. By: Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, MSW, RSW June 14 ,2020

Important topic. Sex Trafficking. Event on June 15th, 2020 @ 7:30 pm.

Adoption is built from Loss. The loss of the fantasized child of the adoptive parents, the loss of the child by/ from the biiological family and the loss of one's biological family and biological heritage by the adopted person. International adoption often has more complications and even more losses. We support the rights of the adult adoptee to know who or she is. We recognize that this may be very painful for birth parents who may have hidden the pregnancy, birth and p...lacement of the child for adoption. We hope that this adoptee IS able to see her biological father and sisters again and that she is able to find out who her biological mother is and even meet her. We recognize the sadness and fear felt by some. We have been working in Child Welfare and Adoption for over 40 years and have, over the last 30 years, a wealth of experience in Open Adoptions and in the last 10 years, especially, experience with Adoption Reunion. If YOU would like to talk about your experience, please contact us for a complimentary consult. You can reach us at: [email protected] or 416 486 1056. We work virtually all over the world.

First referral from: Ontario Covid-19 Mental Health Network providing free mental health services for healthcare frontline workers in our province. We are happy to do our part to support those who are working so hard in hospitals and other settings to serve all of us. Michaele-Sue is providing 5 hours of counselling at no charge to one who has reached out to us. https://covid19therapists.com/ If YOU [healthcare worker or anyone else] need support, we are here to serve you. Contact us for a complimentary consult. [email protected] or 416 486 1056.

So many mourners are suffering because only 10 people can attend funerals and must maintain physical distancing. Here is one idea that may bring a stronger sense of connection between them. "Only 10 people could attend Moms funeral because of restrictions on gatherings here. My brother brought some yarn that she would use when creating art projects with her granddaughter, and we each held onto the long thread so we could be connected while standing apart" .....from a column today [May 20,2020] in the NYTimes.

The pain and emotional hardship experienced by the doctors, nurses, respiratory technologists is palpable. If you find it hard to read about this, imagine hard how these medical personnel are finding it hard to live with day in and day out. At Milestones & Transitions, we are here to help them with these burdens. We are clinical social workers who offer emotional support, containment and insight. If YOU are suffering or if you are worried about a friend, colleague, family member, please contact us at: 416 486 1096 or: [email protected] for a complimentary video consult. We work virtually [zoom and other platforms] so are available to see you wherever you are.

Better Help is a US provider. Milestones & Transitions is right here in Canada. We are able to serve you. Visit our website, meet our social workers, see what services we provide and contact us for a complimentary 20 minute telephone or video consultation. All our counselling work is VIRTUAL, so we can serve you wherever you are. You can reach us at: [email protected] or: 416 486 1056.

All of our counselling sessions are now VIRTUAL and ONLINE using Zoom, FaceTime, Skype and other videoconferencing platforms. We recognize that as we all face anxiety regarding these unprecedented times, some are facing enormous ANXIETY. We are available to hear you, contain you and work with you to develop strategies to deal with overwhelming anxiety. Please contact us for a complimentary 20 minute telephone or video consult. We work with English speaking persons anywhere. You may reach us at: [email protected] or: 416 486 1056.

This is an excellent article. You need to feel comfortable and secure with the therapist you will be seeing. Take the time, on the telephone or in the first meeting, to ask your questions. Is this someone with whom you feel you can connect? Ask about his or her education, professional designation, theoretical orientation and more. At Milestones & Transitions, we are pleased to offer a complimentary 20 minute telephone or preferably video consult; it will give you a chanc...e to ask your questions and form an opinion; it will give us the opportunity, too, to see if we are a good fit. If you are feeling Anxiety [and most of us are now as we face these very 'strange' times] or Loss [there are so many losses...death, illness, loss of job, loss of school, loss of routine and more], we are here to work with you as you confront and deal with all you are feeling. Contact us at: 416 486 1056 or: info @mandt.ca for a complimentary consult.

I found that this article mirrors many of my own feelings and experiences in seeing clients as we all are facing and enduring the Corona Virus Pandemic. What I have found for myself is somewhat different and is very positive for me, my mental health, and therefore, is something that affects my clients. I find that as close as I felt to clients prior to the pandemic and even though I had been doing some video [Zoom, Skype, Face Time] with some clients prior to the pandemic, I ...have noticed two new factors in our work. 1. I feel closer to clients---and feel a connection with them that I did not feel earlier. Both the client and I are 'going through' some of the same experiences. We are both pretty much forced to Stay At Home, so that is very much a shared experience. Also, we both [therapists are people too] have to face our own anxieties and fears about Covid-19. Both the client and are separated from some of the important people in our lives. We have a SHARED experience. 2. In feeling 'closer' to clients, I actually measured the distance between my screen and myself. It is 14 inches. I would NEVER sit only 14 inches away from someone; that is invasive. Yet, we are working with each other via our computer or smart phone screens [for me, it is always the computer screen]. I find the physical closeness to the client to be a positive factor in working with them. I also 'practice what I preach' when discussing strategies to help someone cope with [a] anxiety, [b] feeling closed in, [c] sitting all day without physical activity. I deliberately leave at least 15 minutes between sessions so I can get up from my chair and do something physical. I am very lucky that I live in the country so I can go for solo walks---whether for 10 minutes or 30 or for an hour--and I encourage clients to do some movement during the day...yoga, exercise, walking if safe, sitting on their balcony or in their backyard. Again, a shared experience. If you think you might benefit from having someone to talk to, contact me for a complimentary consult at: [email protected] or 416 271 1770. All appointments are virtual and I am happy to work with you wherever you are! No travelling involved. Therapists in New York must deal with a parade of coronavirus-fueled anxieties, from their patients and from themselves.

What a beautiful way of celebrating and honouring her mother who gave birth to her and the mother who gave birth to her child.

A new milestone. Gerber's first adopted baby. Families are made in many ways. Magnolia's adoptive parents and Gerber celebrate her. https://www.cnn.com//gerber-baby-2020-adopted-t/index.html

Working from home with a manager who is constantly checking up on you? Here are some strategies to satisfy your 'micromanager' and still keep your sanity!!! We, at Milestones & Transitions, are here to support YOU. Contact us at: [email protected] for a complimentary consult! https://www.cnn.com//micromanaging-boss-working/index.html

https://www.cnn.com//anxiety-coronavirus-turns-/index.html We are HERE for you during this time of increased anxiety. Contact us at: [email protected] and put 'covid' in the subject line.

If YOU are suffering from increasing anxiety, please reach out to us. You are not alone and we can help you develop some strategies to help you cope during these unprecedented times. You can reach us at: [email protected]. Put 'covid' in the subject line. Virtual counselling...video or telephone...we are: www.milestonesandtransitions.com. https://www.cnn.com//anxiety-coronavirus-turns-/index.html