Conversation with Joann Paley Galst, November 13, 2010

Deciding which round-table discussion to Joann Paley Galst,Ph.D-Attachment, Identity Formation and Family Building: How and Why It Is Safe To Disclose.  Please see the June 2009 recap here on DONORGROUPSNYC about wonderful The AFA Teleconference that Joanne led with Patricia Mendell. 

Joann Paley Galst, Ph.D., psychologist in private practice, co-chair of the American Fertility Association support services, past-chair of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and co-author of Ethical Dilemmas in Fertility Counseling, published by the American Psychological Association in 2010.

I asked Joann this question in preparation for the discussion.Is there anything we can do as individuals or as a group, to not have to take on educating everyone we meet about this issue, but perhaps impart on them the need to be less judging around these different ways of family-building?

Joann said-yes, I do see it as often necessary to advocate for one's child in educating people. Yes, you can stress the various ways in which families are formed in various settings, but if the insensitive question arises, Who's the REAL parent?, more pointed education may be needed.