The Unfinished Business of Childhood: A Five-Part Reading and Reflection Series
Event Actions
Our earliest experiences do not simply become memories—they often become the foundation upon which we understand ourselves, others, and the world.
Course Overview
Session 1: The Unfinished Business of Childhood
How does childhood continue to shape adulthood?
Date: January 15, 2027
Our earliest experiences do not simply become memories—they often become the foundation upon which we understand ourselves, others, and the world. This opening session introduces the central premise of the book and invites participants to begin exploring how childhood continues to influence professional identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing long after childhood ends.
Session 2: The Wisdom of Survival
How did my nervous system learn to protect me?
Date: February 5, 2027
Many of the behaviors we criticize in ourselves were once brilliant adaptations that helped us survive. This session explores the remarkable ways our nervous systems organize around safety, examining common survival adaptations such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, emotional numbing, over-functioning, and hypervigilance with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment.
Session 3: The Stories We Carry
What do I believe about myself because of childhood?
Date: February 26, 2027
Childhood experiences shape more than our behaviors—they shape the stories we tell ourselves about our worth, belonging, relationships, and identity. Together we’ll explore how these narratives influence our work, boundaries, and relationships while considering how they can be rewritten with greater awareness and self-compassion.
Session 4: From Survival to Authenticity
Who am I beneath my adaptations?
Date: March 19, 2027
Healing is not about becoming someone new—it is often about remembering who we were before survival required us to adapt. This session explores authenticity, relational repair, vulnerability, and the role safe relationships play in helping us reconnect with parts of ourselves that may have been hidden for years.
Session 5: Living Beyond Survival
What does healing look like in everyday life?
Date: April 9, 2027
Our final session focuses on integration. Participants will reflect on the insights they’ve gained throughout the series while exploring practical ways to cultivate authenticity, healthier relationships, self-compassion, and sustainable ways of living that are guided by values rather than survival.
Learning Objectives
- Identify ways early childhood experiences can shape adult relationships, professional identity, emotional well-being, and patterns of responding to stress.
- Describe how common survival adaptations, including people-pleasing, perfectionism, emotional numbing, over-functioning, and hypervigilance, can develop as protective responses and continue to influence adult behavior.
- Apply strategies for increasing self-awareness, authenticity, self-compassion, relational repair, and values-guided living beyond survival-based patterns.
Tuition
- $190 – Regular
- $161.50 – Alumni, Field Instructor, FFL, Current Adelphi University School of Social Work Adjunct Fee
- $133 – Veterans Fee
- Free (with code) – Current Adelphi University School of Social Work Students
Credentialing Information
To receive approved continuing education credits, participants must attend the entire training or workshop and submit a completed evaluation form.
CEs: 7.5
See full credentialing information and CEUs
About the Instructor
Adam McCormick, MSW, PhD
Adam McCormick, MSW, PhD is Professor of Social Work at St. Edward’s University in Austin. He has a number of research interests and speaks frequently on a number of topics including LGBTQI+ youth in the child welfare system, the trauma of family separation in child welfare, the weaponization of poverty in child welfare, the relationship rights of siblings in foster care, the intersections of child welfare and immigration, social work and moral injury, and masculinity and mental health. He is the author of the forthcoming book, The unfinished business of our childhood: Healing the child trauma wounds of helping professionals. Dr. McCormick is also the author of the book LGBTQ youth in the foster care system: Empowering approaches to an inclusive system of care.
Cancellation Policy
Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.
Accessibility Statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.