Beth Syverson is an adoptive mom of a brilliant young adult son Joey Nakao. She adopted him from Japan as an infant. The two of them created Unraveling Adoption podcast (originally called Safe Home Podcast) in 2021 to help other families with kids struggling with mental health, addiction, and adoption trauma. They both believe in de-stigmatizing mental illness and getting tough topics like suicidality out in the open.

Since its inception, Unraveling Adoption has broadened to encompass this Book Series, the podcast, live events, individual and group coaching, Healing the Adoption Constellation Database, Community Calendar, and more. Beth became a Certified Coach through the Virginia Satir Global Network in August 2023.

Through Unraveling Adoption’s efforts, Beth and Joey promote the ideal of family preservation while making available resources, training, and support to already-existing adoptive families. They create an intentional space where all members of the adoption constellation and their allies face adoption’s tough challenges together. And they prioritize elevating adopted people’s voices, especially those with traditionally marginalized identities.

Find out more about Unraveling Adoption, and connect with Beth and Joey through UnravelingAdoption.com.

Beth lives in Southern California with her wife Jan, two German shepherds, three horses, and random wild chickens who inhabit their backyard. She’s been a musician her whole life, specializing as a collaborative pianist and as a music teacher to students with disabilities.