The Lost Coin

"""What sets this book apart is the psychological perspective Rowley brings to the story, as he delves into the complex emotions and experiences that come with adoption-feelings of loss, identity confusion, and the search for oneself through the search for one's birth family. Rowley does a fantastic job of weaving together his personal narrative with depth psychological insights, making for a deep and thought-provoking read."" - Stacey Shelby, PhD, Depth Psychotherapist and author of Love and Soul-Making: Searching the Depths of Romantic Love ""An old Zen parable notes that we are all looking for the face we had before the world was made. Given up for adoption as an infant, Stephen Rowley, in The Lost Coin, depicts his multi-decade search for his roots and illustrates this profound drive for self-knowledge. His personal story touches on questions that rise for all of us as we explore the threads of history that brought us to this troubled present."" - James Hollis, PhD, Jungian Analyst and author of numerous books, most recently The Broken Mirror: Refracted Visions of Ourselves ""As a psychotherapist and an adoptee myself, I was deeply moved by Stephen Rowley's The Lost Coin. I could feel so well the immense pain involved in the process of separation and adoption, and touched by the reunion of the author and his biological mother. As Jung said, 'You can only take a client as far as you've gone yourself, ' and by bringing us along on his journey, Rowley is able to share the wisdom he has gleaned. l highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to know more about relational complexities, and especially the complexities inherent to most, if not all adoptees."" - Shirin Fouladi Ruf, MA, LMFT, Psychotherapist, Stairway Recovery Center ""Every adoptee or anyone affiliated with adoption should read The Lost Coin. What a fascinating and insightful look into the journey of Stephen Rowley and the impact adoption has had on his life. This memoir delves into the root issue of 'Who Am I?' that every adoptee struggles with, and the effects of separation from one's biological mother at birth."" - KelLee Parr, Author of My Little Valentine: The Story of a Mother and Daughter's Lost Love and Mansion on a Hill: The Story of The Willows Maternity Sanitarium and the Adoption Hub of America ""Steve's story of his journey to get his biological history and make the emotional connection with his birth family is well-documented and worth the time to read."" - Tom X. Lazio, Former Executive Director of American Home Finding Association, Ottumwa, Iowa ""I am pleased to recommend Stephen Rowley's book, The Lost Coin, as a heartfelt account of the story of adoption. It is especially relevant for those who have been impacted by adoption - those who have been adopted, those who have adopted or are considering it, and others who want to know more. With his background as a psychotherapist and educator, his interest in Jungian psychology and the Eastern philosophy of the lamas, he brings insight into the inner life of those who have been adopted and how others can better understand this journey."" - Janet Tatum, MSW, Jungian Analyst, PNSJA/IAAP, Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member STA/ISST, Philemon Foundation Board Member, Redmond, Washington ""The Lost Coin details the long and at times painful passage of the adoptee to understand their feelings, their past, and to go on living, gaining the feeling of being real in a family that does not share genetic inheritance."" - Audrey Punnett, PhD, RPT-S, CST-T, Jungian Child, Adolescent & Adult Analyst (IAAP), author of The Orphan: A Journey to Wholeness, and coauthor of Jungian Child Analysis."