I have some great stories to tell.

From adoption to overcoming trauma and addiction, I love to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Monica Hall headshot
MH handwritten initial signature

Hire me to speak at your next event.

From keynotes to panel discussions to podcasts, I am always excited to share my story with the world. While my stories might be rooted in traumatic experiences, my message to audiences is not a sad one; I am passionate about helping people feel more hopeful about the future, understand the power of resilience, and gain the ability to overcome any obstacles put in our way.

Some of My Favorite Topics:

  • Leveraging insights from my personal journey—spanning adoption as an infant, relinquishing a daughter for adoption at fifteen, and ultimately reuniting with both my biological family and the relinquished daughter—I offer a unique perspective for navigating the complexities of adoption. Whether addressing adoptees, birth/first parents, adoptive/foster families, or the intricate dynamics of reunions, my journey provides invaluable insights.

    I am particularly passionate about connecting with adoptive and foster parents who stand at the forefront of this journey. For me, it all circles back to the children, and I am driven to support their well-being above all else.

  • What we don’t heal will keep coming up as obstacles for us throughout our lives. Having the courage we need to face it isn’t always easy, but it’s an essential part of resilience over trauma. I somehow managed to survive the trauma of being given up for adoption, losing my baby to adoption, growing up in an abusive household, spiraling downward into addiction, and ending up in relationships that were both physically and emotionally abusive.

    *Trigger warning: I talk about sexual assault and rape in this talk.

  • It wasn’t until I was 60 and began writing my memoir that I was finally able to let go and truly understand that many of the traumatic things that happened to me as a child and adolescent weren't my fault. I had to reprogram my brain to move past my traumatic past and step into a more liberating vision of my future.

  • We're only as sick as our secrets; it's easy to believe that something is wrong with you when you keep everything bottled up inside. Sharing your story of trauma will offer you the relief necessary to release it and embark on your healing journey.

  • Everyone is a product of what came before them, and it can feel like we don’t have any control over our lives as a result. I’m here to tell you that you always have a choice, and the cycle of generational trauma can end with you.

Testimonials & Book Reviews

  • "Her perspective really impacted me and many of the other adoptive moms"

    “Monica is such a great storyteller. She spoke at a Foster & Adoptive Mom's Retreat I facilitated and her testimonial was so raw and inspirational. Her perspective on the relationship between children and their birth parents really impacted me and many of the other adoptive moms in the room. I am so thankful that she chooses to share her story with the world. Her message is truly a gift.”

    — Annie, speaking engagement client

  • “A testament to the strength and tenacity of the human spirit . . . powerful, heartwarming, and absolutely inspiring!”

    — Mary Youngblood, Indigenous adoptee, two-time Grammy winner

    Practically Still A Virgin book review

  • "Monica is an amazing person to have on your team."

    "Monica is an amazing person to have on your team. As a mentor and coach, she has an uncanny ability to see the root of an issue while also considering things from a global perspective. She has laughed and cried with me through many struggles and helped me find workable solutions. Her experiences in life give her rare context that she can apply to many situations."

    — Jodi, coaching client

  • "A thoughtful and courageous speaker"

    “Monica Hall brings her years of experience and recovery from trauma to inspire those she speaks to. She is a thoughtful and courageous speaker who evokes emotion in her audience with her unmatched grit, strength, and tenacity. Monica’s story captivates listeners, motivating and persuading them to become their best selves”

    — Michelle, speaking event attendee

  • “A gutsy story about overcoming loss and triumphing over pain. Monica Hall’s courageous, riveting story is ultimately about love.”

    —Kim Rich, author of Johnny’s Girl: A Daughter’s Memoir of Growing Up in Alaska’s Underworld 

    Practically Still A Virgin book review

  • "A dependable source of support and guidance"

    "As we have been working together over the past year, Monica has been a dependable source of support and guidance. Her support extends beyond just coaching; it is a genuine investment in my personal growth. I wholeheartedly recommend Monica to anyone seeking a spiritual coach. You’ll likely end up with a compassionate friend to help you on your journey towards self-discovery."

    — Melanie, coaching client

  • “Sparkles with honesty, wit, and passion"

    “Sparkles with honesty, wit, and passion. We are with the author every step of the way as she struggles to become her best self, and to understand and draw meaning from the unusual events of her life. This memoir is a powerful addition to the literature of adoption and reunion.”

    —Patricia Moffat, author of She Turned Her Head Away

    Practically Still A Virgin book review

Recent Podcast Appearances

Featured
Monica Hall, adoptee, birth mother and author of Practically Still a Virgin: Breaking Glass Castles and my way to personal growth.
Monica Hall, adoptee, birth mother and author of Practically Still a Virgin: Breaking Glass Castles and my way to personal growth.

Excerpt of transcript from this podcast episode:

Monica Hall: I live in Sacramento. I was adopted out of Canada from a foster home with about 10 other babies. I was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, because that's where my parents had been living. That's where a lot of the trauma happened and caused me to write a memoir. We moved to California when I was 16. I'm still in California. It’s been a long journey being an adoptee and relinquishing a child for adoption.

The thing that adoptees most often ask me is, “Being an adoptee, how could you give up your own baby?”

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Monica Hall, the author of Practically Still a Virgin: This interview is about adoption, relinquishment and restoration.
Monica Hall, the author of Practically Still a Virgin: This interview is about adoption, relinquishment and restoration.

I was the guest on the podcast, Claiming Your Voice with Janeice Garrard , a fellow adoptee. Over the months we’ve had a number zooms, connecting one adoptee to another. In this interview I reveal some of the things I write about in my memoir, Practically Still a Virgin. I believe this conversation… (although as usual I do most of the talking), will resonate with anyone impacted by adoption and others who have experienced family dysfunction, and difficulties in general. Adoption is part of my story but not all of my story…. Listen and you will see that it’s absolutely possible to heal no matter what the circumstances.

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Self-Realization For Monica Hall, Adoptee & Birth Mother Through Memoir Writing
Self-Realization For Monica Hall, Adoptee & Birth Mother Through Memoir Writing

I was the guest on the latest episode of the podcast Unraveling Adoption, an intentional space to delve into adoption's complexities together. In this 30-minute program I share about my story as an adoptee and a birth mother; and I reveal some of the things I've learned about myself through the process of writing my memoir, Practically Still a Virgin.

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