adoption therapy
Parenthood is often a winding path. Adoption adds additional complexity, for everyone involved.
considering adoption?
I offer guidance in exploring the possibility of adoption. Whether you are considering making an adoption plan or becoming adoptive parents, it is my honor to join families approaching this pivotal life experience. My work and support is completely independent of any adoption placement, and I do not conduct mental health evaluations or home study reports; those are beyond the scope of my training and practice.
I offer opportunities for self-reflection, tailored resources to support your values and vision for your family, as well as information to support your critical thinking and desire to be conscientious participants in the process, should you decide to move forward with adoption.
Together, we’ll identify the wishes and worries coming up in the process. I’ll guide you through considering different paths and types of adoption, and explore how adoption and birth family connections can shift as kids grow. I’ll help you identify ethical sources of information for your questions and help you discern how adoption might become part of your family story—and what supports you and your child/ren may need along the way.
Post-Adoption Support
Strengthening your connection with your child builds a foundation of trust and safety you can each feel. Families who feel connected can build resilience and positive bonds, even through storms and challenges.
With a focus on child development, attachment, trauma and brain science, I help clarify the WHY behind behavior challenges, unpack sensory sensitivities, and ease transitions. Kids can build resilience as they grow; it’s an important part of navigating life and relationships.
When adoption is part of the story, regular growing up tasks can feel a little more 'sticky' and take time to settle into. These are some dynamics I see often and have experience helping with:
easing fears + building self-esteem and resilience
making sense of lying and stealing behaviors
grieving the death or complicated absence of a loved one, including parental incarceration, addiction, or mental health challenges related to the need for adoption
weathering rejection, shame, and perfectionism as they relate to identity, belonging and other aspects of healthy adoption dynamics
exploring identity and belonging
adaptive support for sensory integration and regulation needs
sibling conflict
getting to the root of defiance and aggression
neurodevelopmental differences (Fetal Alcohol Effects, Autism, ADHD, and in utero exposure to toxins or chronic stress, to name a few)
talking about adoption with kids, including telling tough truths and adapting their story for different ages and stages of understanding
off-track behaviors related to early trauma, including neglect and abuse
building trust and healthy attachment relationships
We can help kids tap into resilience
Parenting with a focus on tuning-in before teaching, and supporting safety before skills, brings a new perspective: Decoding off-track behavior is deep communication.
Kids will show us their needs.
They are brilliant that way. Some behaviors take more effort to decipher. We’ll figure it out together.
You are invited to read a few of my articles on talking with kids about adoption.
