Navigating the complexities of adoption can be tough – both for the adoptive parents and the adopted child. Adoptive children and their new families may encounter anxiety, tension or stress. Children, even those who are adopted into caring homes, can experience conflicted feelings about being given up for adoption. Additionally, for parents working towards adoption, the system can seem impossible to get through. A mental health professional who specializes in adoption can be a great asset in helping a family sort through adoption-related issues. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s experts today!
If you are adopted, it is likely the experience of being adopted is one of the most significant influences in your life. Many adults who were adopted as infants or young children, and were loved, accepted and valued by their adoptive families, still struggle with feelings of melancholy, grief and fear of loss, or are anxious about their capacity to belong, despite the experience of having loving adoptive parents and families. It seems that even with a wholesome family experience, the primal separation and loss that is a part of every adoption experience can fuel many anxieties in adoptees, especially fears of loss and abandonment and confusion about identity. Being adopted can influence a person throughout their lives. It is common for these influences to appear – or reappear. If you are seeking support to explore and process the impact of adoption in your life, having a therapist who understands both personally and professionally can be especially helpful. I'd like to help.
— Rawna Romero, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Alameda, CAAs an adoptive parent and counselor I understand the challenges faced in blending a family through adoption. I can work with you and your children on issues of grief and loss, identity formation, and attachment in blending your family.
— William Hemphill, Licensed Professional Counselor in Decatur, GAAs an adoptive parent and member of an extended birth family in reunion, I bring my own experiences and sensitivity to the task of providing adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth family members the support they need to tackle the complex issues inherent in adoption. I provide support groups, individual consultations on adoption-related issues, parenting coaching, and ongoing psychotherapy. I work primarily with teens and adults, both adoptees, first family and those parenting adopted children.
— Amy Hecht, Clinical Psychologist in Charlotte, NCAs adoptees, we know better than anyone that the impact of adoption lasts a lifetime. As an adoption competent therapist, and transracial adoptee myself, I know having better understanding the separation and loss caused by ambiguous losses of adoption, developmental trauma, and confusion about identity. Adoptees hear messages like, "you should be grateful" instead of holding space for the loss which can lead to anger, hopelessness, guilt, and isolation.
— Emma Rady, Counselor in , MDAs a transracial adoptee myself, I have both the personal and professional knowledge of these issues. I know how unique the trauma is surrounding adoption and the questions it raises regarding identity.
— Maddy Campbell, Licensed Professional Counselor in Cincinnati, OHI have significant training and experience in working with individuals who are on the permanency spectrum (foster care, kinship care, transfers of custody, and adoption). This includes parents who have adopted and fostered and adult adoptees. I believe that adoption and permanency are lifelong journeys that involve powerful emotions. Within this, I take a holistic and strengths-based approach to grief/loss and adoption concerns that empowers without guilt/shame.
— Kelly Pieper, Clinical Social WorkerI have a special passion for providing support and services to adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, resource parents and anyone from the foster, adoption and kinship circle. As an adoptee myself, it is an honor for me to be able to give back to the community I am also a part of. I have completed the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certification (PACC) and Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) training to become an adoption-competent therapist.
— Elliott Odendahl, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Bloomington, MNFor 20 years I have worked with children and teens in foster care. I provide a trauma informed approach to care.
— Andrea Davis, Art Therapist in Richardson, TXI have worked with multiple clients that have adoption stories. I also am adopted so working with this population is very close to home. I work with adoptees on re-discovering their identities and healing from their trauma.
— Eva Light, Clinical Social Worker in Ardmore, PAI have additional training as well as personal experience with adoption. I have experience dealing with adoption from a variety of perspectives including the challenges associated with adopting or with placing a child for adoption.
— Curtis Atkins, Licensed Professional CounselorI work with adopted and foster children, teens, and adults. I am an adoptee myself and have specialized training to serve this community from my participation in Portland State University's Foster and Adoption Therapy Certificate Program.
— Sprout Therapy PDX, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, ORI have worked with adoption agencies in hospital settings as new mothers signed off their rights as parents to working with adolescents who transitioned from foster care to adoptive homes. I also have had clients of adult age learning to cope with what it has meant for them to be adopted.
— Andjy Joseph, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Atlanta,I have completed the Center for Adoption Support and Education's accredited training in Adoption Competency program (TAC) and have supported adoptees of all ages and their families working on identity, grief and loss, and life transitions. In my work, I often support adoptees and their families going through the search and reunion process, processing trauma, and understanding neurodivergence.
— Christa Carlton, Clinical Social Worker in Towson, MDAs an adult adoptee, I bring insight and compassion into my work with members of the adoption triad. I utilize Attachment Theory and mindfulness to help clients build awareness of how adoption might be affecting relationship patterns and personal beliefs. I also have an interest in strengthening the adoption triad by processing individual losses and fears found in those roles and reframe those roles in support of the adoptee.
— Krista McDemus, Licensed Professional Counselor in Doylestown, PAI have a special passion for providing support and services to adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, resource parents and anyone from the foster, adoption and kinship circle. As an adoptee myself, it is an honor for me to be able to give back to the community I am also a part of. I have completed the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certification (PACC) and Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) training to become an adoption-responsive/aware therapist.
— Elliott Odendahl, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Bloomington, MNNavigating the journey of adoption can bring unique emotional complexities for adoptees, biological parents, and adoptive families. In my practice, I offer a safe and understanding space to explore these intricacies. My therapeutic approach is tailored to each unique adoption story, always ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
— Janice Reyes, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Austin, TXWhile working previously as a home study evaluator, I first became familiar with the interpersonal dynamics and adjustments that families encounter when deciding to grow their family by adoption. Since then, I've undergone additional training on adoption issues and read anything I can get my hands on related to adoption! I take an adoptee-centered approach and support adoptees in positive identity formation, exploring grief and loss, and bravely sharing their unique stories.
— Caylin Broome, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Atlanta, GAThe impact of adoption comes up a different times throughout the lifetime - starting school, graduation, moving away, getting married, starting a family. As an adoption competent therapist, and transracial adoptee myself, I know having better understanding the separation and loss caused by ambiguous losses of adoption can be so painful. Adoptees hear messages like, "you should be grateful" instead of holding space for the loss which can lead to anger, hopelessness, guilt, and isolation.
— Emma Rady, Counselor in , MDNavigating the journey of adoption can bring unique emotional complexities for adoptees, biological parents, and adoptive families. In my practice, I offer a safe and understanding space to explore these intricacies. My therapeutic approach is tailored to each unique adoption story, always ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
— Janice Reyes, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Austin, TXI have provided services to those in the world of adoption including a support group for foster and adoptive parents, helping bio sibs adjust to foster sibs being returned to their families and working with adoptive children and youth in mental health crisis. In addition, I am an adoptive mother of three all of whom were adopted at older ages.
— Jennifer Durbin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Fullerton, CA