Support for Adoptees and Families

Each adoption story and journey is unique, and every member of the constellation has their own individual experience, narrative, and process around adoption.

Creating space for each person’s story and journey is paramount. Therefore, it is one of my deepest passions to support and honor both teen and adult adoptees, as well as caregivers and families, around the diverse, complex, and multi-faceted world of adoption.

Adoptees

I have had the honor of working with adoptees in a variety of settings, both personally and professionally, and have learned directly from them about the intricate complexity of adoption, which can impact every facet of a person’s experience of life.

From the trauma of loosing your first family; to questions related to identity, worth, and belonging; to experiencing transracial adoption; to exploring your feelings around the adoption process and policy; to beginning a birth family search; etc., I am here to support your healing, process, and integration of your unique story.

Because your experience is unique, from both birth and adoptive family members, a place where you can process and explore your lived reality without judgment or critique is essential.

 

Support around:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma

  • Race

  • Culture

  • Grief & Loss

  • Birth Family

  • Worth & Value

  • Identity & Meaning

  • Relationships

“I was adopted. I wasn’t chosen. I was abandoned. At times I feel angry. At times I feel sad. At times I feel blessed. At times I feel thankful. I am adopted. And it’s complicated.”

- Anonymous

Caregivers & Families

The beautiful and very challenging experience of adoption impacts all members of the family and it is common to need support before, during, and after the adoption process.

In working with adoptive families, I seek to provide a balance of parent coaching and attachment strengthening interventions in order to help increase connection with your child / teen and within the entire family. Increasing safety, security, and connection can help reduce concerns, increase attachment, and allow for the integration of key and difficult experiences into their personal story within the context of loving and supportive relationships.

In addition, the pain and reality of adoption can trigger some of the deepest wounds and insecurities for you as caregiver. Seeking support around these elements of your experience can provide needed insight and awareness, thus allowing support and connection with your child / teen to grow and thrive.

Whether you find yourself preparing to welcome your child home, are looking for assistance or resources during the transition, desire help with increasing connection, or are wanting to explore your own attachment and childhood experience, I would love to support you.

 

Support around:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma

  • Race & Culture

  • Grief & Loss

  • Strengthening Attachment & Relationships

  • Personal Attachment & Childhood Exploration

  • Increasing Insight, Awareness, and Support of your Adopted Child / Teen

“Adoptees don’t need fixing (after all, they’re not broken). They may take their parents to places and spaces and conversations still unknown and yet unconsidered, so what they do need are parents willing to go there with them.”

- Tara VanderWoude