Adoption Therapy
With nearly two decades of experience, from adoption policy work on Capitol Hill, to adoptive family case work, my passion for serving individuals and families of international, domestic, and foster care adoption has been a primary focus of my career.
Every child deserves to feel precious, loved, and protected
In some cases, children who were adopted create a false narrative that there was something wrong with them that led to their adoption, resulting in an insecurity about themselves and their relationships that has potential to last years.
Using Adoption Competent Therapy, together we unpack each individual story through the lens of adoption, recognizing the unique and complex developmental, emotional and behavioral needs of adoptees and their families
Children and Teens
- family and peer relationship issues
- processing difficult information about history or birth family
- anxiety or excessive worrying
- depression and suicidal thoughts
- self-esteem and identity
- trauma and post-traumatic stress
- anger and acting out
- grief and loss
- school difficulties
- transracial adoption issues
- adjustment to adoption
- search and reunion with birth family
Adult Adoptees
- processing adoption history
- identity and self-esteem
- anxiety and insecurity
- depression
- relationship issues
- grief and loss
- trauma and primal wound
- birth family search and reunion
- navigating birth family relationships
- healing attachment style for more fulfilling relationships
Adoptive Parents
- sharing difficult information about adoption history or birth parents
- support with bonding and difficult feelings toward adopted child
- guidance with birth family relationships
- support deciding when and how to answer questions or share adoption information
- education on developmental trauma and impacts of adoption throughout childhood
Emily’s Book
Isabel has a loving family―a mother, a father, and two brothers. And when she was younger, Isabel was adopted. One day, she starts noticing little things that make her feel different. As Isabel focuses more on her differences, her emotions become too big for her to handle. Will Isabel ever feel like she belongs? A Part of My Family Forever is the perfect book for adoptive families to discuss the emotions that come along with adoption and the differences that make each family unique. This book will help children learn how to handle their big emotions and to see that they are loved for just who they are.
Why am I passionate about helping adoptees?
Every child deserves to feel precious, loved and protected. I love helping those who were adopted unpack their story and process feelings to know they are wanted, they belong, and they are good enough. Prior to opening my practice, I worked at the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), and earlier in my career I conducted home studies, facilitated foster/adoptive parent support groups, and served as an adoption case worker. I began my career working at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) where I advocated for improvement to federal adoption policy and traveled internationally to visit orphanages and foster care programs.
Bridgepointe Therapy 