Adoption Issues

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.

As 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.

I’m here to support you through the unique challenges and emotions that often come with adoption. For adoptees, first parents, or adoptive parents, therapy can help process grief and loss, heal trauma, build identity, and foster connection. Whether you have been hurt by the institution, are pursuing reunion, are reeling from traumatic experiences, or just want to feel more connected to yourself or others, we’ll work together to reclaim your life’s story.

As 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.

I 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.

As a therapist who is adopted myself, my role in post-adoption support is to help you navigate the complex emotions and experiences that can arise from adoption. Whether you’re an adopted person processing identity, a first parent facing grief and loss, or an adoptive parent seeking to build stronger family bonds, therapy offers a safe space to explore your feelings, improve communication, and foster healing. Together, we work toward understanding, acceptance, and emotional well-being.

I 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.

While 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.

I’m an advocate for adoptees and families impacted by adoption. I have an extensive background with foster care and adoption and have worked with all sides of the triad, including adoptees, birth parents, foster and adoptive parents. I understand how difficult and complex these issues can be and the significant impact on families.

I have personal experience with adoption. In addition to my lived experience, I have researched the topic thoroughly (including having read The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier) and continue to attend trainings and expand my understanding of related issues.

I 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.

I have personal experience of being adopted and adopting a child, which I feel makes me feel uniquely qualified to discuss the process, pain and triumph that comes with both.

I identify as a transracial and transnational Chinese adoptee and I have a special interest in serving transracial adoptees. I work from an attachment-based lens and use a holistic systemic approach to address concerns around the adoptee's identity. Forming relationships and building trust can be difficult, especially for adoptees. I believe that we heal attachment ruptures and learn to form healthy attachments in relationships and with ourselves.

I’m here to support you through the unique challenges and emotions that often come with adoption. For adoptees, first parents, or adoptive parents, therapy can help process grief and loss, heal trauma, build identity, and foster connection. Whether you have been hurt by the institution, are pursuing reunion, are reeling from traumatic experiences, or just want to feel more connected to yourself or others, we’ll create a safe, adoption competent, non-judgmental space to move toward your goals.

I have worked with not only adoptees, but birth parents, adoptive parents and related family members who have been impacted by adoption. It is important to know and understand the complexities of adoption, including separation, loss, grief, trauma and related issues. I work with adults and teens in all aspects of adoption, pre and post adoption and search and reunion. I focus on the 7 core struggles in adoption (loss/abandonment, rejection, grief, guilt/shame, identity, intimacy and control)

I was an adoption social worker for many years. I have experience in all aspects of the adoption process and specifically attachment disorders.

I identify as a transracial and transnational Chinese adoptee and I have a special interest in serving transracial adoptees. I work from an attachment-based lens and use a holistic systemic approach to address concerns that come up around the adoptee identity.

As a person who experienced a step-parent adoption, I have been through the process & understand the important role therapists plays in the process. I have worked on every side of the adoption process. I've seen the heart break, the silver lining & the hope. I know how sensitive these adoption processes are & honor the role a therapist plays in either helping induce healing or causing more pain. Currently, I am in an intensive training process to become a certified Adoption Competent therapist.

I 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.

The 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.