PART OF THE COLLECTIVE AT A PLACE TO BE THERAPY
Adoption & Foster Care
In-person in Pasadena and online in California
In-person in Los Angeles and online in California
No one told you it would be this hard…
You went into the adoption process with the best of intentions, hopes, and dreams. You love your child and are doing your best, but you know you and your family need help.
Adoption is rooted in loss. Not just the loss of first families, but the loss of a sense of safety and unconditional love, loss of history and mirrors, loss of culture, maybe language. The list continues depending on each story and type of adoption. Inter-country, trans-racial, private or foster-care. These losses are felt even when a baby is placed with their adoptive parent at birth. Even when placed in the most loving and well intentioned adoptive family, your child may get easily disregulated, have long tantrums that don’t seem commensurate with what is happening, always need to be with you, have trouble with friends, trouble sleeping, seem to always be aware of their environment, easily scared, always on the move, have issues with impulse control, not tolerate being told no. These are all effects of the early trauma of being separated from first parents.
I can help.
As an adoptive mom and adoption competent therapist I understand what you are going through. I know that supporting your family requires a multi-pronged and individualized approach, including:
Play Therapy, EMDR and Sandtray for your child to help them process their experiences and feelings in a safe space.
Parenting session to help you understand your child’s behavior and learn how to support them.
Parenting with trauma in mind
Understanding your own triggers
Creating safety and healthy attachments
Talking to your child about their first families and adoption stories
Navigating and building relationships with first families