About adoption
Browse therapists who list adoption as a specialty to find professionals experienced with adoption-related challenges, from attachment to identity and family transitions. Use the listings below to compare approaches, languages, credentials, and experience before reaching out.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether adoption is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has adoption among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for adoption
Pietro (Pete) Martucci, LPCC
Ref 37848
Calm guidance for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAngela Neary, BACP
Ref 109659
Experienced person-centred counsellor with practical support
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRoseanne Jackson, LCSW, LCSW-R
Ref 54688
Compassionate, practical help for big life stressors
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingApril Lacey, LCPC
Ref 94106
Helping people find steady change and clearer paths
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingSiyue Zhang, AASW
Ref 243585
Calm, practical therapy focused on real-life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Mandarin
View listingDr. Wanetta "Nita" Hughes Bise, LPC
Ref 7050
Therapist focused on practical support
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingYumi Lemaster, LCSW
Ref 2633
Skilled, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingWilliam Signey, BACP
Ref 113870
Practical, person-focused counselling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingSimran Nandhra, BACP
Ref 160587
Compassionate, person-focused counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingRoselyn Robertson, BACP
Ref 202372
Sensitive, practical counselling for life’s difficult moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingCynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW
Ref 101833
Calm practical therapist focused on progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJonathan Stuart, NCPS
Ref 175272
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingDawn Nunney, NCPS
Ref 97317
Compassionate person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingLiisa Hiltunen, PACFA
Ref 317033
Calm practical therapy with coaching focus
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingShannon Mott, LCSW
Ref 108724
Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJames Hagins, LPC
Ref 233524
Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions
Works with: Grief, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingJennifer Blaney-Sutton, BACP
Ref 225637
Collaborative psychotherapist for adult challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingDarwin Allen, LCPC
Ref 125869
Direct, practical counseling for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Cassandra April, LCPC
Ref 44666
Compassionate, practical therapy for life's hard moments
Works with: Family, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingKeith Chilton, LMFT
Ref 106189
Experienced marriage and family therapist
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJennifer Mcpherson (Norman), BACP
Ref 161239
Experienced relationship and trauma counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAngela Winter, BACP
Ref 175271
Counselling focused on rebuilding confidence
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingFaith Beaulieu, LCMHC
Ref 23986
Somatic-minded counselor for focused change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingApril Vandiver, LPC
Ref 229121
Compassionate counselor helping people move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJosephine Sultana, AASW
Ref 309775
Compassionate social worker blending therapy and lifestyle care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Sleeping Languages: English
View listingSidonia Stiles, BACP
Ref 101572
Experienced counsellor for relationships and grief
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingLouise Wood, BACP
Ref 128568
Support to manage stress, trauma and change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria "Patti" Lorenzo, LCPC
Ref 26902
A practical, compassionate approach to emotional change
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Self esteem, Coping with life changes Languages: English
View listingCynthia Gladyness, LMSW
Ref 44827
Practical, steady support for life's hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingEdward Mcguinness, BACP
Ref 263954
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJoyce Voltaire Huertas, LCSW
Ref 94229
Practical, relationship-focused therapy for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDebby Sawyer, LIMHP
Ref 236392
Experienced, practical help for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDaniel Windemer, NCPS
Ref 173238
Calm, practical counselling to help you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingCatherine Kearns, BACP
Ref 183397
Practical, person-focused therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingLorelle Busby, BACP
Ref 182380
Practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingLouise Fielder, BACP
Ref 137857
Calm client-centred counselling for practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingDr. William Cook, BACP, NCPS
Ref 167158
Supportive counsellor for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Spanish, French
View listingDemetria Powell-Harrison, LCSW
Ref 116826
Warm Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJustine Gibbs, BACP
Ref 151484
Compassionate practical support for life changes
Works with: Relationship, Family, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWendy Kesel, LCSW-R
Ref 204558
Compassionate guidance for practical life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJamie Daugherty, LPC
Ref 62210
Practical support for managing life and emotions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMarguerita Van Der Meer, ACA
Ref 235582
Mindful, values-based counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family Languages: English
View listingBrinkley Ramsey, LCSW, CSW
Ref 335449
Practical, direct therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingNicole Porter, LCSW, CSW
Ref 301025
Therapist focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingTatyana Sibthorpe, BACP
Ref 151265
Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Russian
View listingNicola Barnard, BACP
Ref 126965
Practical, values-based support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingNahid Aghili, BACP
Ref 116850
Calm, experienced counsellor for life changes
Works with: Relationship, Family, Grief Languages: English, Italian, Persian
View listingDebra Pittman, LCSW
Ref 111848
Supportive LCSW guiding practical change
Works with: Trauma and abuse, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMore about adoption
Understanding adoption and how it commonly affects people
Adoption is a life-changing event that touches many different people in varied ways. For some, it begins as a planned route to parenthood and becomes a gradual family formation process. For others, it brings upheaval, loss, and questions about identity that can emerge across the lifespan. You may be an adoptive parent navigating bonding and attachment, an adoptee exploring questions of origin and belonging, or a birth parent managing grief and complex emotions. Each of these experiences can include practical and emotional adjustments like navigating relationships with biological family members, coping with cultural or racial differences in transracial placements, or dealing with information gaps in open or closed arrangements.
The impact of adoption often shows up as a mixture of joy and challenge. You might celebrate milestones while also noticing sudden grief, anxiety, or confusion about identity at different developmental stages. Adoption can bring questions about trust, boundaries, and intergenerational patterns that did not exist before placement. These are normal responses to a major relational change, and talking about them in a thoughtful setting can help you make sense of what you are feeling and find new ways to move forward.
Signs you might benefit from therapy related to adoption
You might be considering therapy when adoption-related feelings start to interfere with daily life or family relationships. If you notice persistent sadness, frequent anger, or anxiety that flares around conversations about birth history, you may benefit from support. Children who were adopted may show changes in behavior, withdrawal, or difficulty with school and peers that relate to attachment or identity issues. Adults who were adopted often describe waves of curiosity or loss when life events prompt questions about lineage, medical history, or cultural roots.
Other signs include ongoing struggles with parenting - for example, repeated patterns of discipline that feel out of sync with your intentions, or difficulty establishing emotional closeness with your child. Birth parents may experience unresolved grief or ambivalence that resurfaces unexpectedly. You may also feel stuck when trying to talk about adoption within your family, or find that topics about ancestry and heritage trigger defensiveness and misunderstanding. Therapy can provide a setting to explore these reactions, develop coping strategies, and work on relational patterns that shape your experience.
What to expect in adoption-focused therapy and common therapeutic approaches
What sessions often look like
When you begin adoption-focused therapy, the first sessions typically involve gathering your story - your history, relationships, and the specific moments that brought you to seek help. You and the therapist will explore how adoption shows up in your life now, including emotions, behaviors, and relationship dynamics. Sessions often include both reflective conversation and practical tools for managing strong emotions. If you are coming as a family, therapy may include joint sessions to practice communication patterns and to build shared understanding about adoption-related themes.
Common approaches you may encounter
Therapists who list particular approaches among their methods often blend modalities to meet the needs of adoptive families and adoptees. Some clinicians use attachment-informed strategies to help parents and children strengthen emotional bonds and regulate stress responses. Narrative-focused approaches can help adoptees and birth parents make sense of personal histories by organizing memories and developing a coherent sense of self. Trauma-informed practices may be part of the work if past loss or early caregiving disruptions contribute to current distress. You may also find therapists who list EMDR among their approaches, or who note expressive therapies, play-based work for children, or family systems methods to address intergenerational patterns. Each of these approaches offers different tools, and a therapist will usually explain how they plan to use methods that fit your goals.
How online therapy works for adoption concerns and what to consider
Online therapy can make adoption-focused care more accessible, especially when you are balancing school, work, or caregiving responsibilities. Sessions are commonly held by video, though some clinicians also offer phone or text-based options for follow-up and check-ins. In online sessions you can address many of the same themes that come up in person - attachment work, identity exploration, grief processing, and parenting strategies - while meeting from a familiar setting. This format can be especially useful for adolescents and adults who may feel more comfortable opening up from home or for families spread across different locations.
When using online therapy for adoption issues, practical considerations matter. You may want to find a location in your home that feels calm for conversations and that minimizes interruptions during emotionally sensitive topics. You should expect therapists to outline how they handle records, emergency planning, and communication between sessions. Technology basics like a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone can help sessions run smoothly. Some people appreciate the continuity online work can offer during transitions such as school changes or moves, while others choose a mix of in-person and online sessions when possible. Either way, online care can be a flexible option for engaging with adoption-related therapy.
Choosing the right therapist for adoption work
Finding a therapist who fits your needs often starts with clarifying what you want to address. If your primary concern is attachment and parenting strategies, you may prefer someone who emphasizes parent-child interventions and attachment-informed language. If identity and search questions are central, a clinician who notes experience with adoptee identity exploration and reunification conversations may be helpful. Pay attention to the therapist's listed specialties, the approaches they mention, their professional credentials, and the populations they describe working with - such as children, teens, adults, or multigenerational families. Language access and cultural competence are important too; if your family has cultural, racial, or linguistic needs, look for therapists who mention that experience.
When reviewing profiles you will find different kinds of information to guide your choice. Many therapists note the issues they commonly address, the age ranges they work with, and the therapeutic orientations they use. Because approaches and personal fit matter, it is reasonable to read descriptions and select a few profiles that resonate with your story. You might prioritize someone who mentions adoption explicitly, who discusses themes like attachment or identity, or who has experience with transracial or international placements if those elements are relevant. Ultimately, the right fit is a personal judgment - you can look for a therapist whose description reflects an understanding of adoption complexities and whose approach feels aligned with the support you want.
Therapy can be a helpful resource as you and your family navigate the ongoing questions adoption brings. Whether you are seeking support for a child, working through your own adoptee identity, or processing birth parent grief, connecting with a clinician who lists adoption among their specialties can provide tools, perspective, and new ways of relating. Use the listings above to explore therapists by approach, languages, credentials, and experience so you can find someone who aligns with the work you want to do.