Another very common challenge for adoptive families is that many of our kids come from complex trauma, loss, and genetic predisposition to mental illness. Creating even a greater likelihood to have a need to seek therapeutic support. As parents to special needs children many of us know finding someone who gets it is very hard.
Bethany Christian Services LifeLines Magazine had a great article on helping families know when they should seek help. http://www.bethanylifelines.org/finding-help/#mental In the article there is a list of some very common issues that families may want to seek help for:
Asking
for help is especially important if you are struggling to:
- Help your child understand his adoption, no matter his age.
- Talk to your children or others about adoption.
- Nurture a positive relationship with your child’s birthparent(s).
- Advocate for any special needs for your child with in his school system.
- Meet any special medical, learning, behavioral, emotional, or mental health needs of your child, especially if he experienced trauma early in life.
- Provide a safe and open environment where your child can express some of the painful emotions or questions that can come with adoption.
- Process your own feelings of loss, grief or rejection. It is important to find a way to work through these and still be available and engaged to help your child.
Some
of the greatest resources out there are on the Child Welfare Information Gateway. I have shared the following resources with
families more times than I can count. I
want to share them with all of you.
Selecting and
Working with a Therapist who is Skilled in Adoption https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_therapist.cfm
Choosing
Therapy for Adopted Children and Youth https://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_parenting/services/therapy.cfm
Finding and
Using Post Adoption Services
To
find a therapist who is a good match for your family, you will have to do your
research and be prepared to advocate for you and your family. You have to make sure the therapist matches
your family’s values and you can work with them. But remember, any good therapist is going to
challenge your family for the purpose of change. Research shows that any evidence based
therapy for kids requires parents to participate. So be ready.
The following are some questions to ask therapists you are considering:
- What type of license do you hold? How long have you been practicing?
- What type of training have you had related to adoption? Have you had any specific training around identify development, attachment, trauma, loss, grief, infertility, and/or the effects of institutionalization? Are you certified in Foster Care and Adoption Therapy?
- How many clients have you served that have been touched by adoption?
- Are you certified in or have you had training in any evidence-based treatment models, such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, ADOPTS, or Corrective Attachment Therapy. If not, what treatment philosophies or approaches do you use?
- What is your typical approach with using parents in treatment for children?
- Who do you do case consultation with and collaboration?
The
Pacific Northwest is blessed to have a Certificate in Foster Care and Adoption
Therapy Program at Portland State University.
You can find a list of therapist who have completed this training at http://www.orparc.org/services/Directory.pdf
(Pages 22 to 27 has a list of out-of-state certified therapist. Washington State use to have its own program
so there are others who have completed a program locally, so be sure to ask.
Minnesota
has a great article on Choosing Adoption Therapy that is worth sharing: http://www.mnadopt.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Choosing-Adoption-Therapist.pdf
Paulette Caswell, LICSW
Branch Director of Pacific Northwest www.bethany.org/Washington
Bethany Christian Services Of Washington
1501 N. 200th St. Ste. 103 Shoreline, WA 98133
O - 206.367.4604 F - 206.367.1860 Direct (616) 254-7719
Branch Director of Pacific Northwest www.bethany.org/Washington
Bethany Christian Services Of Washington
1501 N. 200th St. Ste. 103 Shoreline, WA 98133
O - 206.367.4604 F - 206.367.1860 Direct (616) 254-7719
The following is a list of therapist I used to work with when I was in Adoption Support here in Washington State. I know they have all had at least one adoption client. I can not vouch for their skills.
Andrews, Doug
|
LICSW
|
100 M Ave.
|
Anacortes
|
98221
|
360.293.2858
|
Fay, Gayle
|
PhD
|
2227 112th Ave NE
|
Bellevue
|
98004
|
425.452.8036
|
Kahn, Timothy
|
MSW
|
515 116th NE #145
|
Bellevue
|
98004
|
425.462.9647
|
Ratley, Carolyn
|
MA
|
515 116th Ave NE
#174
|
Bellevue
|
98004
|
425.462.1612
|
Ackerman, Rick
|
LMHC, SOTP
|
214 W. Commercial
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.671.6879
|
Bennett, Robbyn
Peters
|
MA, LMHC, CMHS
|
1537 Humboldt St.
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.738.6864
|
Jefferies, Lisa
|
MHCAL
|
1031 N State St.
Suite 108
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360-303-9289
|
Brown, Megan
|
LICSW
|
1231 N. Garden
St.
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.734.4616
|
Fredgoda, Jayme
|
LICSW
|
2110 Iron St.
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.734.2661x18
|
Green, Rick
|
LCSW
|
1116 Key st. #108
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.647.1176
|
Gronholt,
Jennifer
|
PhD
|
2110 Iron St.
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.734.2665x4
|
Henderson, Pat
|
MA, LMHC
|
1210 10th St.
#203
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.676.1513
|
Lang, Christopher
|
MA, LMHC
|
1410 11th St.
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.647.3399
|
McGuiness,
Victoria
|
MA LMHC, RPT
|
1513 E. Street
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.393.8755
|
Sylvester, Megan
|
LICSW
|
2110 B St
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.305.5130
|
Russell, Sharon
|
PhD, Psy, ARNP
|
1201 11th St. #
200B
|
Bellingham
|
98225
|
360.734.1898
|
Zabel, Melanie
|
MS
|
PO Box 1365
|
Bellingham
|
98227
|
360.319.9845
|
Hanawalt, Katrina
|
LMFT, CMHS
|
23634
Bothell-Everett Hwy #c
|
Bothell
|
98041
|
360.348.7183
|
Northshore Youth
and Family
|
MA, LMHC, CDP
|
10309 NE 185th
St.
|
Bothell
|
98011
|
425.485.6541
|
Woody, Joy
|
MA
|
1011 Burlington
Heights Dr.
|
Burlington
|
98233
|
360.770.0447
|
Asplund, Kurt
|
CMHCA, CMHS
|
146 Spirit Ridge
Ln
|
Camano Island
|
98282
|
360.387.7800
|
Richards, Jeri
|
LMHC
|
3218 Cherry Tree
Ln
|
Camano Island
|
98282
|
425.290.2218
|
Soderberg,
Vanessa
|
LMFT, MA, MEd
|
450 W. House Pl.
|
Camano Island
|
98282
|
360.987.5136
|
Name
|
Credentials
|
Address
|
City
|
Zip
|
Phone
|
Thompson, Nora
|
Phd, ABPP-CN
|
8319 196th St. SW
|
Edmonds
|
98026
|
425.640.6134x2
|
Jolly, Cynthia
|
MA, LMHC
|
2905-A Hewitt Ave
|
Everett
|
98201
|
425.359.4161
|
Reimers, Kay
|
LICSW
|
2917 Pacific Ave
Ste 102
|
Everett
|
98201
|
425.737.8093
|
Tyler, Juliana
|
MA, LMHC
|
2804 Grand Ave.
#300
|
Everett
|
98201
|
206.604.0996
|
Schmekel, Daniel
|
LMFT
|
2722 Colby Ave.
#725
|
Everett
|
98201
|
425.361.3843
|
Straus-King, Sara
|
MA, CSOTP
|
2722 Colby Ave.
#714
|
Everett
|
98201
|
425.259.6530
|
McGuire, Shahn
|
LMFT
|
PO Box 1261
|
Friday Harbor
|
98250
|
360.370.5280
|
Aquino, Mia
|
MSW
|
808 Sixth St. S.
#100
|
Kirkland
|
98033
|
425.284.9792
|
Coen, Mark
|
MSW
|
8011 118th Ave NE
|
Kirkland
|
98033
|
425.889.8524 x5
|
Cuevas, Beverly
|
LICSW
|
8011 118th Ave NE
|
Kirkland
|
98033
|
425.889.8524 x 3
|
Mallos, Rebecca
|
LICSW
|
8011 118th Ave NE
|
Kirkland
|
98033
|
425.889.8524
|
Windecker-Nelson,
Bess
|
PhD
|
P.O. Box 1126
|
Langley
|
98260
|
360.320.0595
|
Bellomo, Kanani
|
MS, LMFTA
|
1518 Bryce Park
Lp
|
Lynden
|
98265
|
360.306.1440
|
Clause, Glenna
|
LMHC, MEd
|
5105 200th St. SW
|
Lynnwood
|
98036
|
206.617.2131
|
Felker, Michele
|
PsD
|
20016 Cedar
Valley Rd. #107
|
Lynnwood
|
98036
|
425.772.5598
|
Crabtree, Linda
|
MC, LMHC
|
14219 Smokey
Point Blvd #1
|
Marysville
|
98271
|
360.653.2503
|
Platte, Matt
|
MEd, LMHC, C-STOP
|
1519 9th St. #201
|
Marysville
|
98270
|
360.658.5180
|
Hernandez, Dulcy
|
LMHC, CMHS
|
15408 Main St.
#107
|
Mill Creek
|
98012
|
425.319.9591
|
Larant, Zsolt
|
MD Psychiatrist
|
15415 Main St.
#304
|
Mill Creek
|
98012
|
425.339.5453
|
Redd, Annie
|
LMFT, MA, MEd
|
203 N. Blakeley
St. #101
|
Monroe
|
98272
|
360.794.6038
|
MacNeal, Melissa
|
Ma, PhD
|
2615 Old Hwy 99S
|
Mount Vernon
|
98273
|
360.691.9824
|
Berg, Brad
|
MD, PhD
|
1400 E. Kincaid
|
Mt. Vernon
|
98274
|
360.239.2010
|
Chandler, Douglas
|
LICSW, CMHS
|
1511 E. Broadway
|
Mt. Vernon
|
98274
|
360.568.8737
|
Larsen, Julie
|
MSW
|
12221 Village
Center Pl.
|
Mukilteo
|
98275
|
425.443.2129
|
Ortiz-Self,
Lillian
|
LMHC
|
905 10th St.
|
Mukilteo
|
98275
|
425.232.6615
|
Talmadge, Steven
|
PH.D
|
1360 W. Fairhaven
Dr.
|
Oak Harbor
|
98277
|
360.679.3310
|
Casey, Paula
|
MFT
|
1121 SE Dock St
|
Oak Harbor
|
98277
|
360.927.8363
|
Jones, Toni
|
LCPC
|
125 Private Dr.
|
Sagle
|
83860
|
208.263.9640
|
Renye, Denise
|
PsD
|
3329 Sacramento
St. #A
|
San Francisco
|
94118
|
415.286.5014
|
Northwest Family
Life
|
Multiple
|
12360 Lake City
Way NE, Suite 301
|
Seattle
|
98125
|
206-661-2566
|
Malecka, Chistina
|
MA. LMHC
|
1904 Third Ave.
#609
|
Seattle
|
98101
|
206.414.8251
|
Sauer, Julie
|
ACSW
|
4026 NE 55th St.
#C
|
Seattle
|
98105
|
206.522.6296
|
Scott, David
|
PhD, Psy
|
Box 357920
|
Seattle
|
98195
|
206.598.9348
|
Soderbrg, Bill
|
LICSW
|
180 Nickerson
Street
|
Seattle
|
98109
|
206.902.7003
|
Swanson, Todd
|
MS
|
105 W. 8th Ave
|
Spokane
|
98204
|
509.838.1400
|
Mullen, Patricia
|
MA
|
PO Box 1445
|
Spokane Valley
|
99037
|
509.928.3015
|
Moats, Melinda
|
MEd, LMHC
|
10011 270th St.
NE #B
|
Stanwood
|
98292
|
360.629.8232
|
Devney, Robert
|
MD Psychiatrist
|
18500-156th Ave
NE
|
Woodinville
|
98072
|
425.481.0429
|
