Adoption Counseling
When Adoption is Part of Your Story
Family. Sometimes it’s something we’re born into, sometimes we marry into, and sometimes we choose. But when adoption is a part of your story, the word “family” can feel like a special language, one that only you truly understand.
Maybe you found yourself needing to make an adoption plan because parenting wasn’t the right option when faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Or perhaps you’re an adoptee who feels like you belong to a loving family, but the differences in appearance, interests, or temperament leave you feeling like you don’t quite fit in. Or maybe, after facing life’s challenges, you’ve always dreamed of becoming a parent, but Mother Nature or circumstances had other plans.
If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone—and you don’t have to face these challenges on your own. Adoption can be hard, and counseling offers a safe, supportive space to work through the emotions and struggles that feel overwhelming. We’re here to guide you through this journey, providing the support and understanding you and your family need as you navigate the complexities of adoption.
Adoption Counseling Can Help With:
Processing grief, loss, or confusion
Navigating identity and belonging
Strengthening family relationships
Coping with feelings of rejection or abandonment
Managing open adoption dynamics
Supporting adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees through all stages
If you’ve found yourself reading this, chances are you’re facing some challenges in your adoption journey right now.
At Annapolis Counseling Center, we have therapists who are not only compassionate and expertly trained, we have therapists that genuinely care.
At Annapolis Counseling Center, we truly understand the unique experiences that come with adoption. We’re here to help you explore the complex feelings surrounding adoption—whether it’s a desire to learn more about your birth family, a sense of not quite fitting in with your adoptive family, or the challenges of parenting an adopted child when others don’t fully understand. If you’re facing the emotional complexities of adoption, we can support you in navigating these layers and finding peace. Our goal is to guide you toward acceptance, understanding, and self-love, helping you embrace your own definition of “family” with confidence and clarity.
FAQs about Adoption Counseling
What is adoption counseling?
Adoption counseling is a specialized form of therapy that supports anyone touched by adoption—birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees. It provides a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore complex emotions such as grief, identity, guilt, confusion, or longing. Whether you’re working through the decision to place a child for adoption, adjusting to adoptive parenting, or processing your experience as an adoptee, adoption counseling helps you navigate these deeply personal experiences with support and understanding.
What type of therapy is best for adoptees?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but many adoptees benefit from therapies that explore identity, attachment, and emotion regulation. Therapies like Attachment-Based Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma-Informed Therapy, and Narrative Therapy can be especially helpful. A therapist trained in adoption-related issues will be able to help adoptees process their story, explore their sense of belonging, and address any emotional wounds or questions that may arise throughout their life.
What are the 7 core stages of adoption?
The “7 Core Issues in Adoption” framework is widely recognized in adoption counseling and reflects the lifelong impact adoption can have. These issues can affect adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents in different ways:
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Loss – The foundation of adoption begins with loss for all members of the triad.
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Rejection – Even in loving families, adoptees may wrestle with feelings of being unwanted.
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Guilt and Shame – Birth parents may feel guilt; adoptees may feel shame about their story.
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Grief – Often unspoken, grief can resurface at different life stages.
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Identity – Questions about “Who am I?” and “Where do I come from?” are common.
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Intimacy – Trust and closeness may feel difficult to build or maintain.
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Control – Feelings of powerlessness can emerge from early decisions made by others.
Adoption counseling helps individuals work through these layers with compassion and care, recognizing that healing is a journey, not a destination.
Address
147 Old Solomons Island Rd Suite 303, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Sat-Sun: By Appointment Only