- Birth Family Search
Find Birth Parents, Siblings, Adoptees and Family
This is a Facebook group that helps domestic adoptees find and reunite with lost relatives, adoptees, birth parents, and siblings.
- Birth Family Search
Korean Adoptees searching for their birth families
This is a Facebook group for Korean adoptees who are searching for their birth families. It is open to all Korean adoptees to publish any photos and information about their adoption. There are also subgroups that are closed Facebook groups.
- Birth Family Search
Chile Adoption Birth Family Search
The Chile Adoption Birth Family Search Facebook group is for “ Helping Chilean adoptees to search for their birth families in Chile and reconnect with their birth families” As of 2020 they celebrated 10 years of searches and as of 2019 they celebrated 300 cases.
- Birth Family Search
Journey Across Forever – China Birth Parent Search Group
Journey Across Forever is a closed group for adoptive parents with children from China who are searching for birth parents, foster parents, finders, etc. There are networking resources, steps to take when searching, and other resources that provide information on the process.
- Birth Family Search
Research-China
Research-China.org is an informational website detailing the sociopolitical circumstances of China starting from the causes of the One Child Policy up to recent happenings that affect adoption or are a direct cause of it. It features an adoptive father’s experience with his adoption and helping his daughters conduct a birth family search. This resource is for those interested in the politics behind adoption and its history.
- Birth Family Search
The Roots of Love
The Roots of Love is a Chinese adoptee family reunion project with multiple professional searchers on location. They offer free DNA testing to potential birth relatives and share birth relative contact info for free. This organization would best benefit Chinese adoptees actively searching for birth family.
- Birth Family Search
Birth Family Search Russia
Birth Family Search Russia is a organization created by by Denis M. Rybakov who is dedicated to birth searches. He has undertaken more than 600 birth family searches all over Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and more. He is a member of the Moscow Bar Association. This source can apply to and most benefit Russian adoptees who are interested in birth family search.
- Birth Family Search
International Child Search Alliance (ICSA)
The International Child Search Alliance (ICSA) is a “ all-volunteer international group of adoptees and adoptive parents founded in November 2018.” They offer reliable information and promote awareness in China of adoptees’ desire to know their birth families. This source applies to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are interested in birth family search.
- Birth Family Search
Chilean Adoptees Worldwide
Chilean Adoptees Worldwide is a platform for Chilean Adoptees, all over the world. The organization strives to bring awareness/connect with adoptees and birth families in Chile. Birth family search is a big part of their work and offers a secure space where adoptees can upload their adoption documents. This source can apply to and most benefit Chilian adoptees, their families, and their birth families.
- Birth Family Search
DNA Testing for Asian Adoptees
From GenePeace DNA Consulting, this document serves as a guide on DNA testing. This document can apply to and most benefit those who are interested in exploring how “DNA can be used specifically for people of Asian ancestry, including Asian international adoptees and adoptees of mixed Asian heritage (domestic or internationally adopted). “ This guide is packed with information and suggests additional resources.
The Nanchang Project: “Chinese Adoptee DNA”
From the Nanchang Project facebook page, this infographic is a flow chart about Chinese adoptee DNA. This source can apply to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are overwhelmed by all the places you can add DNA.
- LGBTQ+
CCI (China’s Children International) Pride
This is a private Facebook group created by CCI (China’s Children International) for those who identify as LGBTQ+ individuals. It is for Chinese adoptees and is open to all ages. It’s a network to discuss issues and topics relating to Chinese adoptees and the LGBTQ+ community.
- Adoptee Groups
Subtle Asian Adoptee Traits
This is a Facebook group for all Asian adoptees to connect with each other. It posts daily and is a space mainly for the discourse of adoptee and Asian identities. They also have Zoom meetings sometimes.
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptiepedia
This group aims to provide adoption information for Chinese and Taiwanese adoptees as well as organize activities for adoptees such as support groups. It is based in the Netherlands and is for all Dutch speaking Chinese and Taiwanese adoptees.
- Adoptee Groups
Confessions of a Chinese Adoptee
This group tells adoptees’ stories in order to help empower other adoptees in their self-growth and change the narrative of adoption. It has resources for all adoptees including Chinese adoptees.
- Birth Family Search
“2018 I WENT TO CHINA TO SEARCH FOR MY BIRTH FAMILY * 2018年寻找中国亲生父母”
In this short youtube documentary (link to full TV documentary is in the description), an adoptee shares her experience of going to China to search for her birth family. She explains the controversies surrounding her choice and encourages others to search for their birth families.This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are wondering about an experience like this.
- Birth Family Search
CCI (China’s Children International): Searching Resources
CCI’s Birth Parent Search and Reunion Resource Guide is a compilation of birth family searching resources for Chinese adoption community, offering various tips, strategies, platforms, etc. This source is for people of the Chinese adoption community interested in birth family searching.
- Birth Family Search
Nanchang Project
The Nanchang Project is a program dedicated to creating a community and resources (DNA testing, searching) for Chinese adoptees searching for birth family. They provide a space to connect, educate, and support the community. This resource best benefits Chinese adoptees searching for birth family or parents searching on behalf of their children
- Birth Family Search
Twinsters (2015)
This documentary tells the true-life story of identical twin sisters separated at birth who discover each other online. They meet and confirm their identity with a DNA test, and they set out to explore aspects of their background together. One twin lives in the US while the other twin lives in France.
- Birth Family Search
International Child Search Alliance (ICSA)
ICSA is an all-volunteer international group of adoptees and adoptive parents offering multiple sources of information to help adoptees from China search for their birth families. Advice is given on ‘Getting Started’, ‘Hiring a Searcher’, ‘Birth Parents Searching for Children’, and more. There is also How-To-Guides that include DNA testing, using the app WeChat, Joining a Province Search, visiting the CCCWA, and more.
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptees for Justice
“Adoptees For Justice is an intercountry adoptee-led organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and organize transracial and transnational adoptee communities to achieve just and humane adoption, immigration, and restorative justice systems. We envision a world where every person thrives in a safe and supportive environment in which communities of color, immigrants, and adoptees are liberated from all forces of injustice, with full citizenship for all. Our first project is to educate, organize and advocate for an Adoptee Citizenship Act that is inclusive of all adoptees.”
- Birth Family Search
Closure (2013)
A trans-racial adoptee finds her birth mother, and meets the rest of her family who did not know she existed, including her birth father. This documentary explores themes such as identity, the complexities of trans-racial adoption, and closure.
- Adoptee Groups
Angela Tucker
Angela Tucker is an author, a podcaster, a film producer and has gained a reputation for being a national thought leader on the intersectional topics of race, class, and identity. She was adopted from foster care to a white family, and grew up in a city that was predominantly white. She has 15+ years of working in social welfare organizations, has consulted with NBC’s This Is Us, and supported the lead actor of Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill. Her first book is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2023 (Beacon Press).
- Birth Family Search
Twin Sisters (2013)
This documentary film is happy and heartwarming about twin sisters who are adopted by two separate families who find their way back to each other via social media. This movie brings up topics such as growing, learning, understanding, and identity.
- Birth Family Search
First Person Plural (2000)
This documentary film tells the true story of an 8-year old girl who is adopted by an American family, only to discover years later that she has a birth family in Korea. The documentary explores themes of identity, race, assimilation, and birth family reunion.
- Birth Family Search
Searching for Go-Hyang (1998)
This film is about twin sisters who are adopted into the US but return back to Korea 14 years later in hopes of exploring and reconnecting with their homeland and roots. This story addresses issues of national identity and cross cultural adoption.
- Birth Family Search
aka DAN: Korean Adoption Documentary
Dan Matthews is a Korean adoptee who journeys back to Korea to reunite with his biological family, including a twin brother he never knew he had. He has all this documented and shared on his YouTube channel for his fans/followers to follow along to.
- Media
NCFA: “Post-Adoption Services Acknowledging and Dealing with Loss”
“An article on the way Loss, Rejection, Guilt/Shame, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, and Mastery/Control, all impact the adoptee experience.”
- Media
NCFA: “How Adoption Will Be Impacted If Congress Passes These Four Bills in 2022”
“An article written in January on the four proposed bills (from 2022) that Congress was set to vote on regarding different adoption issues.”
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Voices Rising
“Adoptee Voices Rising is an adoptee-led, social justice group that advocates for the adoptee community through political engagement and legislation.”
- Media
The New York Times: “Deportation a ‘Death Sentence’ to Adoptees After a Lifetime in the U.S.”
“An article on the lives lived by adult Korean adoptees deported back to Korea after US adoptive parents failed to attain citizenship for them. It talks about a problem that the US needs to urgently address: adoptees from abroad who never attained American citizenship.
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- Media
Vox: “Why adoption isn’t a replacement for abortion rights”
“When the leaked draft on Roe v. Wade was released, many people argued adoption would be able to replace abortion. This article discusses the shortcomings of this argument and rhetoric. Also, it details the long term consequences for birth parents and also adoptees as a result of separation.
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- Media
American Adoptions: “The Truth About Adopted Adults and Relationship Issues”
“An article explaining that although not many studies have been conducted on adoptees and trauma, many adoptees feel they have relationship issues tracing back to their adoption.”
- Media
Adoptees On: “33 [S2 E10] Marni – A Model Reunion”
A hard and honest conversation, but ultimately heart warming and joyful reunion between birth mother and adoptee. The episode walks you through three guiding principles for a successful family reunion.
- Media
Adoptees On: “24 [Healing Series] How Do I Tell My Adoptive Parents I’m Searching?”
“A podcats on how to talk with your parents about searching for your birth family. The podcasts discusses how it’s mormal for adoptees to want to search, and the difficulties of allowing yourself to pursue that.
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- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Mentoring Society
Adoptee Mentoring Society is an online mentorship community that values adoptee power, intersectionality, and a healing community. They offer online group meetings between adoptees, and 1:1 mentorship. Prices range from $10-$55 per session.
- Media
Time: “My White Adoptive Parents Struggled to See Me as Korean. Would They Have Understood My Anger at the Rise in Anti-Asian Violence?”
An article in Time magazine about a Korean American adoptee’s thoughts on the title of “adoptee” and the racial dynamics in transracial adoptions.
- Media
Los Angeles Times: “‘I’m not allowed to feel those things’: How adoptees experience anti-Asian hate”
A New York Times article on the complex ways Asian adoptees experience anti-Asian hate and racism as a result of their unique identity. Many adoptees in the article speak of how they felt tied to both cultures and/or neither.
- Media
NPR: “‘Am I Asian Enough?’ Adoptees Struggle To Make Sense Of Spike In Anti-Asian Violence”
In this NPR article, adoptee voices take center, and different adoptees explain their complex feelings regarding anti-Asian violence and the different ways in which they are affected.
- Media
The New York Times Magazine: “Why a Generation of Adoptees Is Returning to South Korea”
“A NYT article where a Korean adoptee explores the reasons and ways for South Korean adoptees to return to their birthplace. In addition to the article, there are 994 comments that provide anecdotes and first hand experiences and questions by adoptive parents and adoptees.
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- Media
Adoptees On
“AdopteesOn is a Spotify podcast where adoptees discuss their lived experience in an open and vulnerable way. Episodes range from 40 min- 1 hr 30 min long.
Here is a List of different articles, books, and artists referenced in the podcast, and what episode they can be found in.
“
- Media
Who Am I Really?
” A podcast where adoptees of all different backgrounds discuss their adoption journeys and attempts at reunion with their biological families. Episodes are around 1hr long, and range from 30 min to 1 hr ½.
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- Media
Vox: “Genes aren’t destiny, and other things I’ve learned from being adopted”
An adoptee speaks candidly about their experience being adopted, dealing with other people’s expectations, and the ways in which birth family connection is powerful, but not everything.
- Media
NPR: “Growing Up ‘White,’ Transracial Adoptee Learned To Be Black”
7 min listen and article on NPR, a Black, transracial adoptee reflects on his identity and experiences growing in life with white parents and white privilege.
- Media
Considering Adoption: “5 Things the Spouse of an Adoptee Should Know”
This brief article by Considering Adoption touches on five different things spouses need to know and recognize. While not incredibly complicated or detailed, this article is a good place to start.
- Media
Psychology Today: “Adult Adoptee Voices Are Changing Adoption Narrative”
“The article is written by a Korean transracial adoptee speaking about the Side x Side project where adoptees discuss their lives, relationships, and origins. It summarizes the project and talks about how even if adoptive parents think their relationship is great, it may be prudent to reexamine and ask honestly how their children are feeling
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- Media
NCFA: Stories
“The National Council for Adoption provides articles for and from adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, and expecting parents. “
- Media
The Adoption and Fostering Podcast
“A podcast series that follows birth parents, adoptees, and different family members of adoptees (including grandmothers). It features conversations about contemporary adoption and fostering. Episodes are roughly 40-50 min long and involve first person expertise and experts on different subjects.”
- Media
Two Adoptees Uncensored: “Listening to Adoptees”
“Christopher, identifies as a queer transracial adoptee born in Vietnam and was adopted at 1 year old. He reflects on growing up in a white family, and predominantly white community.
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- Media
Diary of a Not-So-Angry Asian Adoptee
“Christina Romo identifies herself as a Korean adoptee, mom, wife, and advocate. She details her life and internal thoughts on adoption, but also provides the perspective of a parent learning how to parent her biracial children.
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- Media
Confessions of an Adoptee
This blog is a safe space for adoptees of all ages and situations to share their feelings, experiences, worries, fears, and dreams with others. Adoptees posts are anonymous.
- Media
A Chinese Adoptee’s Journey
A blog of an adult Chinese-American adoptee which explores her thoughts and feelings surrounding adoption.
- Adoptee Groups
Sisters of China
“Sisters of China is a community organization dedicated to uniting female-identifying Chinese adoptees of all ages across the world by providing them a safe space to share their stories, discuss their challenges, and celebrate their heritage.
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- Adoptee Groups
Adoptés du Vietnam – La Voix Des Adoptés
This Facebook group is based in France and is for French speaking Vietnamese adoptees to come and discuss their adoption journey as well as Vietnamese heritage.
- Adoptee Groups
Taiwanese Adoptees International
“This is a Facebook group for Taiwanese adoptees to connect, share stories and provide support. It is based in California but serves Taiwanese adoptees across the globe.
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- Adoptee Groups
Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI)
This group provides resources and opportunities for Vietnamese adoptees to explore their heritage and adoptee identity as well as share their insights on adoption with adoptive and birth parents and the wider adoption community. It was launched over 10 years ago and has online resources including projects, events and research.
- Adoptee Groups
Navigating Adoption
“Navigating Adoption is an organization founded on Instagram to provide the adoption and non-adoption community a safe space to discuss adoption-related topics and issues. Their purpose is to serve the adoption community by providing a resource to open up about struggles and an educational platform for adoptees and non-adoptees.
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- Adoptee Groups
I’m Adopted
This is an online community that provides a network for adoptees globally. They are based on Facebook and social media and provide resources, topics, and meet-ups for adoptees.
- Adoptee Groups
Openly Adopted: “Adoptee Resources”
“Openly Adopted’s website contains a resource sheet with websites, blogs, podcast, mental health, and a list of communitites for adoptees. Their goal is to help bring the voices of adopted children to the forefront of the experience and cultivate a sense of belonging and community for those who struggle with and question their sense of identity.
“
- Adoptee Groups
American Adoptions: “How to Find Adoptee Support Groups”
An article by American Adoptions that support groups for adoptees, international adoptee support groups, support groups for adoptees of color, and for foster care adoptee support groups
- Media
Adoption Surrogacy Choices of Colorado: “Understanding an Adult Adoptee’s Emotions”
This blog discusses the contradicting emotions some adoptees may face. It provides an introduction to the complex feelings adoptees can experience.
- Media
The Guardian: “Stories of transracial adoptees must be heard – even uncomfortable ones”
Korean-American adoptee Nicole Chung touches on the way adoptees are expected to fit into the framework of white supremacy and which emotions are considered acceptable for adoptees to have. She discusses her own experience with the phrase “a good adoptee.”
- Media
NPR: “Adoptees express their fear, anger and insight on race during social unrest”
A news article that spotlights adoptees of all backgrounds and adopted families, as they explain how their identity has been shaped by social unrest and the ways it has impacted their family dynamic.
- Media
Healthline: “The Best Adoptee Blogs of the Year”
A list of different adoptees, their blogs, and what each one focuses on
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptees Who Cut Ties
“Adoptees Who Cut Ties is an online Facebook group for adoptees only. While many groups are for adoptees who are searching for families, this group is for adoptees who have had to cut ties with family, whether adoptive parent, sibling, or even birth parent in reunion. Adoption is complex, and so are the relationships that go with it. This is a safe space for adoptees to talk about the challenges of estrangement, WITHOUT judgment.
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- Adoptee Groups
Dear Adoption
This resource is not a formal group for people to meet and share stories. This page has stories submitted by adoptees and a way to submit your own stories as well. You can read through people’s stories as well as any books, film or art. It’s meant to educate people from a variety of adoptee perspectives.
- Adoptee Groups
Adopted from Colombia
“This page was created to connect Colombian adoptees with each other to work through shared experiences. It is also open to both adoptive and birth parents, but emphasizes the adoptee’s voice. It is a Facebook group that offers support.
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- Adoptee Groups
Intercountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV)
This resource is a platform for intercountry adoptees to connect in, share, educate, and advocate to the wider public about the issues we face – political, social and emotional, including the not so positive aspects of intercountry adoption. They also advocate for pre and post adoption resources. They have spaces for adoptee voices and online events open to all adoptees.
- Mental Health
Meggin Nam Holtz (LMSW)
Meggin Holtz received her MSW with a focus on child and adolescent trauma in the clinical setting. She provides therapy to youth, adolescents, families, and adults utilizing a strengths-based, trauma-informed, attachment, culturally and racially sensitive, and adoption-informed lens.
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Hub
“””Our mission is to connect, collaborate, and preserve adoption legacies through community, culture, and post-adoption services. Adoptees deserve the opportunity to know their history, have a sense of belonging, experience their birth culture, and have access to services in a supportive safe space throughout their adoption journey.”
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- Adoptee Groups
Chinese Adoptee Alliance (CAA)
FCC is a nonprofit organization supporting Chinese adoptees and their families and friends. Founded in the early 1990s in Manhattan as a parent support group, and expanding to a nation-wide network, our members include adoptive parents, Chinese adoptees and their siblings and other relatives, as well as friends of the organization.
- Adoptee Groups
China’s Children International (CCI)
“CCI is the first international support group created by and for Chinese adoptees. This is group is dedicated to empowering and connecting adult Chinese adoptees from around the world. They have a Facebook group, host zoom chats and have in person meetups.
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- Adoptee Groups
Filipino Adoptees Network (FAN)
This is a network for Filipino adoptees dedicated to supporting, educating and promoting cultural awareness on adoption issues and preserving Filipino heritage. They are based in New York and host group events.
- Adoptee Groups
Sejong Cultural Education
This is a group for Korean adoptees of all ages and aims to foster a sense of Korean identity in adoptees. It is located in New York and offers three events. The Sejong camp for 6-16 year-olds, a Korea trip and a virtual gala.
- Adoptee Groups
Chinese Family Camp
This is a camp for Chinese families to combine Chinese heritage with camp fun. It is based in Chicago and is for all Chinese American families. It is a one-week summer camp for Chinese adoptees to meet each other and explore their identities.
- Adoptee Groups
ASIA Families
This group supports adoptees (children, teens, and adults) from Korea in developing their identities. They are located in VA but have a camp in MD as well. They also have culture school, tours and volunteer opportunities for adult adoptees.
- Adoptee Groups
Holt International Camp
Holt Adoptee Camp maintains a focus on fun and community, just like any other summer camp. What makes this camp special is that we have built in a curriculum for adoptees, by adoptees, that provides a space for adoptees to discuss, share and build identity among their peers. Everything at camp has been created and implemented by adult adoptee staff — making this program one of a kind.
- Adoptee Groups
Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families
Chinese Heritage Camp connects adoptive families with the cultural community, adoption experts, and families with shared experiences.
- Mental Health
PAC-UK
PAC-UK is the country’s largest independent Adoption Support Agency. They offer a range of services including adoptive parent and career support, adult adoptee support, birth parent support, and more.
- Mental Health
Adoptees On: 32 [Healing Series] How to Choose a Therapist
The podcast AdopteesOn produced this episode on finding an adoption competent therapist, sharing tips on where to look and who to ask.
- Mental Health
Center for Adoption Support and Education: About TAC
An article explaining Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) which is commonly used by mental health practitioners.
- Mental Health
Latinx Therapy
A Latinx therapy directory for users looking for therapists with diverse backgrounds and specialties (cultural identities, migration backgrounds, LGBTQ+).
- Mental Health
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare: PACC
The PACC (Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate) was developed to increase the availability and competency of a professional workforce to serve clinical and practical needs for adopted individuals and their families.
- Mental Health
Inclusive Therapists
A search directory for therapists where users are able to filter by therapists characteristics, including age, ethnicity, gender identity, and more (African diaspora, transgender, two spirit, migrant/immigrant, LGBTQ+, etc.).
- Mental Health
TherapyDen: Adoption Issues
Therapy Den is an online community of mental health professionals seeking to make the experience of finding a therapist easy by offering a search directory of therapists. They have a page full of professionals of varying credentials specializing in adoption.
- Mental Health
Finding an Adoption Competent Therapist
A slideshow with suggestions for adoptees to consider when looking for an adoption competent therapist.
- Mental Health
Amanda Baden, PH.D.
Amanda Baden is am a Licensed Psychologist in New York City with a small practice in Manhattan. She specializes in work with those impacted by adoption but I also work with issues related to racial, cultural, and identity concerns.
- Mental Health
Finding and Working with Adoption Competent Therapists
An article on approaches to therapy, finding the right therapist, and knowing how to work with them.
- Mental Health
Grow Beyond Words Adoptee Therapist Directory
“This directory includes licensed U.S. mental health professionals who identify as adoptees & work with adoptees/adoptive families in a variety of public & private settings”
- Mental Health
Florida Department of Children and Families
A compilation of adoption resources in Florida.
- Mental Health
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
A search directory of Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) certified therapists located throughout Minnesota.
- Mental Health
UCONN Health Adoption Community Network Therapy Directory
The purpose of the Adoption Community Network (ACN) Therapist Directory is to identify local clinicians who indicate special training to work with adoptive families in Connecticut.
- Mental Health
I Am Adoptee
Curates an online community of mental health and wellness resources to help navigate the lived experience of being an intercountry adopted person.
- Mental Health
Yoffe Therapy
Yoffe Therapy, Inc. is a group psychotherapy practice composed of dedicated, compassionate clinicians brought together to serve the Adoption and Foster Care community in Los Angeles. Clinicians are seasoned professionals, Adoption and Foster Care competent, highly skilled at their craft, and focused on the growth and resiliency of their clients.
- Mental Health
Unconditionally Adopted
Unconditionally Adopted offers many different types of therapy for children, youth, and young adults. This organization specializes in helping adoptive parents create long-lasting, trusting relationships with their children.
- Mental Health
Hiking the Heart
Maria Trimble is a licensed therapist in the states of Wisconsin, Florida and Hawaii. She specializes in providing psychotherapy services for adults, teenagers, adoptees and families.
- Mental Health
Willow Bay Therapy
Founder of Willow Bay Therapy, Joanna Kelly is certified in PACC. She is a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and her practice is adoption-competent.
