specialist adoption counselling

Adoption Counselling:

Adoption is a profound and life-changing experience. It can bring love, belonging and hope – and it can also bring up complex thoughts and feelings for everyone involved. Whether you are an adoptee, an adoptive parent, a prospective adoptive parent, or part of the wider family network, adoption touches many layers of identity, relationships and emotional history.

People come to adoption counselling at many different points and for many different reasons. You may be exploring questions about identity and belonging, navigating family relationships, supporting a child through big emotions, or making sense of experiences from earlier in life. Whatever your role in the adoption journey, you deserve support that truly understands the unique nature of adoption.

I am a fully qualified counsellor with additional, specialist training in adoption. While recent changes in the law mean that any counsellor can work with adult adoptees, it remains a legal requirement that any counsellor working therapeutically with adopted children or children under Special Guardianship around adoption or special guardianship issues, must be specifically qualified in adoption counselling and registered with OFSTED.

The Benefits of Specialist Adoption Counselling:

Beyond meeting legal requirements, specialist adoption counselling offers something far deeper. Adoption-specific training provides a detailed understanding of attachment, trauma, loss, separation, identity development, and the lifelong impact of early experiences. This knowledge allows me to work sensitively and safely with both children and adults, recognising the nuances that adoption can bring to emotional wellbeing and relationships.

Whether you are an adult adoptee seeking space to reflect and process, or a 'forever family' looking for support for your child, working with a counsellor who truly understands adoption can make a real difference. It means feeling seen, understood, and supported without having to explain or justify your experience.

Story Stem Assessment:

Alongside my adoption counselling work, I am currently undertaking specialist training in Story Stem Assessment, an approach particularly beneficial for adopted children.

Story stem work offers children a psychologically safe, non-threatening way to explore their inner world and life story through play and storytelling rather than direct questioning. This method supports children to express experiences and feelings that may be difficult to put into words, while allowing for a careful and thorough assessment of their emotional and therapeutic needs.

This approach helps ensure therapy is tailored thoughtfully and ethically, providing adopted children with the right support at the right pace.

Local Authority and Regional Adoption Agency Referrals

I welcome referrals from Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies, and I work in line with statutory guidance and best practice in adoption counselling. I understand the requirements around OFSTED-registered adoption counselling provision and the importance of clear communication, professional boundaries, and outcome-focused therapeutic work.

I am happy to discuss referral processes, assessment needs, and ongoing therapeutic support for adopted children, special guardianship, adult adoptees, and adoptive families. Please don't hesitate to get in touch for a free discussion as to how I can help.

Free 15 minute Consultation:

I offer a free 15-minute consultation for anyone looking for adoption counselling, giving you the opportunity to talk through your needs, ask questions, and decide whether adoption counselling with me feels right for you or your family.

If you are looking for specialist adoption counselling for adults, children, or families — including Local Authority or Regional Adoption Agency referrals — please get in touch to arrange your free consultation.