Adoption is often portrayed as a joyful new beginning, but for many adoptees and birth parents, it also carries layers of loss, grief, and unresolved trauma. Experiences like early separation, disrupted attachment, or difficult adoption circumstances can leave an imprint that affects emotions, relationships, and self-perception long into adulthood.

Finding the right therapist is an important step in your healing journey. Whether you are an adoptee, birth parent, or adoptive family, working with an adoption-informed therapist can make all the difference in how you process emotions, build resilience, and navigate relationships. But how do you know if a therapist is the right fit? Here are five key questions to ask before making your decision.

Adoption is a lifelong journey, and emotional well-being plays a crucial role in navigating its complexities. Whether you are an adoptee, birth parent, or adoptive family, therapy can provide the support and tools needed to process emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships. The Gladney Center for Adoption’s Counseling Services offers a variety of specialized therapies tailored to meet the unique needs of the adoption community. Here are seven evidence-based approaches available to support your healing journey.

Sully is ready for a family—one that will see his strengths, cherish his quiet spirit, and cheer him on through life’s little milestones. He’s waiting with hope, and we’re searching with purpose. The right family will recognize how extraordinary he is and offer the steady love and encouragement he deserves. 

A Journey Rooted in Love

At Gladney, we believe every child deserves a loving, supportive family—and that includes children with special needs. Adopting a child with physical, developmental, medical, or emotional differences is a unique and life-changing path. While it comes with challenges, it also offers some of the most meaningful rewards a family can experience.

Veronica is a 4½-year-old girl with global developmental delays, soft dysmorphic features, and some deformities in her right hand. She is physically active and mobile—she walks and runs independently and participates fully in gross motor play.

At Gladney, we believe that every child deserves not only a loving family, but a community of professionals who understand their unique needs. That’s why we’re excited to share that Gladney University’s new Learning Management System (LMS) is now offering NTI  Adoption Competency Training for both child welfare professionals and mental health providers.

We've recently received updates on Winslow and wanted to share more about this special little guy!

Winslow is a cheerful and affectionate 4 ½ year old little guy who finds great joy in simple pleasures, especially playing with toy cars and watching his favorite cartoons—activities that are a comforting part of his daily routine. Occasionally, he talks to himself, offering a sweet glimpse into his imaginative inner world.