Adoption Support Groups - Newlands Therapy Centre

Adoption is not a once-off event. It is a significant and life-changing process for all concerned, which creates different tasks and challenges for all affected throughout their lifespan. Group settings are a great way for adoptive families to get support and guidance through the journey. Given the ignorance and stigma associated with adoption, it is really helpful to be talking to others who have first hand experience of being part of an adoptive family. A therapist who is knowledgeable about adoption and the specific challenges associated with adoption, is essential to guide the discussion and provide appropriate support.

I am passionate about the need for children to grow up in a family context and have been offering support groups for the adoptive community since 2008. At the moment I offer group to prospective adoptive parents, adoptive parents and adult and adolescent adoptees.

The groups run on Tuesday evenings 7:30 – 8:45 pm.

The cost per person per session is R350 and can be claimed from medical aid.

Adoptive Parent Support Group 2025

The Cape Town Adoption Support (CTAS) Adoptive Parents’ Group offers support to adoptive parents – and those considering adoption – at various stages of the life cycle. In order to provide appropriately targeted support, we offer sessions focused on specific time frames, tasks and challenges. We differentiate between those in the early stages (Green group) and those parenting adopted children (Blue group). Members are free to attend any group session they choose to, based on the targeted life stage and the topic addressed.

The Green group is a supportive non-judgemental space, focused on those considering adoption, being screened as adoptive parents, waiting for the placement of a child or those with a child placed with them recently. In this group we talk about concerns you may have about adopting a child, going through the adoption process and preparing to be the best parent for an adopted child. The Green group aims to demystify the process of adoption. This group allows those who are considering adopting to make the decision to adopt or not with all the necessary information and support.

Topics discussed in the group is determined by the members of the group, but could include:

Deciding to adopt. Getting everyone on the same page
Dealing with the attitudes of friends and extended family
How will your children cope with a new adopted sibling
Information about different adoption routes
Choosing the adoption agency/adoption social worker who is right for your family
What to expect from the screening process
Preparing for the arrival of the baby
Managing the anxiety of waiting for placement
Managing cross cultural and transracial adoption
Adopting as a single parent
Adopting as a same sex couple

Parenting adopted children requires expert parenting. It is essential for adoptive parents to develop their parenting skills and increase their awareness of the complexities of raising an adopted child, particularly a transracially adopted child. Group settings are an ideal way to share your parenting struggles, get support from others on the same path as you, and get expert advice from a therapist experienced in working with adoptive families and adoptees.

The Blue group is focused on those parenting adopted children. In this group we discuss particular challenges faced by adopted children. The group offers support to adoptive parents navigating these challenges. I provide adoptive parents with the needed information and skills to engage with particular parenting challenges. Topics discussed in the group is determined by the members, but could include:

Maintaining good relationships with partners
How to manage interactions with the public
Parenting children with a history of trauma
Navigating relationships with extended families
Managing relationshis with birth families
Managing children’s expectations to search for biological parents
Managing special needs of adopted children, including developmental delays, attachment difficulties, oppositional defiant disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Talking to your child about adoption
Celebrating important adoption events
Dealing with sibling issues
Managing transracial adoption
Dealing with racism
Dealing with your child’s loss and feelings of rejection
Peer relationships of your adopted child

Topics for 2025

Date	Target group	Topic
21 January	Blue group	Talking to your child about different family forms and naming different family members.
4 February	Green group	Choosing the right adoption service provider and getting the best support through the screening process.
18 February	Blue group	Creating language and naming practices which honour all members of the adoptive family network and work for our family.
4 March	Green group	Talking about adoption, to your child and to others in your circle. Holding the balance between destigmatizing adoption and maintaining privacy for your child and your family.
18 March	Blue group	Special needs parenting Chapter 4 Twenty things Eldridge
22 April	Blue group	Managing discipline in the adoptive family
13 May	Green group	Preparing your child for contact with their biological family, whether planned by you, or initiated by the biological family.
27 May	Blue group	Thinking about the motivation to adopt is very important to all people considering adopting, and grieving any losses which precede an adoption is essential to minimising the impact of that on an adopted child. We will be talking about dealing with loss and how loss impacts on adoptive families
10 June	Green group	Sibling relationships are such an important part of the adoptive family. Siblings can be a great support to each other, whether the siblings are adopted or the biological children of the adoptive parents. We will be discussing the role of siblings and how to strengthen these relationships for the benefit of all in the family.
24 June	Blue group	Abandonment fears for adopted children.
22 July	Green group	Negative attitudes of others to our decision to adopt can have devastating impact on our ability to access support. Strategies to reducing the negative impact of this stigma on ourselves and our adopted children, and maximising access to support for our adoptive family.
5 August	Blue group	Life story work
19 August	Green group	The impact of your child’s origin story on your family. Are you the right fit for the child you will adopt?
2 September	Blue group	Managing eating difficulties for adopted children
16 September	Green group	Representation matters Listen so kids will talk
30 September	Blue group	Fundamental needs adopted children have Chapter 2 Louis (chapter 3)
14 October	Green group	Is Love enough? Things to consider before adopting a child Chapter 4 Louis Connection and Acceptance
28 October	Blue group	Managing a defiant child. Engaging cooperation Talk so kids will listen
11 November	Green group	What I can expect from my adoption social worker. Making the right choices and expressing your needs to lay the best foundation for your adoptive family.
25 November	Blue group	The importance of family traditions to create belonging in your adoptive family.

Time/Date: Tuesday evenings 7:30 – 8:45pm

Cost: R350 per person per session, with a discount if more than one partner joins the session. The cost can be claimed from medical aid.

The group is offered online on Zoom

You need to register to join each session you want to attend using this link.

Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirming your registration with the information needed to join the session.

Adoptee Support Groups

The Adoptee Support Group is a slow open group for adult and adolescent adoptees. Members commit to attending for a period of at least 6 months. All group members agree to give a month’s notice if they want to end their membership the group.

This is a space for adoptees to explore difficulties related to their adoption. It’s an opportunity for adoptees to discuss these complicated issues with other adoptees who really understand what they are going through.

We work on ways to improve authentic relationships with all members of their family, adopted and biological. We prepare to deal with inappropriate questions. We discuss managing friends, dating and exploring where adoptees “belong”. We also look at late-disclosure adoptions, transracial adoption, and open adoption.

Dates for 2025

3 June Sibling relationships are such an important part of the adoptive family. Siblings can be a great support to each other, whether the siblings are adopted or the biological children of the adoptive parents, or biological siblings of adopted children.

We will be discussing the experience of having siblings and how to strengthen these relationships.