Parenting adopted children requires expert parenting. I have been working with adoptive parents for many years. I support them to develop their parenting skills and increase their awareness of the complexities of raising an adopted child, particularly a transracially adopted child.

Groups

I run monthly online adoption support groups for adoptive parents and adoptees. The groups run on Tuesday evenings 7:30 – 8:45 pm. Adoptive parent groups are for those considering adoption and being screened for adoption, and parenting adopted children. The adoptee groups include adult adoptees and adopted teenagers.

Prospective Adoptive Parents’ Support Group

The Prospective Adoptive Parents’ Support Group aims to demystify the process of adoption. The group is a supportive non-judgemental space, with other parents who are also considering 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

Adoptive Parents’ Support Groups

In the parent support groups we explore challenges facing those parenting adopted children. 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

The Adoptive Parents’ Green Group is for new members of adoption support group. Members can join soon after placement of an adopted child. The Green Group is an open group in which members can attend groups as needed.

Tickets for the Green Group are available on Quicket using the following link. Fees can be claimed from medical aid, depending on the plan and benfits of your plan.

The Adoptive Parents’ Blue Group is for those who have been part of the adoption support group for a while. The Blue group is a closed group in which the same members attend regularly. Members of the Bue group need to have been members of the Green Group for at least one year, and shown commitment to regular attendance. In the Blue Group we delve deeply into the challenges facing them as adoptive families.

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.