Jean Luyt Clinical Psychologist & Cape Town Adoption Support
Join Our Adoption Support Groups 2026
Adoption isn’t a single moment—it’s a lifelong journey filled with unique joys and challenges. Since 2008, Cape Town Adoption Support (CTAS) has offered therapist-led groups to nurture and empower everyone in the adoption community.
Groups meet online once a month on Tuesday evenings, 7:15–8:30pm—making it easy to join from anywhere. Each session costs R350 per person, and depending on your benefits, may be reimbursable through medical aid.
In 2026, we’re offering adoptive parents range of stage-specific groups designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re navigating the early days of placement, parenting through adolescence, or reflecting on adult adoption experiences, you’ll find a space where others truly understand. These groups foster connection, insight, and solidarity—because when you’re surrounded by people facing similar tasks, the support becomes more relevant, more validating, and more transformative.
The Bridges to Adoption Support group is for prospective adoptive parents, and those currently involved in the screening, preparation and placement process and those with children recently placed with them
You don’t have to walk this path alone. Join us to connect, reflect, and grow—together.
January
Date
Group
Topic
6 Jan
No Group
13 Jan
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Listening to adoptees as a way of honing your parenting skills
20 Jan
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Next steps: growing into our authentic selves
27 Jan
The Bridge to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Adoption after infertility: A beautiful new beginning or recipe for disaster?
February
Date
Group
Topic
3 Feb (week 4)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Becoming a healthier family, which supports evolving relationships.
10 Feb (week 1)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Parenting strategies for adoptive families: Providing a sense of felt safety through appropriate boundaries.
17 Feb (week 2)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Adoptee identity development: The value of connecting with others who have been adopted.
24 Feb (week 3)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Skincare and haircare for transracial adoptive families: What’s all the fuss?
March
Date
Group
Topic
3 March (week 4)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Common challenges parents face in supporting their adult children, strain the relationship, an adult child who needs help, an adult child wanting something from you that you that you don’t want to give them.
10 March (week 1)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Impact of language and other cultural competencies on experiences of adoptees.
17 March (week 2)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
All children have the right to parental or family care. Adoption is one way to provide that to vulnerable children, but what other rights/needs do adopted children have?
24 March (week 3)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Adoption Service Providers: How to do your research and choosing the right one for me and my family.
31 March (week 4)
No Group
April
Date
Group
Topic
7 April (week 1)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Your feelings and your family history provide a useful roadmap for your interactions with your adult children. Using all the information at your disposal in the pursuit of a mutually satisfactory relationship.
14 April
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Thinking about the impact of race on adoptive families.
21 April
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
My multi-faceted identity: how others see me is not always how I see myself.
28 April (week 3)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Impact of socio-economic factors on the system of adoption. What does this mean for those who are thinking about adopting?
May
Date
Group
Topic
5 May (week 1)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
The impact of the cycle of life on family relationships. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of each life stage and making decisions appropriate to each new phase.
12 May (week 2)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day: Can we hold more than one mother in mind?
19 May (week 3)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and birthdays. Managing the absence of important people as we during these events.
26 May (week 4)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Listening to adoptees as a way to prepare for adoption.
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
An honest look at your current relationship with your adult child is a necessary pre-requisite to changing the dynamic for a more satisfactory future. Lets explore the good, the bad and the interesting aspects of your current relationship.
9 June (week 2)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Father’s Day: Thinking about both present and absent dads.
16 June (week 3)
No Group
Youth Day
23 June (week 4)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Impact of language and other cultural competencies on experiences of adoptees.
30 June (week 1)
No Group
School holidays
July
Date
Group
Topic
7 July (week 2)
No Group
School Holiday
14 July (week 3)
No Group
School Holiday
21 July (week 4)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Adoption as a way to realise the right to parental or family care for vulnerable children. What other rights/needs do adopted children have?
28 July (week 1)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Communication is the key to improved relationships. Let’s take stock of the pitfalls and practice the art of communicating with honesty and sensitivity.
August
Date
Group
Topic
4 Aug (week 2)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Nurturing sibling relationships for the benefit of the adoptive family.
11 Aug (week 3)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Atmosphere in the adoptive home: what elements were most important to you.
18 Aug (week 4)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Adoption Bureaucracy: is there a way around it?
25 Aug (week 1)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Maintaining the right level of closeness with your adult child is difficult. Learning to communicate your unwavering love, with appropriate levels of trust and confidence in their ability to make the correct choices for themselves.
September
Date
Group
Topic
1 Sep (week 2)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Adoption trauma: is it real? How can we address it?
8 Sep (week 3)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Experiences of school and other educational establishments. Did your parents make the right choices?
15 Sep (week 4)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Adoption Scams: What are the checks and balances to ensure everyone is protected?
22 Sep (week 1)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Unhelpful help? When is help supporting increasing growth and when is it just meddling.
29 Sep (week 2)
No Group
October
Date
Group
Topic
6 Oct (week 3)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Supporting your adopted child’s mental health
13 Oct (week 4)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
The impact of adoption on all my relationships (friendships, work/school relationships romantic relationships, and with my family.
20 Oct (week 1)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Dealing with the attitudes of others towards your decision to adopt
27 Oct (week 2)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Enjoying your adult children: finding creative ways to spend time together and develop ways to deepen the relationship through different life stages.
November
Date
Group
Topic
3 Nov (week 3)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Abandonment fears for adopted children: Best strategies to manage necessary separations from adoptive parents.
10 Nov (week 4)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Family traditions in the adoptive family: did they help grow your sense of belonging or did they make you feel like an outsider?
17 Nov (week1)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Motivations to adopt: do they set the tone for your adoptive family?
24 Nov (week 2)
The Beyond the Nest Group: supporting adoptive parents launching their children into adulthood
Reflecting of the relationship with your adult child at this point, and being clear about a strategy for ongoing connection.
December
Date
Group
Topic
1 Dec (week 3)
The Journeys in Adoptive Parenthood Group: holding space for the long view to parenting
Parenting strategies for adoptive families: Listening to our children to enhance their sense of being seen.
8 Dec (week 4)
The Adoptee Circle: a space of connection, reflection, and belonging
Adoption related content: podcasts, series or movies that accurately represents your experience.
15 Dec (week 1)
Bridges to Adoption Group: support in the transition into adoptive parenthood
Using celebrations, rituals and routines to build a family identity in adoptive families
