Adoptions From The Heart has launched it’s new therapy center, servicing all members of the adoption triad in Connecticut. Julia Ruggiero, LCSW is an adoption therapist and adoptee working with AFTH to offer clients adoption-competent therapy. In this post, Julia shares how adoption-competent therapy can help members of the adoption triad and the services that she provides through AFTH’s therapy center. 

Julia Ruggiero, LCSW – Adoption Therapist

Various challenges can arise at different phases of life for members of the adoption triad. Adoption-competent therapy can help ease this journey. Some common challenges that folks impacted by adoption face include loss, disenfranchised grief, attachment, trauma, and identity formation. My approach to therapy utilizes compassion, understanding, and evidence-based practices that honor the nuances of adoption to help you navigate these issues, process, heal, gain deeper understanding, and strengthen skills.

Please see below for more specific examples of challenges and concerns that I could help with:

  • Adoptees who are struggling with complicated feelings and thoughts about their adoption
  • Adoptees who would like support exploring their identity as well as complicated questions related to their adoption story and identity as it relates to their adoption
  • Adoptees who are struggling with relationship issues related to adoption trauma
  • Adoptees who are navigating search and reunion with their birth family
  • Adoptees who would like help navigating relationships with their birth family
  • Adoptive parents who would like help talking with their child and/or other family members about their child’s adoption story
  • Adoptive parents who would like help navigating relationships with the child’s birth family
  • Adoptive parents who would like help discussing their child’s questions about race and cultural identity
  • Adoptive parents who wish to strengthen their bond and connection to their child
  • Birth parents who have placed their child for adoption and would like support navigating any or all of the following: complicated thoughts and feelings about their child’s adoption, grief/loss, trauma, relationships with their birth child and adoptive parents

I offer individual and family therapy to folks of all ages. If you are interested in starting adoption-competent therapy or would like to learn more, I invite you to reach out to me so we can schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

You can learn more about AFTH’s therapy center and ways to contact Julia by going to www.afth.org/therapy