In 2023, our supporters helped 66 children & youth and 37 adults and their families to engage in more than 1,000 counseling sessions to heal and overcome challenges related to loss, grief, trauma, identity issues, executive function, anxiety and depression.
Counseling at C.A.S.E.
How Can We Help Your Family?
Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) serves children, teens, adults, and families throughout MD, VA, D.C. Metro Area who have built their families through foster care, kinship care, guardianship, and adoption.
C.A.S.E. offers specialized adoption-competent in-person and teletherapy, adoption counseling, case management, parent and teen support groups, and educational resources, including parent and professional trainings. Our therapists are highly trained in C.A.S.E.’s nationally accredited and evidence-based Training for Adoption Competency™ (TAC) having the skills, knowledge, and commitment to provide family focused treatment services to our families.
Do you live outside of the MD, VA, D.C. Metro area? With over 900 listings across the U.S. you can search C.A.S.E.’s National Directory of Adoption Competent Mental Health Professionals for adoption competent mental health services offered in your area:
National Directory of Adoption Competent ProfessionalsWe’re here to answer your questions the easiest way for you.
C.A.S.E. offers mental health services, case management services, and educational resources for all members of the adoption, foster and kinship communities.
Call us today at 866-217-8534 or submit your information online to schedule an initial appointment.
C.A.S.E. Services Offered
Families created through adoption, foster care, and kinship care encounter unique challenges. It may not always be apparent that the challenges you or your child are facing are linked to these circumstances. This is where our expertise and support become invaluable.
C.A.S.E. therapists are trained under our nationally accredited Training for Adoption Competency™ (TAC) program and have the specialized skills, insight, and experience needed to address issues like:
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety
- Identity Challenges
- LGBTQ+ Specific Considerations
- Grief/Loss
- Behavioral Challenges
- Poor School Performance
- Search & Reunification
- Family Conflict
- Reconnecting with the Birth Family
Wondering if counseling is beneficial for your child or teen?
An initial consultation can address that question. If indicated, specific recommendations are given regarding what kind of treatment would be most beneficial.
Consultation services are available in-person or through the secure, interactive Zoom platform to:
- Adoptive, Foster and Kinship Parents & Caregivers (local and out-of-state)
- Mental Health and Child Welfare Professional
To Schedule a Consultation: Call 866-217-8534 or
C.A.S.E. is grateful for the opportunity to provide collaborative care to our clients who are receiving ongoing counseling services.
Our psychiatrist, Dr. Cullins, is a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist who has spent most of her career treating children and families through an adoption sensitive lens. She has expertise in providing multi-system assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for foster and adoptive families.
Dr. Lisa Cullins provides the following services:
- Psychiatric assessments
- Medication management
- Family support – including parent guidance and education
Dr. Cullins’ services are being provided through teletherapy and in-person visits. Because of the collaborative nature of Dr. Cullins’ work, new referrals for psychiatric care are only available to clients engaged in therapy at C.A.S.E.
C.A.S.E.’s Specialized Care
Nearly half of all children, particularly teens, have struggled with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Children and youth have joined families through adoption, foster or kinship care may be at even higher risk. As a result, adoptive, foster and kinship families use clinical services at triple the rate reported by families formed by birth.
C.A.S.E.’s adoption-competent specialized counseling and support services improves outcomes for children and youth who are adopted or in foster care and their families, turning these statistics into success stories.
Fund-A-Family Scholarship Program
The generous donations of C.A.S.E.’s philanthropic community provides the ability to offer a sliding fee discount to families each year who do not qualify for grants but are unable to afford the full fee for our services. Clients may apply anytime for a sliding fee; all applications will be re-evaluated on an annual basis. You can request a Scholarship Application during your initial appointment.
Make a Donation to the Fund-A-Family Scholarship Program
Client Testimonials
Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. Client
“Great knowledge of the specific relationships, emotions, and phases of adoption through foster care; all of the resources for adoptive paren”
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Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. Client
“My son really enjoys his sessions and likes to talk about what his thinking and feeling with his therapist. he likes when the issues he is d”
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Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. Client
“The expertise of the therapists, the non-judgmental approach to helping parents, the compassion and understanding they show towards our fami”
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Carter
C.A.S.E. Client
“At C.A.S.E., [my therapist] helps me understand adoption. She also helps me deal with behavior problems. I’m learning to express my feelings”
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Nicky’s Adoptive Mom & Dad
C.A.S.E. Client
“Over the last several years, some very patient and insightful counselors at C.A.S.E. helped Nicky learn to identify and overcome many of his”
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Tammy, Adoptive Mom
C.A.S.E. Client
“The support provided by C.A.S.E. has been a huge part of my success as an adoptive parent. I strongly encourage other adoptive parents to ta”
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Great knowledge of the specific relationships, emotions, and phases of adoption through foster care; all of the resources for adoptive parents, children, and teens; and especially the personalized care and counseling (catered to my tweens style and interests) by our therapist!
Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. ClientMy son really enjoys his sessions and likes to talk about what his thinking and feeling with his therapist. he likes when the issues he is dealing with are explained to him and it starts to make sense to him.
Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. ClientThe expertise of the therapists, the non-judgmental approach to helping parents, the compassion and understanding they show towards our family
Adoptive Parent
C.A.S.E. ClientAt C.A.S.E., [my therapist] helps me understand adoption. She also helps me deal with behavior problems. I’m learning to express my feelings out loud. Sometimes [my therapist] helps me with my worries.
Carter
C.A.S.E. ClientOver the last several years, some very patient and insightful counselors at C.A.S.E. helped Nicky learn to identify and overcome many of his fears.
Nicky’s Adoptive Mom & Dad
C.A.S.E. ClientThe support provided by C.A.S.E. has been a huge part of my success as an adoptive parent. I strongly encourage other adoptive parents to take advantage of what C.A.S.E. has to offer.
