Adoption Competence National Directory

Aletha Clark, MSW provides individual and family counseling to clients aged 13 through adult. She focuses on working with adopted individuals and their families, birth parents and adoptive parents. Her clinical specializations are in anxiety, depression, bipolar, substance use, life transitions, life stressors, LGBTQ, and trauma. Aletha’s office is located in Gwinnett County and she serves clients in the surrounding area.

Alyssa Caldbeck, LISW specializes in adoption from foster care, domestic private adoptions, international adoptions and transracial adoptions. She focuses on attachment, trauma and adoption concerns for birth parents, adoptive parents and individuals who are adopted.  Alyssa’s practice serves individuals and families throughout central Iowa. Visit www.childserve.org for more information.

Amanda Briles, MSSW, LSW, completed the TAC in Indiana in 2014, where she is a social worker and therapist with The Villages of Indiana. Amanda maintains a small caseload of pre and post-adopt therapy patients through referral from the Department of Child Services in Indianapolis, IN and surrounding counties. Her areas of clinical specialization include play therapy, motivational interviewing and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Amanda Schnur has a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice. She’s the Program Supervisor for Foster Care / Adoptions and serves clients in Western North Carolina.

Amber Morrighan, LMFT is the owner of Healing Connections. She is licensed to serve clients through telehealth across the state, or in person for clients across central Minnesota. Amber specializes in complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, attachment issues, and adoption. She also provides parenting support, family therapy and attachment interventions. In addition to providing mental health services, Amber teaches and presents to audiences on trauma and attachment. She accepts private page, Medicaid, BCBS, HP, Preferred One and Optum insurances for her clinical services. Learn more at www.healingconnectionsllc.org.

Amy Ray, LPC provides outpatient individual and family counseling in a private practice setting to children, adolescents and adults. She’s affiliated with Shelby Psychological Services Inc. in Shelby County, Alabama. She services clients from mainly Jefferson and Shelby counties. Amy’s passion has been providing counseling to children, adolescents, adults and families who are interested in improving issues related to communication, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, stress management, child behavior management, parenting, ADHD, gifted individuals and transitional stages of life. or more information, please visit www.amyraycounseling.com.

Amy Reamer, LMFT, RPT-S is the Executive Director and Owner of Heart and Mind. She sees clients and also supports clinicians in her practice via training and supervision. She specializes in adoption, anxiety, attachment and developmental trauma.  She serves all members of the adoptive and birth family during all stages of adoption. Her agency offers groups for different roles in the adoption journey and takes a systemic family based approach, honoring all voices and embracing all roles of an adoptee’s family members. Heart and Mind was started due Amy’s experience in becoming an adoptive parent and wanting to support families on their journey, addressing the needs of the family through a neuroscience and systemic lens. The are located in the Richmond, VA metro area and offers telehealth across the state. They accept Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna and Optima as forms of payment. They also accept 2 Medicaid MCOs; Anthem and Aetna.

Visit www.adoptivefamilyhelp.com to learn more.

Amy Schweigert, PsyD, LP, LMFT completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2017. Amy is currently the owner, Licensed Psychologist, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at True North Psychology & Consulting in Minnesota. Amy currently serves Minesota and the entire United States virtually specializing in family dynamics, testing for FASD/ADHD/Differential diagnosis, complex trauma, and attachment related difficulties. True North Psychology & Consulting currently accepts self-pay.

Angela F. Marshall, LPC, serves children and families touched by adoption or foster care. She sees clients aged 2-young adult, as well as families. Angela specializes in play therapy and TF-CBT. She is in private practice in an office building with 7 other counselors.

For more information, visit www.wishingyouwellcounseling.com.

Ann G. Williams, LIMHP, LADC specializes in working with children ages 7+ individually and with families and parents of any age child. She specializes in trauma, substance abuse, mood disorders, family/relationship issues, adjustment, grief, loss, bonding, preparation for change (adoptions, moves, etc.) Ann sees clients across the greater Omaha area. For more information, visit www.annscouch.com.

Anna Klipowicz, LMSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2020. Anna is currently a Mental Health Therapist at the United Action for Youth in Iowa. Anna currently serves the Iowa City and surrounding areas focusing on issues related to anger, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, behavioral and relational problems. Anna provides individual, group, and family services with children, adolescents, and young adults all from trauma-informed and strength-based perspectives. United Action for Youth currently accepts most types of payment options, except Medicare, and the agency has sliding scale options.

Dr. Anne Tapley has had a private practice for 9 years. She treats children, teens, adults, families and couples. She works with a variety of presenting issues and diagnoses. Anne was a foster parent and is now an adoptive parent. She specializes in working with foster and adoptive families and focuses on issues related to autism, depression, anxiety, ADHD, severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), attachment, attachment parenting and reactive attachment disorders. She works closely with caseworkers as needed. Anne’s clients range from age 3-100.

Anne serves clients in Lincoln, Nebraska and in Southeast Nebraska – or any area within a 2-3 hour drive time radius.

For more information, please visit www.wbplincoln.org.

Antonia (Toni) Vitale specializes in family counseling as well as individual and group counseling, focusing on substance and co-dependency issues. She provides services for adopted persons and their parents and foster parents. She works out of 2 locations – one in Williamsburg, VA and one in New Kent.

Ariene Mulholland, MSW, LCSW is a Clinical Post Adoption Specialist. She provides clinical services to families with children who have been adopted. She serves mostul rural areas on the east coast, Duplin, Pender, Sampson and Wilmington counties. Ariene specializes in TF-CBT and CBT. Her agency’s services to families with children who are adopted are free due to a state grant called SPAN.

Ashley J. Davis, LMHP, LPC received her degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2009. As a licensed mental health professional and counselor, Ashley is in private practice providing mental health services to children, youth and adults. Her general areas of clinical specialization include trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, addiction and chemical dependency and other major mental health issues. She focuses on working with youth in the foster care system, biological family members, and foster parents from placement through adoption.

Ashley Murphy, LMFT, specializes in trauma informed custody, grief/loss, adoption, school-based counseling in certain schools, PTSC, marital therapy and family therapy. She serves children and families across Gloucester, Kim William, King and Queen, Middlesex, Mathews, and Lancaster counties.

Ashley is also available at a second location:

Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center
10120 Fire Tower Road
Toano, VA 23168
Phone: 757-566-1775
Email: info@dreamcatchers.org

Barbara L. Dewey, LICSW, completed the TAC in Nebraska in 2014. She is in private practice in Lincoln. Barbara works with adults, families, children and adolescents and young adults “launching” into independence. She addresses depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders. She specializes in child abuse and grief, foster care, adoption and post-adoption needs with all members of the adoption kinship network. She focuses on attachment issues and trauma, and works to strengthen and/or repair relationships. Barbara is a mother of siblings adopted through the child welfare system.

Barbara L. Dewey, LICSW serves foster and adoptive families, teens launching into adulthood, those with severe and persistent mental illness such as anxiety, depression, bi polar and trauma. Her clients reside across Nebraska and she provides services through telehealth as well as in person. She sees clients from her private practice within her home and has a hypoallergenic dog who assists with therapy. Barbara also facilitates “Circle of Security” classes, which is a relationship-based parenting program. Barbara has a strong belief in the benefits of open adoption and that behavior is a reflection of unmet emotional needs. Barbara is an adoptive mother of a sibling set of three who are now young adults. She accepts most insurance plans except Tricare. She does not have a sliding scale but does accept self-pay as well as contracts with Departments of Health and Human Service agencies. Barbara’s bio can also be found on Psychology Today.

Becky Verdin, LCSW, completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2019. Becky is currently a Child and Family Therapist at Children’s Wisconsin. Becky serves the Southeastern WI area, specializing in early childhood mental health, parenting support, developmental, relational, and situational trauma, adoption competent therapy for members of the adoption triad, providing Child Parent Psychotherapy (ages 0-6) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ages 3-18). Children’s Wisconsin currently accepts: major insurances, Medicaid, and self-pay.

Beverly Dabrio, MA, BCBA completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2020. Beverly is currently a Lead Behavior Analyst/Manager at the Abilities Unlimited LLC in Florida. Beverly currently serves the Orlando area specializing in Foster Care, Adoption, challenging behaviors, trauma-informed, children 0 to 21 and families. Beverly uses evidence-based interventions with proven results, in the safety of your own home, to help you reach your goals.  Abilities Unlimited LLC currently accepts self-pay, sliding scale, and scholarships.

Beverly J. Patitz, PhD, LIMHP, LADC, CPC maintains a private practice with two additional full time therapists, all certified in adoption competency. Beverly has worked in the field of Trauma Based Services in South Central Nebraska since 1987. She is also trained to complete alcohol and drug evaluations and can provide trauma focused CBT.

Brad VanGorkom, LISW, MSW, LMSW graduated from the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s TAC program in 2016. He is in private practice in Cedar Rapids, IA and serves Linn, Johnson, Jones and Benton counties. His areas of clinical specialization include child abuse and neglect, trauma, PTSD and anxiety. His specific areas of adoption clinical specialization include working with foster and adoptive families with a focus on working with boys and their families. Brad has a global perspective and welcomes all without judgement. He runs his practice with a casual atmosphere. Learn more on his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HarmonicFamily/

Brandi Creasy Stinnett, LPC  owns a small counseling practice in Forest, VA. She works with children and families involved in the foster care process and serves clients in the Lynchburg, VA and surrounding counties including Campbell and Appomattox. She provides counseling, supervised visits, and other services for CSA / FAPT referred cases.

Brandi Stone, MSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2021. Brandi is currently the owner and therapist at the QC Counseling Services in Charlotte, North Carolina. She currently serves the Gaston, Mecklenburg and Cabbarus County area specializing in providing therapeutic services to children and families during reunification after placement in social services as well as children who are currently in foster care or in the process of becoming adopted. Brandi is also trained in Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

QC Counseling Services is accepting new clients and currently accepts: Medicaid – Cardinal Innovations, Alliance and Partners, Carolina Complete Health, Well Care, United Healthcare, BCBS. Sliding scale fees also available, please ask about free or low cost therapeutic services.

Brian Crouse, LIPC’s private practice focuses on providing adoption-competent mental health services for children and adolescents, addressing grief and trauma related concerns.

Brock currently serves as the Assistant TAC Coordinator and Trainer with the National Training Institute where he provides consultation, training, and administrative support for the successful national implementation of the TAC curriculum. Brock is based in Central Alabama, where he also provides clinical services (in-person or web-based) and has over 20 years of working with the adoption kinship network. He specializes in trauma and resilience and is also a 3 Principles practitioner.

Bronwyn Robertson, LPC specializes in pre- and post-adoption, trauma-focussed, mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral, expressive and play therapies as well as individual, family and group therapy. She serves the tidewater region of Virginia including the Peninsula and Southside.

Brooke Arp, MS, MSE, LMHC, completed the TAC in Iowa during 2016. She is a therapist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Keys to Living and is accepting new clients at this time. Brooke specializes in grief and loss with a focus on adolescents and women’s issues.

Brooke Clawson, LCSW is the Vice President of Foster Care and Adoption Services. She specializes in private adoption homestudies, pre- and post-adoption services for Foster and Adoptive families in Central Indiana. For more information, please visit www.childrensbureau.org.

Camelia Narez, LCSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2018. Camelia is currently a private practice in Georgia. Camelia currently serves the Georgia area with bilingual (Spanish) services specializing in anxiety, depression and trauma therapy to children, adolescents, and adults and also offers parent coaching. Additionally, Camelia specializes in Problematic Sexual Behavior therapy (PSB-CBT) to children 4-14 years old. Her private practice currently accepts: Self-paid, Siding scale, and Insurances: Optum, Aetna, and Cigna.

Camille Townsend, LPC,  specializes in trauma and EMDR. She focuses on working with teens and serves clients in Lynchburg, Forest and Big Island, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.lwcounseling.org.

Carey A. Beyor, LMFT is the owner/director for Transitions: A Counseling Center for Individuals and Families, LLC. She personally works most often with teens through adults yet she also works with children as young as 3 in family therapy. She specializes in post-adoption issues for children and teens, birth parents – grief, loss, shame, other, and adoptive parents an couples. Carey has worked with a variety of individuals and families dealing with adoption issues throughout her 20 years of therapeutic work.

Carey recently completed C.A.S.E.’s TAC program (2018) to further her understanding, knowledge and compassion for families touched by adoption and would be honored to assist you and your family. She is committed to further training in this area as well.

Carla Hammer, PLMHP completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2021. Carla is currently a Mental Health Therapist in Nebraska. Carla currently serves the Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding areas specializing in working with individuals diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and other major mental illness. The population she serves are adolescents, ages 12 to 19, and adults. Carla is also trained in DBT, CBT, CPT, and trauma-informed interventions. Carla currently accepts some insurance (Medicaid, BCBS, UHC, Aetna, and Cigna) and self-pay sliding scale.

Carol L. Flanary, MS, LPC completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2019. Carol is currently a In School Coordinator at the Lutheran Counseling Family Services in Wisconsin. Carol currently serves the Milwaukee County and surrounding counties specializing in adoption and trauma. Lutheran Counseling Family Services currently accepts: insurance, medicaid, and medicare.

Carrie Young-Guard, LPC is registered as a play therapist and focuses on addressing trauma and attachment. She works with children aged 2-18 as well as with adolescents and family members. Carrie serves families in Pulaski County, Giles County, Montgomery County, Floyd County and Radford City in Virginia.

Cassandra Johnson Landry, MA, LPC, NCC, CPSC, CJOSSP graduated from the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Program in 2017. She is an Attachment Trauma Therapist for the Mental Health Georgia organization as well as the CEO of a private mental health agency. She has completed her Clinical Doctorate hours and the only African American to complete the Attachment and Bonding Training via the state of Georgia.

Cassandra has 25 years of clinical experience and specializes in adoption, trauma-focused therapy, grief, attachment, brain mapping, holding therapy, DBT, psychodrama, theraplay, sex offender’s treatment, family systems and substance abuse. Her specializations also include both domestic and international adoptions, addictions, neurofeedback, EMDR, family and couples counseling, meditation, expert witness and specialized assessments.

Please visit www.mentalhealthgeorgia.com for more information.

Cassi Stark, LIMHP, NCC is a member of the American Counseling Association and is certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Circle of Security. She specializes in working with children and adolescents, aged 0-20.

Catherine Cuomo, LPC graduated from the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Program in 2015. Her areas of clinical specialization include experience working with children with attachment disorders and relational trauma. Catherine rostered in TFCBT through the North Carolina Child Treatment Program and focuses on attachment focused family work. Eckerd Post Adoption Support Services accepts families with a decree of adoption in the following counties across North Carolina: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Gaston, Stanly, Cleveland and Lincoln. Services are free to families and are home based.

Catherine Cuomo, LPC, completed the TAC in North Carolina in 2015. She is a Licensed Clinical Specialist currently servicing clients at Eckerd Post Adoption Support Services. Catherine specializes in working with children with attachment disordered behaviors and relational trauma. She is currently accepting new clients.

Charlotte McDonald, MSW, LICSW is working as a program consultant in the Child Safety & Permanency Division at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She has over 14 years of experience in the child welfare field, working in various roles from Guardian ad Litem, child protection case manager, adoption case manager and therapeutic social worker for foster children and their families. Charlotte has training and experience in Signs of Safety, safety planning, creating narratives for children, and facilitating Family Group Decision Making. In addition to completing PACC, Charlotte also has a certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health. She is a licensing supervisor for both non-clinical and clinical social work licensees.

Cheryl Smetana McHugh, MSW, LICSW works with Therapeutic Services Agency, Inc. which provides outpatient mental health services in the Pine City, St. Paul and Coon Rapids areas of Minnesota.  The agency also serves children throughout the state when they are placed in the Child and Adolescent Treatment Program in the agency’s Pine City office.  Cheryl’s areas of clinical specialization are child and adolescent mental health, loss and grief, trauma work, attachment and family development.  In her work at the agency, she serves children and adolescents who have experienced termination of parental rights and are in the process of permanency planning; children with severe emotional disturbance and family functioning issues; and adoptive families’ mental health and developmental needs.

Cheyenne Gregg, MS, LCMHC, QS completed the TAC in Catawba County, North Carolina in 2013. Cheyenne is a Clinical Adoption Specialist in North Carolina.

Cheyenne’s areas of clinical specialization are prevention and intervention services that protect the permanency of adoptive families. Her work focuses on serving children with learning disabilities, emotional/mental health issues, behavior concerns, and/or other special needs.  She is committed to ensuring that these children receive assessment, therapy and support services to facilitate improved behavior and functioning at home, school and in the community.

Cheyenne provides in-home and community-based services to families with finalized adoptions and where the child’s past history is creating current problems within their adoptive families.

Christena Baker, LICSW has been a social worker in the child welfare field for over 40 years. Christena is currently a Mental Health Therapist at Lincoln Medical Education Partnership.

She focuses on working with adoptees (of all ages) and adoptive parents and birth parents. She see works with people originally involved in adoptions from public agencies, private adoptions and agency adoptions in the US and abroad.

Her general areas of clinical specialization include attachment, sexual abuse, parent training and trauma related to disrupted placement, PTSD and sibling on sibling sexual abuse.

The geographical areas that Christena serves are south east Nebraska as well as other areas of the state if requested.

Christina Broekemeier, LIMHP specializes in working with women and children and treating trauma, depression, anxiety and adjustment related issues. She children and parents in the foster care and adoption community in Bellevue, Papillion and Omaha. She accepts self-pay and insurance, including Medicaid. Her current fee is $110.

Cindy Lee Thomas, MSW, LICSW is a Clinical Specialist for the Minnesota’s Adoption Resource Network’s HELP Program where she serves clients throughout the state of Minnesota.  Prior to her current position, she held a therapy practice in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in which she served youth and families who had experienced adoption or were in the pre-placement adoption phase.  She continues to maintain a limited private practice, serving two to four clients each week.  Cindy’s areas of clinical specialization are intake and assessments of pre-adoptive or adopted families who are at risk of disruption or dissolution, trauma, issues with grief and loss, and attachment.   Cindy holds a certificate in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.  She has strong ties to the American Indian community in Minnesota.

Constance Loudermelt, M.S.W. completed the TAC in Catawba County, North Carolina in 2013.  Constance practices at Crossroads Counseling as a private therapist.  She serves individuals and families in the Foothills and Western region of North Carolina, including Burrell, Caldwell, Alexander, Lincoln and Catawba County.  She is currently accepting new clients.  Constance’s specializes in working with young children and their families in the areas of adoption, attachment, trauma, abuse/neglect, anxiety and behavioral issues.  She provides parenting and family therapy.

Dana Marie Wilkerson, LPC specializes in play therapy, TBRI, EMOR, trauma and attachment, and family therapy. She offers pre- and post-adoption services, home studies and post-placement report services. Dana serves families across central Virginia. For more information, visit www.lwcounseling.org

Danielle Hannebique, LPC is a therapist and a counselor for individual and group therapy for clients of Marygrove. She specializes in TF-CBT, DDT level 1, disrupting adoptions and trauma-informed care. Danielle works with children withing the foster care and adoption system in the state of Missouri.

Dawn M. Velez, LCSWA is a Supportive Post Adoption Specialist. Children’s Home Society offers a clinical role for post adoption services to children and families in Eastern North Carolina. Dawn provides adoptee needs and the needs of their families. She serves Pitt, Greene, Lenoir, Jones, Onslow, Carteret, Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico and Hyde counties of North Carolina. Please visit www.chsnc.org for more information.

Dawn Viers, Ph.D., LMFT specializes in trauma informed care and family evaluations. She serves families across the New River Valley, Virginia regions.

Debra Pickering Martin, M.A., LCMHC, is a licensed professional counselor at Blessings of Hope Counseling. She serves children age 3 and up through teen, as well as young adult and adult females. She specializes in working with adopted children and/or their parents, siblings of adopted children, and foster parents. Debra was a former foster parent and foster adoptive parent. She serves clients in Charlotte and the Matthews/Mint Hill areas.

Debra N. Schneider, LICSW, PIP  is the Executive Director for the CHIPS Center (Children’s Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services). CHIPS provides non-acute forensic medical examinations and counseling and prevention services for clients in the state of Alabama. Debra serves children and families affected by child abuse, children with safety plans and children who have been adopted and who are in foster care. She specializes in child abuse, trauma, play therapy and sexual abuse prevention. Debra is trained in theraplay. For more information, please visit www.childrenal.org.

Denise Purgold, LCSW is a lead therapist, Adoptive Family Preservation at UMFS in Richmond. She works with adoptive families on issues related to adoption such as attachment and trauma. She provides parent coaching, individual and family therapy across eastern and central regions of Virginia. To learn more, visit www.umfs.org.

DeShawn Spears, MSW, LCSW is a graduate of the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Program. DeShawn specializes in post adoption support services primarily for individuals whom have adopted from the child welfare system. Ms. Spears is rostered with NCCTP to provide TF-CBT to youth ages 5-17 with PTSD symptoms.

Ms. Spears works with youth, adult adoptees and families specializing in prevention and intervention services that protect the permanency of adoptive families through pre-adoption workshop and in-home consultation. She is experienced in crisis de-escalation and adoption related issues and trauma work related to foster care and sexual abuse. She also acts as a confidential intermediary facilitating search and reunion efforts for adult adoptees.

Devona Finley, MSW, LCSW, graduated from the TAC program in Catawaba County, North Carolina in 2014. Currently accepting new clients, she is a Clinical Post Adoption Specialist at the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina. Devona serves adopted children living in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Rutherford, Polk and McDowell Counties. General areas of her clinical specialization include child and family therapy, post adoption family support and interactive therapies such as art therapy, creative learning and play therapy. Her specific areas of adoption clinical specialization include clients adopted through DSS foster care.

Dianne Kelly, LPC, LMHC runs a private practice consisting of telemental health and in-home services. She specializes in working with adults, adoptive parents and birth parents around anxiety, depression, relationship issues, work stress and parenting. She has over 25 years of experience in foster care administration and in working with foster and adoptive parents. Visit www.touchstonepracticegroup.com to learn more.

Elizabeth Dori, MSW, MA, LCSWA completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2022. Elizabeth is currently a Post Adoption Clinician at the Center for Children and Family Health in North Carolina. Elizabeth currently serves the Wake, Durham, Johnson, Moore, Nash, Scotland, and Hoke areas. The Center for Children and Family Health’s Post Adoption Team specializes in working with adoptive parents and their children using various therapeutic modules, particularly the ARC framework and TF CBT. The Post Adoption Team conducts psychological assessments, provide therapy and workshops to help support adoptive parents and their children. The Center for Children and Family Health provides free services.

Elizabeth Emen, MS, LCPC, LPC, LMHC completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2016. Elizabeth is a former TAC trainer. Elizabeth is currently the Supervisory Therapist for Montgomery County DHHS, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (CABHS) in Maryland. Elizabeth currently serves Montgomery County, MD specializing in attachment; trauma, grief/loss, gender and sexual identity; race/culture stressors and immigration trauma; youth and family services. Elizabeth serves Foster, Adopted Children and Caregivers (birth parents, kinship caregivers, foster parents, pre and post adoptive caregivers) specializing in relinquishment-traumatic grief & loss; open adoption/search and reunion; attachment and trauma-development impact; identity development needs and challenges. CABHS serves those with Medicaid in Montgomery County.

Separately from her role at CABHS, Elizabeth provides private practice services in Maryland, Virginia, and New York to those with private insurance or private pay clients.

Emily Longo, LMFT is an outpatient therapist serving Fairfield County, supporting children and families in foster care, kinship care, or at any point in the adoption process. She provides post-adoption outpatient therapy for children. Emily provides family therapy and parent guidance sessions, and works with children aged 7 and up. She accepts the following insurances: Husky, Anthem, United Healthcare, Connecticare, Oxford. For more information, please visit www.fairfieldcountyfamilytherapy.com.

Emily Sampson, LPC, LCPC completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2019.

Emily is currently a Clinical Therapist at the Kennedy Counseling Collective in Washington, DC. Emily currently serves the Washington, DC and Maryland area, in-person and virtually. Emily works with families across the adoption constellation including children, adults and couples.

Kennedy Counseling Collective currently accepts private pay with a superbill and offers sliding scale rates.

Erica D. Scheel, LMHC, works for Massachusetts Mentor as a family centered clinician and fee-for-service outpatient clinician. She specializes in pre-adoptive cases, reunification cases and children with anxiety. She serves families in the Merrimack Valley area, including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and most in between areas. Visit www.ma-mentor.com to learn more.

Erica Tenell James-Strayhorn, LMFT specializes in self-care, self-esteem, work-life balance, healing trauma, phase of life transitions, pre-marital and marital counseling, couples therapy and sexual challenges. Specific areas of adoption clinical specialization and populations served include adoption within African-American families. Erica provides services for individuals and couples around the metro-Atlanta region.

Erika Coleman, LMSW, MSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2020. Erika is currently a Case Manager at the State of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services in Georgia. Erika currently serves the CSRA area specializing in case management with foster care youth.

Erika Graves, MSW, LCSW, CSOTP, completed the TAC in Virginia in 2016. She is a clinician in Richmond, VA and is accepting new clients at this time. Erika specializes in TF-CBT, adoption, victims of sexual abuse, other traumas, LGBT, children, adolescents & families. She also specializes in art, nature-based and play therapy interventions.

Erin Mitchell, LPC completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2020. Erin is currently the owner of EDM Counseling and Professional Development in Georgia. Erin currently serves the Warner Robins, Macon, and McDonough areas specializing in couple counseling, grief/loss, cultural issues, perfectionism, boundaries, and trauma. Erin serves the transracial adoption, transcultural adoption, LGBTQ-affirming, and open adoption populations. EDM Counseling and Professional Development currently accepts: self-payment.

Erin Shobe, LMFT, serves children and families in foster care, children and families through pre- and post-adoption and adult adoptees. She specializes in working with clients across the southwest metro area, and sees children, adolescents, adults, couple and families around trauma, adoption and permanency, parenting, grief and attachment, mood disorders and behavior issues. Erin is a registered play therapist and works with the entire family system.

Visit www.minnesota-therapy.com to learn more.

Ernest Benson, LPC is a therapist, coach, counselor for Infinite Life Counseling in Power Springs, GA. His goal is to bring peace, cohesion and healing into the family throughout the course of their lifetime. He specializes in child trauma, resilience, child and adolescent development. Ernest provides clinical counseling and individual and family therapy for clients in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Paulding County and Douglas County. He accepts various insurances and Medicaid and self-pay. Please visit https://ilifecounseling.org/ to learn more.

Felicia Gibson, Ph.D., HSP-P, graduated from the TAC program in North Carolina in 2014, where she currently provides assessment, consultation and intervention services to adoptive families in twenty counties all over the central and southern portions of the state. General areas of her clinical specialization include a wide variety of adoption related issues such as child traumatic stress, behavior management and treatment for anxiety and ADHD; specific areas of adoption clinical specialization include working with adoptive families and referring children for evidence- based interventions, conducting trauma and adoption informed assessments and consulting with parents regarding general adoption related issues.

Fran Ballengee, LPC, graduated from the TAC program in Catawaba County, North Carolina in 2013.  She is a therapist at the Crossroads Counseling Center in Hickory, NC.  Fran provides clinical services to individuals and families in Burke, Caldwell, Alexander, Lincoln and Catawba Counties.  Her areas of clinical specialization are adoption, foster care, sexual abuse, and neglect. Her practice focuses on children who exhibit issues in controlling emotions and behavior, with a particular interest in working with children in foster care and children adopted through local social service agencies.

Hannah Diehl, LISW-S is an adoption-competent professional who completed the Training for Adoption Competency Program (TAC) in 2021. Hannah is currently a County Coordinator at the Integrated Services for Behavioral Health in Ohio. Hannah currently serves the Pickaway County, Ohio area specializing in treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Hannah is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Integrated Services for Behavioral Health currently accepts these insurances: Medicaid, Medicare, Anthem, CHAMPVA, Cigna, Med Mutual, UHC/Optum, UMR.

Havva Yoruk, MSW, LMSW, LCSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2019. Havva is currently a Clinical Therapist at Mindful Psychology PLLC  in New York. Havva currently serves the Rochester, New York area, as well as the states of New York and Missouri. Havva’s area of specialization is those who have experienced developmental trauma, particularly foster and adoptive families. She has received the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Phase I training, Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) and Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Trauma Treatment for Children & Adolescents and is a certified ACT Raising Safe Kids Program trainer through the APA. Havva enjoys supporting individuals who are seeking relief from anxiety, depression, the difficulties of life transitions and adjustment, grief, stress, trauma, and building self-esteem. She has a special interest in teens, college students, adults of any age, immigrants and minorities, those from marginalized groups, adoptive families and families of medical professionals. Mindful Psychology PLLC currently accepts private pay, credit/debit card, HSA and can provide superbill. At this time all sessions are held virtually.

Heather Bollier Yetter is a Permanency Manager for Stanford Sierra Youth and Families. She serves foster care youth and families that have adopted through child welfare. Her area of specialization is as a social work manager.

For more information, please visit www.youthsolutions.org.

Heather Cargill, Psy.D., L.P., LLC specializes in the treatment of adopted children who have experienced early trauma and attachment disruption issues.  Her areas of clinical specialization are early childhood trauma resolution and processing, attachment, grief and loss, and play therapy. Her expertise extends to evaluation, including attachment and bonding evaluations which assess the quality and strength of the attachment relationship.

Heather Clifft’s general areas of clinical specialization include healing from trauma, managing anxiety, adoption and collaborative divorce. She provides counseling for adoptees, adoptive families, birth families and foster families throughout their life span. Heather serves clients in the Roanoke Valley.

Heather Clover, LIMHP, LADC serves children, teens, young adults and families in Omaha, Bellevue and surrounding areas of Nebraska. She specializes in foster care and adoption related issues such as anxiety, trauma, depression and self-harm. Heather provides education for families about adoption and foster care and the effects on children, teens and families.

Heather Lerminiaux, MSW, LICSW, graduated from the TAC program in Massachusetts in 2014. A part-time clinician at the Attachment Institute of New England in Framingham, MA where she also has a clinical practice. Heather has worked with families and individuals connected to adoption in private practice since 2000 and is currently accepting new clients. Currently she also works with individual dealing with symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, school adjustment and the autism spectrum. Areas of Heather’s clinical specialization include adoption, trauma, school adjustment, advocacy, anxiety, depression and adolescence. Specific areas of her adoption clinical specialization includes working with families in post adoption services since 1996 with focus on the normative challenges that individuals and families face in relation to adoption.

Heather Mattheis, MSW, LICSW is in private practice, serving children, teens, young adults and older adults across central North Dakota. Her specializations include TFCBT, EMDR, Play Therapy, Art Therapy and Sand Tray. Learn more at www.thekidstherapycenter.com.

Jacqueline Watkins, LMSW specializes in behavioral health with adolescents, teens, families, and individual/group therapy sessions. She serves clients across the state of Iowa.  Jacqueline works with the Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children Outpatient/Residential & Community-Based Programs and STOP Residential Sex Offender Treatment. Jacqueline’s practice takes Medicaid and private insurance. For more information, please visit www.fouroaks.org.

James A. Wachsmuth, M.Ed., Ph.D., completed the TAC in Catawba County, North Carolina in 2013.  James holds both a masters in education and a Ph.D. in community agency counseling and is a L.P.C. in North Carolina.  He currently works with Catawba County/Family Net as an Outpatient Therapist and is accepting new clients at this time.  His practice extends to individuals and families in Catawba County and surrounding counties.  James’ areas of clinical specialization are child and adolescent adoption and adoption-related issues, childhood trauma, grief/loss, anxiety, parental rejection, depression and behavioral issues.  He also specializes in working with adoptive parents dealing with grief/loss, identity, and intimacy and relationship issues.  His work also extends to adults experiencing anxiety, depression, abuse, and marriage/relationship issues.  James brings personal experience to his clinical practice as he was adopted as an infant.

James Kantner, LMFT completed the CASE TAC training in February 2014 and worked with foster and adoptive families as both a clinician and county social worker for about 7 years. He has a strong knowledge of the child welfare system and how this impacts foster and adoptive families. He also has experience in treating co-occuring disorders. James’ work with foster and adoptive families strongly emphasizes a trauma informed approach. He works with families at all stages of the foster / adoption process. His private practice is located in the small rural town of Sutter Creek located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, located 90 minutes southeast of Lake Tahoe and one hour east of Sacramento. He serves clients living in Armador, Calaveras, Sacramento and El Dorado Counties.

James feels that the experience of foster care and adoption is such a unique experience that it’s important to choose a therapist that truly understands the impact of trauma on the child, the legal system and often presenting grief and loss issues from not only the child’s perspective but often times from the caregivers as well.

Janine Snader, LPC works with individuals, couples and families and specializes in trauma informed care, anger management, dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. She provides post-adoption support. Janine serves clients in Central and Eastern Virginia.

Jason Lichti, LPC is a Counselor at Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. He serves the city of Harrisonburg and the counties of Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Augusta and Rockbridge. He specializes in working with students in a private day school and focuses on autism, ADHD, oppositional, anger and behavioral disorders, supporting parents and children. Jason’s services are included in the tuition of the school. For more information, please visit https://lfsva.org/ 

Jeanie Felty, LPC, specializes in adjustment and stress-related disorders, trauma and abuse issues, grief and loss issues, parenting and family issues, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders and personality disorders. She also has advanced training in perinatal mental health. She serves client populations including foster to adoption, preparation to adopt, adoption loss and trauma, birth parents, adoptive parents and adult adopted persons. Jeanie services clients across Virginia. Thriveworks Counseling is an outpatient facility only; it may not be able to accept recently hospitalized clients. Visit the Thriveworks Counselors and Coaches page to learn more.

Jeannie Beth Oglesby Powell provides individual and family counseling to children and adults across the whole Middle Georgia region. She specializes in adjustment, anxiety, depression, ADHD, foster care, adoption, reactive attachment issues, trauma (sexual, physical, verbal and neglect). She serves the foster care population. Jeannie Beth also provides play therapy and interventions. She is Trauma-focused, cognitive behavioral therapy certified. (TF-CBTC)

Visit www.themethodisthome.org to learn more.

Jenna Burch, LCSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2016. Jenna is currently a Adoption Program Development Consultant at the The Villages in Indiana. Jenna currently serves the Evansville and surrounding counties specializing in child welfare, trauma informed care, private domestic adoption, and post adoption counseling. Services are free of charge.

Jennifer Cooper, LPC serves children and adolescents, working with adoptees and their families. She specializes in play therapy, trauma-informed care, anxiety, depression and adjustment. She serves clients in North Fulton, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. Her office is in Cumming, Georgia. For more information, please visit www.joyinthejourneycounseling.com.

Jennifer McMurray serves clients in the Merrimack Valley Area – North Andover, Andover, North Newbury, Amesbury, Salisbury, Haverhall and Methurn. She specializes in behavior modification (CBT) Collaborative problem solving (CPS) and ASD. She focuses on helping her clients with trauma, depression, eating disorders, attachment and relationship issues.

Jennifer Surratt, LCSW specializes in adoption, trauma and attachment. She has been trained in EMDR, Theraplay and Family Attachment Narrative Therapy. She also received extensive training in trauma treatment and attachment interventions from leading experts in the field. I also have training in the administration of several standardized assessment measures.

The entirety of Jennifer’s practice and clinical career since 2004 has been working with birth families, adoptive families and adoptees. She received specialized training in adoption issues related to loss and grief, identify formation, intimacy/attachment and helping to access “is this adoption related?”

Many grant funded post adoption clinical services are available to families living in the Central Region of Virginia which includes Richmond east into the Northern Neck, South to Petersbert, North to Caroline County and West to Fluvanna and Buckingham Counties. She and her colleagues serve clients across the Commonwealth in their office providing fee based clinical services. All clinical counseling for adopt adoptees is fee based. For more information, visit www.c2adopt.com.

Jessica Boner, LICSW, LCSW, completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2020. Jessica is currently a Psychotherapist and Board Supervisor at Peak Behavioral Health, LLC in Minnesota. Jessica serves the Twin Cities/Metro area specializing in adoptive families (current and post, adult/youth adoptees), high conflict families, adults going through life transitions, and childhood trauma. Jessica is also trained in transracial adoption and licensed in the state of Wisconsin. Peak Behavioral Health, LLC currently accepts: Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Health Partners, Hennepin Health, Medicaid, Optum, TriCare, UCare, United Behavioral Health, and United Healthcare). They also implement a sliding scale fee.

Jessica Fanberg’s clinical expertise includes CBT, Sand Tray, Play Interventions.  Her areas of specialization include adoption, family change anxiety, depression and foster care. Jessica has experience with residential treatment, day treatment, school based services and in-home services. She has been working in the mental health field since 2006 and is an adoptive and foster parent.

Jessica provides services for children aged 5-18 across the northern metro area – Coon Rapids, Blaine, Anoka, St. Francis.

Please visit the website: www.nystromcounseling.com

Jessica Hubbard, MSW, LCSW completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program in 2022. Jessica is currently a Clinical Social Worker at the Chatham County Department of Social Services in North Carolina. Jessica specializes in working with Children and Adolescents, Adults, Biological Families, and Adoptive Families. Jessica is also trained in trauma, child welfare involvement, adoption, anxiety, and depression. Chatham County Department of Social Services currently accepts sliding scale, self-pay, and pro-bono.

Jessica Ramstad, B.S.S.W., MSW, LGSW, is a Social Service Program Advisor in the Child Safety and Permanency Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  In her role, she approves adoption assistance eligibility and ensures the state’s compliance with state and federal law.  Jessica provides training and technical assistance to counties, private child-placing agencies, and parents or prospective parents of children with special needs.  She is an alumna of the Title IV-E training programs at Minnesota State University-Manako and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jessica Smith, MA, LMFT, specializes in working with families touched by foster care and adoption across southern Minnesota and focuses on trauma, EMDR and addictions. www.christianfamilysolutions.org to learn more.

Jim Schmidt has experience working with children in foster care and with foster parents from placement to adoption. His areas of clinical specialization includ developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, adoption, adjustment issues with life change or life transitions, depression, trauma, non-compliance and other behavioral issues.  Jim is trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and is currently working toward becoming a certified Circle of Security Parent Educator.