Post Adoption Support Groups at BPAR

At Boston Post Adoption Resources, we organize therapeutic post adoption support groups for all ages, each offering support and unity in an accepting environment. We will provide you with resources and if interested, connect you with others who have been through similar experiences.

"Open" Groups

The majority of our groups are "open." In an open group, participants may drop in and attend at their own discretion. Note: open groups are on a first-come, first-serve basis and may become full. Pre-registration is required through our Peer Groups Form.

"Closed" Groups

Some groups are "closed." A closed group consists of a specific cohort of participants that remains the same for the duration of a set number of sessions. Participants are expected to attend all group sessions in order to benefit from a progression. Note: Some closed groups will open up for new members at limited times throughout the duration of the group.

"Pending" Groups

Groups marked "pending" are those we've run in the past but are not currently offering.  However, if you or your child have any interest in a group and would like to go on a waiting list for it, use our Signup form to let us know.

If you are interested in joining a group, would like to suggest a new group, or would like more information, let us know through the Boston Post Adoption Resources Peer Groups Form. Once we receive your form, one of our clinicians will call you to conduct an initial phone screen process before each new group member attends.

"As an adult adoptee, I realized at an adoptee support group - after meeting others and hearing their beautiful, and courageous truths - that I wasn’t alone and that I did belong! This allowed me to begin to shift the perspectives I long held (consciously and unconsciously) about my own experience. My path to self-love and acceptance continues today and there isn’t anything I wish different about my story."

—JOHN, ADULT ADOPTEE, CLIENT

"While waiting for a spot to open up for individual therapy, I joined a group. This group was eye opening to say the least. Over the course of six months, I learned so much about myself. I was able to unpack the many closed boxes in my mind and release a lot of suppressed emotions. The small group size was great and helped us find the trust in one another to talk about some of our most intimate parts."

—LING-LI ROTELLA, ADULT ADOPTEE, CLIENT

"Connection with others heals and brings purpose to people’s lives."

—LISA COPPOLA, ADULT ADOPTEE, BPAR CLINICIAN

"This fills the void more than me meeting my birth family."

—MICHELLE S., ADULT ADOPTEE, CLIENT

We are conducting groups through telehealth
except where noted.

At BPAR we are committed to the safety of our clients.
We will continue to monitor and follow the guidance of
state and federal regulations.

Please email info@bpar.org with questions about a specific group.

Adult Adoptee Group Therapy

Adult Adoptee Group

Please join us for a support group for adults who have been touched by adoption.

Group leader:  Seana Peterson, LICSW

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Building Healthy Relationships Group

A group for adult adoptees who want to build healthy romantic relationships, ages 18+

This group is a brave space in which you will learn why romantic relationships can be challenging for adopted people and learn skills to help you build strong, healthy relationships. Whether currently in a relationship or not, anyone who believes this group would benefit them is welcome. Group will include psycho-education about attachment and adoption trauma as well as group support activities.

BPAR runs relationships groups in series that run over several months. If you are interested, feel free to express interest in the next group using our Sign-Up Form.

Attendance commitment for a series of sessions is required. Contact BPAR to speak with group leader for case-by-case exceptions.

Group leader:  Marta Isabella Sierra, LMHC

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

building healthy relationships support group

New in January 2024!

International Young Adult Adoptee Group

A group for international adoptees age 18-24 to promote self-exploration and emotional processing of the experience as international adoptees

This young adult adoptee's group explores the unique/complex factors related to international adoption including integration and loss of dual identity, birth country, culture and language, ethnicity and race, naturalization, etc.

Group leaders:  Mirela Caron, MA and Sahita Pierre-Antoine

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

International Young Adult Adoptee Group

LGBTQ Support Group

A group for adult adoptees who identify as LGBTQ to access support and build community to facilitate healing, ages 18+

This biweekly group will be a brave space in which you will be able to explore the challenges of being adopted and being LGBTQ. Group will be led through an IFS lens and will involve some creative writing.

Group leader:  Marta Isabella Sierra, LMHC

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

LGBTQ adoptee support group

People of Color Support Group

A POC group for people touched by adoption, ages 18+

This group is a brave space in which we will explore and process what it is like to be a person of color in the world today. Racial identity development is already complex before adding adoption to it.

Group leader:  Marta Isabella Sierra, LMHC

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

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Search and Reunion Group

This group offers a safe, affirming space for adult adoptees to share and learn from one another about what it is like to search for and reunite with biological family members. Whether you are just curious, searching, in reunion or at some other point in the process, you are welcome in this space. Topics such as DNA testing, preparing to meet biological family, coping with secondary rejection, identity exploration and self-care will be discussed.

Group leader:  Seana Peterson, LICSW

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Young Adoptee Group Therapy

Kids Adoptee Group

Please join us for a support group for kids age 8-10 who are adopted.

The group offers a brave space for kids to meet other kids who are adopted and share their stories and experiences through writing, discussion, and activities.

Group leaders:  Angela Smith, LICSW

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Tween Adoptee Group

Please join us for a therapeutic group for kids age 11-12 who are adopted.

The group offers a brave space for kids to meet other kids who are adopted and share their stories and experiences through writing, discussion, and activities.

Group leaders:  Angela Smith, LICSW

Group cost:  $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

New! In-Person Cohorts

In-Person Young Teen Group (age 12-15)

The Restorative Practice of Self-Care (Turn those lemons into lemon water!)

An expressive arts group for teen adoptees age 12-15

cool_lemon_350x264

The Spring 2024 cohort will be an open group, but consistent attendance is expected.

This experiential group will offer teen members an opportunity to explore various methods of self-care through expressive therapies, mindfulness, embodied practices, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Group members will learn and practice various self-care practices with other teen adoptees and identify ways in which they may use these skills in their lives.

Session Dates for Spring 2024 Cohort:

Tuesdays 6:00-7:00 pm
1/9/24, 1/23/24, 2/6/24, 3/5/24, 3/19/24, 4/2/24, 4/30/24

Location: BPAR offices at 235 Cypress Street, Suite 310, Brookline, MA 02445

Group leaders: Madsion Janke, LMHC, R-DMT and Sahita Pierre-Antoine

Group Cost: $35* per session

Upcoming schedule>>

inpersonteens_12_15_adoptee_group_350x350

Teen Adoptee Group (age 16-18) (pending)

A support group for teen adoptees age 16-18.

(Note: This group is not currently running. We are accepting new members for a waiting list for future sessions. Please use the signup form below to express interest.)

This group will offer a brave space for teens to meet other teens who are adopted and to share stories and experiences through writing, discussion and activities.

teen adoptee support group age 16 to 18

Parent Group Therapy

New 7-session group!

Parenting through Disconnection Group

Parents of adopted children of all ages are welcome to join this virtual group.

When attempts at parenting with empathy, compassion, and cultivating joy are met with withdrawal, avoidance, or defensiveness, parents may experience a stress response called blocked care that creates disconnection in the parent-child relationship. This support group will be a space for adoptive parents to share with one another and receive support around the challenges of parenting through disconnection, as well as to learn tools for supporting healthy connection.

Potential themes/topics/prompts for the group:

  • What is blocked trust/blocked care?
  • Self-care and/or self-compassion
  • How do you feel most connected to your child?
  • Tipping point behaviors and what they might be communicating
  • What roles do you play? How help and how hurt?
  • Messages of hope

This one-hour virtual "closed" 7-session group will be time-limited to the following session dates:
February 7 at 6 p.m.
February 14 at 6 p.m.
February 28 at 6 p.m.
March 6 at 6 p.m.
March 20 at 6 p.m.
April 3 at 6 p.m.
April 17 at 6 p.m.

Attendance is expected for each session, unless in the case of illness or emergency. Note that BPAR will complete a brief phone intake prior to the group.

Group leaders: KC Craig, LICSW and Sahita Pierre-Antoine

Group Cost: $30* per session.

Upcoming Schedule>>

Anti-Racism Parent Group

BPAR’s Anti-Racism Parent Group is designed for any parent with adopted children to discuss race.

Session Dates for 2024 Cohort - COMING SOON!
*Still accepting members; the dates are pending. If you are interested use the Sign Up button below.

A learning and support group for parents who have adopted transracially to expand their racial literacy and to discuss issues as they relate to race, racism, anti-racism, and transracial adoption. Participants should expect to be operating outside of their comfort zone. During this group you may feel frustrated, defensive, sad, or even angry—and that is a good thing! Growing and doing anti-racism work calls for us to expand beyond our own comfortable world views and bubbles and listen to voices that challenge us. In service to that, we are looking to foster an environment of humility, honesty, learning, and self-reflection. This is predicated on a belief that we all have something to contribute and something to learn.

The "closed" group will meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. biweekly for six sessions and it will be structured with pre-work and activities. Attendance commitment for the series of sessions is required.  A 15-minute phone chat with each participant is required prior to joining the group to assess learning needs.

Group leader:

Group Cost: $35* per session.

Parents of Adult Adoptees Group

Please join us for a monthly support group for parents of adult adoptees.

This group offers a safe space for parentsof adult adoptees to meet other adoptive parents and caregivers to share stories and experiences.

*All meetings are currently being held via teleconference*

Group leader: KC Craig, LICSW

Group cost: $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Parents of Young Adoptees Group

Please join us for a monthly support group for parents of young adoptees ages 4-7.

This group offers a safe space for parents and caregivers of young adoptees to meet others and share their stories and experiences. Group members will be invited to discuss all aspects of parenting—the challenges, joys, frustrations, and successes.

*All meetings are currently being held via teleconference*

Group leader: Darci Nelsen, LMHC, BC-DMT

Group cost: $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Parents of Kid Adoptees Group

Please join us for a support group for parents of adopted kids ages 8-12.

The group offers a safe space to meet other adoptive parents and caregivers and share their stories and experiences.

Group leader: KC Craig, LICSW

Group cost: $35* per session.

Upcoming schedule>>

Parents of Teen Adoptees Group

A virtual support group for parents of teen adoptees age 13-18. This group will meet for one hour.

This group for parents of teen adoptees offers a safe space to meet other adoptive parents and caregivers and to share stories and experiences.

Group leader: KC Craig, LICSW

Group cost: $35* per session

Upcoming schedule>>

parents of teen adoptees support group

Single Parent Group (pending)

Please join us for a support group for single parents of adoptees.

(Note: This group is not currently running. We are accepting new members for a waiting list for future sessions. Please use the signup form below to express interest.)

The group will offer a safe space to meet other single adoptive parents and caregivers and share their stories and experiences.

*Partial scholarships are available to assist with group costs. We accept cash, credit card, or check. Please contact us at info@bpar.org if you have questions.

 

"While waiting for a spot to open up for individual therapy, I joined a group. This group was eye opening to say the least. Over the course of six months, I learned so much about myself. I was able to unpack the many closed boxes in my mind and release a lot of suppressed emotions. The small group size was great and helped us find the trust in one another to talk about some of our most intimate parts."

—LING-LI ROTELLA, ADULT ADOPTEE, CLIENT

Visit BPAR's Post Adoption Resources Center to see all the resources we offer.

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