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.
Current Groups
(Click on a group name in this list to jump to its description.)
GROUPS FOR ADULT ADOPTEES
GROUPS FOR YOUNG ADOPTEES
GROUPS FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
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.
During the COVID-19 outbreak,
we are conducting groups through telehealth
when feasible.
At BPAR we are committed to the safety of our clients.
We will continue to offer all of our services exclusively through telehealth
as long as state and federal regulations recommend this as best practice.
Please email info@bpar.org with questions about a specific group.
Adult Adoptee Group Therapy
New! Spring 2023 Cohort
Young Adult Adoptee Group (age 18-22)
Please join us for a 6-week peer support group for adult adoptees age 18-22
This 6-session virtual group is designed for young adult adoptees age 18-22 who might be transitioning from high school to college, recently graduated from high school, first- or second-year college students, or gap year students. The goal for this group is to provide a safe space for Peer Support, exploring topics and issues of racial trauma, adoption, search reunion, transitioning, separation, identity, and adjusting to changes entering adulthood.
Session Dates for Spring 2023 Cohort:
March 20 from 7-8 p.m.
March 27 from 7-8 p.m.
April 3 from 7-8 p.m.
April 10 from 7-8 p.m.
April 24 from 7-8 p.m.
May 1 from 7-8 p.m.
Group leader: Elena Li, M.A.
Group Cost: $30* per session
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 and Elena Li
Group cost: $30* per session.
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 and Elena Li
Group cost: $30* per session.
Spring 2023 Cohort
In-Person Young Teen Group (age 13-15)
A 10-week expressive arts group for teen adoptees age 13-15
This group will offer members a chance to explore each others' stories and life experiences through an artistic process inspired by the "Playback Theatre" method. Though theatre is in the name, this group is by no means a performance group and does not require any drama experience.
Session Dates for Spring 2023 Cohort:
January 24 from 5-6 p.m.
January 31 from 5-6 p.m.
February 7 from t 5-6 p.m.
February 14 from 5-6 p.m.
(No group February 21)
February 28 from t 5-6 p.m.
March 7 from 5-6 p.m.
(No group March 14)
March 21 from 5-6 p.m.
March 28 from 5-6 p.m.
April 4 from 5-6 p.m.
April 11 from 5-6 p.m.
Group leaders: Alyson Summer del Castillo and Rebecca Elowe (BPAR's Interns)
Group Cost: $30* per session ($300 paid in full)
Teen Adoptee Group (age 16-18)
A support group for teen adoptees age 16-18.
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.
Group leaders: Angela Smith, LICSW and Elena Li
Group cost: $30* per session.
Parent Group Therapy
New! Spring 2023 Cohort
Parenting through Disconnection Group
BPAR’s Parenting through Disconnection Group is designed for parents of adopted children of all ages.
This one-hour virtual group will be time-limited to the following session dates:
April 12 at 6 p.m.
April 19 at 6 p.m.
May 3 at 6 p.m.
May 17 at 6 p.m.
June 7 at 6 p.m.
June 21 at 6 p.m.
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.
Group leaders: KC Craig, LICSW and Darci Nelsen, LMHC, BC-DMT
Group Cost: $30* per parent, per session.
Note: This group is currently full.
Spring 2023 Cohort
Anti-Racism Parent Group
BPAR’s Anti-Racism Parent Group is designed for any parent with adopted children to discuss race.
Session Dates for Spring 2023 Cohort:
January 10 at 6 p.m.
January 24 at 6 p.m.
February 7 at 6 p.m.
February 21 at 6 p.m.
March 7 at 6 p.m.
March 21 at 6 p.m.
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 group will meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. biweekly for six sessions and it will be structured with pre-work and activities, with the first three sessions addressing dismantling racism and the following three sessions focusing on transracial adoption and parenting. K.C. Craig, BPAR Assistant Clinical Director and Clinician, will facilitate the group and attendance commitment for a series of sessions is required.
Group leaders: KC Craig, LICSW and Angela Smith, LICSW
Group Cost: $30* 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: $30* per session.
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: $30* per session.
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: $30* per session.
Parents of Teen Adoptees Group — Restarting in March 2023!
A virtual support group for parents of teen adoptees age 13-18. This group will meet for one hour.
We are now accepting new group members for a waiting list for future sessions.
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: $30* per session.
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.)
The group will offer a safe space to meet other single adoptive parents and caregivers and share their stories and experiences.
Group leader: KC Craig, LICSW
Group cost: $30* per session.
*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.