Post Adoption Support Groups at BPAR
Support 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.
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
NEW 6-SESSION GROUP!
Embodiment Skills Group for Adult Adoptees
Join us for a short-term, 6-session embodiment skills group for adult adoptees.
Learn simple practices to feel grounded, safe, and present in your body in a supportive group setting. This group will explore a mixture of approaches including short meditations, breathwork, and somatic (body-based) techniques.
Group leader: Seana Peterson, LICSW
Group cost: $35* 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.
International Young Adult Adoptee Group
A group for international adoptees age 18-26 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.
This is a "closed" group. Attendance commitment for a series of sessions is required. Contact BPAR to speak with group leader for case-by-case exceptions.
Group leaders: Mirela Caron, MA and Sahita Pierre-Antoine, MA
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 therapeutic space for adult adoptees who identify as a person of color, bi-racial or multi-racial. The group 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: Lillian Hexter, MA
Group cost: $35* per session.
Parenting as an Adoptee Group
An open support group for adoptees who are parents or caregivers or are in the process of starting a family.
For many adoptees, life events such as starting one’s own family can be a catalyst for thinking about adoption, identity, and family. This group is a support space for adopted adults who are parents or caregivers themselves– whether through having their own biological children, adopting, or becoming step-parents. This group is also for adoptees who are actively in the process of starting their family. The goal of this group is to provide a safe and contained environment for adult adoptees to seek peer support around the unique joys and challenges of parenting and becoming a parent as an adopted person.
Group leader: Lillian Hexter, MA
Group Cost: $35* per session
Young Adoptee Group Therapy
In-Person Kids Adoptee Group
Please join us for a support group for kids age 8-10 who are adopted. This group meets in person.
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.
Location: BPAR offices at 235 Cypress Street, Suite 310, Brookline, MA 02445
Group leader: Lillian Hexter, MA and Sahita Pierre-Antoine, MA
Group cost: $35* per session.
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
This is 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.
Special note: There will be no sessions during February or April vacation.
Location: BPAR offices at 235 Cypress Street, Suite 310, Brookline, MA 02445
Group leaders: Madsion Janke, LMHC, R-DMT and Sahita Pierre-Antoine, MA
Group Cost: $35* per session
In-Person Older Teen Adoptee Group (age 16-18)
An open support group for teen adoptees age 16-18.
This group will offer a relaxed, contained, co-created space for teens to meet other teens who are adopted and to share stories and experiences through discussion and connection. Group members might also engage in writing or other activities.
Location: BPAR offices at 235 Cypress Street, Suite 310, Brookline, MA 02445
Group leader: Lillian Hexter, MA
Group Cost: $35* per session
Parent Group Therapy
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.
Group discussion will include:
- How does blocked trust/blocked care show up in your parent/child dynamic?
- What might some of your child's "big" behaviors be communicating?
- What are the roles you play in the disconnected dynamic?
- How can you find moments of repair?
- The importance of self-care and compassion.
This one-hour virtual "closed" group series will meet monthly on Tuesdays starting with the following session dates:
March 25 at 6 p.m.
April 22 at 6 p.m.
May 20 at 6 p.m.
June 17 at 6 p.m.
More dates to come...
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 leader: Sahita Pierre-Antoine
Group Cost: $35* per session.
Learn more about "blocked care" in our blog, Parenting When It's Hard to Like Your Child — Understanding Blocked Care in Adoptive Families.
Anti-Racism Parent Group
BPAR’s Anti-Racism Parent Group is designed for any parent with adopted children to discuss race.
*Still accepting members; the dates are Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. (virtual) as follows:
June 26
July 3
July 17
July 31
August 14
August 28
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 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: Darci Nelsen, PhD, LMHC, BC-DMT
Parenting as an Adoptee Group
An open support group for adoptees who are parents or caregivers or are in the process of starting a family.
For many adoptees, life events such as starting one’s own family can be a catalyst for thinking about adoption, identity, and family. This group is a support space for adopted adults who are parents or caregivers themselves– whether through having their own biological children, adopting, or becoming step-parents. This group is also for adoptees who are actively in the process of starting their family. The goal of this group is to provide a safe and contained environment for adult adoptees to seek peer support around the unique joys and challenges of parenting and becoming a parent as an adopted person.
Group leader: Lillian Hexter, MA
Group Cost: $35* 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 meets virtually.
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.
Parents of Kid Adoptees Group
Please join us for a support group for parents of adopted kids ages 8-12. This group meets virtually.
The group offers a safe space to meet other adoptive parents and caregivers and share their stories and experiences.
Group leaders: KC Craig, LICSW
Group cost: $35* per session.
Parents of Teen Adoptees Group
A support group for parents of teen adoptees age 13-18. This group meets virtually 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: Sahita Pierre-Antonine, MA
Group cost: $35* per session
