Adoption Therapists in 90062
Meridith Daniel
Associate Clinical Social Worker, ASW, MSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Los Angeles, CA 90062 (Online Only)
Hi I'm Meridith! Here is a brief overview on how I do things. Early In therapy, I focus on building a trusting relationship with you and getting to know more about your learning style and preferred way of navigating the world. Once you and I have a good foundation we can identify more specific goals, like behaviors you want to increase or decrease. Sometimes clients will invite a more analytic approach, which means that if you’re comfortable you and I explore if your past experiences are influencing patterns in your current life- either consciously or unconsciously
Hi I'm Meridith! Here is a brief overview on how I do things. Early In therapy, I focus on building a trusting relationship with you and getting to know more about your learning style and preferred way of navigating the world. Once you and I have a good foundation we can identify more specific goals, like behaviors you want to increase or decrease. Sometimes clients will invite a more analytic approach, which means that if you’re comfortable you and I explore if your past experiences are influencing patterns in your current life- either consciously or unconsciously
Merla Huntley
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90062
I am Merla Huntley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am Passionate about my work and strive to give my clients the tools and assistance they need to meet their goals. I believe each client is unique and not one modality fits every client. We will "tailor" a plan that best fits the client and fits what they want to get out of therapy. I work with children as young as 3 and range to older adults. Most of my clients deal with various symptoms that we target and address to change.
I am Merla Huntley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am Passionate about my work and strive to give my clients the tools and assistance they need to meet their goals. I believe each client is unique and not one modality fits every client. We will "tailor" a plan that best fits the client and fits what they want to get out of therapy. I work with children as young as 3 and range to older adults. Most of my clients deal with various symptoms that we target and address to change.
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Adoption Therapists
Does my adopted child need therapy?
Not every adopted child needs therapy. However, many can benefit from seeing an adoption-informed therapist, especially if they were victims of abuse or neglect, appear withdrawn or disconnected, have behavioral or developmental issues (which may or may not be related to their adoption), are struggling with feelings of grief or loss surrounding their birth parents, or find it difficult to establish an identity, a challenge that often becomes most apparent during adolescence.
When should adoptive parents seek therapy?
Prospective parents can benefit from therapy even before an adoption—for example, to voice worries and fears; to reconcile infertility struggles, if relevant; or simply to prepare themselves for parenthood. After the adoption, parents who are struggling to bond with their child; are unsure how to talk about adoption or related issues, such as race; or whose child is dealing with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric concerns can address these and other issues with the help of an adoption-competent therapist.
Is family therapy appropriate for adoptive families?
Family therapy can be invaluable for strengthening the bond between adoptive parents and children, helping the latter feel more secure in their place in the family. Family therapy can also help adoptive families navigate complex communication issues—for example, parents who feel uncomfortable discussing race with their child, who in turn feels invalidated by their silence, or a child who has questions about his birth parents but avoids asking them out of fear of hurting his adoptive parents’ feelings.
What therapy is not appropriate for adoption issues?
A discredited therapy known as “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy” or “rebirthing therapy”) should not be used to treat adopted and foster children, though it was largely designed for this population. Attachment therapy involves restraining, coercing, and punishing the child in order for them to “release” negative emotions and attach to their new caregivers—techniques that are abusive and dangerous and have even proven fatal in some cases.