Photo of Amy M Adams, Counselor in Arkansas
Amy M Adams
Counselor, PhD, LPC, LMFT
Verified Verified
Fayetteville, AR 72703
My clinic services Northwest Arkansas with only the highest standards of mental health care for children to older adults. My specialty is Marriage and Family Therapy, Sex Therapy, Human Sexuality, Mediation with a diverse clientele in all facets of mental health. I also work closely with area attorneys in resolving many legal issues in today's complex relationship driven world.
My clinic services Northwest Arkansas with only the highest standards of mental health care for children to older adults. My specialty is Marriage and Family Therapy, Sex Therapy, Human Sexuality, Mediation with a diverse clientele in all facets of mental health. I also work closely with area attorneys in resolving many legal issues in today's complex relationship driven world.
(479) 437-9916 View (479) 437-9916
Photo of Stephanie C. Shaw, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in Arkansas
Stephanie C. Shaw
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Bentonville, AR 72712
Do you feel lost, or like you don't belong? Do you feel different from those around you? Has socialization become a draining performance? Maybe you know what the mask is covering up, or maybe you just know you have to pretend to be ‘happy’ or ‘normal.' Do you have a loved one that is struggling? Maybe you are struggling to understand their experience. What if you knew you weren’t alone? I believe I can help you. We can work on the things that are making you feel overwhelmed now, as we work towards long term change.
Do you feel lost, or like you don't belong? Do you feel different from those around you? Has socialization become a draining performance? Maybe you know what the mask is covering up, or maybe you just know you have to pretend to be ‘happy’ or ‘normal.' Do you have a loved one that is struggling? Maybe you are struggling to understand their experience. What if you knew you weren’t alone? I believe I can help you. We can work on the things that are making you feel overwhelmed now, as we work towards long term change.
(479) 342-4348 View (479) 342-4348
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can benefit from seeing an adoption-informed therapist, especially if they were victims of abuse or neglect, appear withdrawn or disconnected, have behavioral or developmental issues (which may or may not be related to their adoption), are struggling with feelings of grief or loss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.