Adoption Therapists in Durham, NC
I work with therapists and seasoned therapy folx who have been deep in top-down processing: they're insightful, self-aware, have read the things, and learned the skills. People who want to work with me are generally curious or drawn to something different: experiential modality, an authentic, therapeutic relationship, bottom-up processing, slowing down, or want to feel more connected to themselves, others, or an experience. If you have energy circling a specific question, issue, concern, or experience and/or are finding yourself missing or longing for something, feeling stuck, wanting more, intellectualizing less.
I work with therapists and seasoned therapy folx who have been deep in top-down processing: they're insightful, self-aware, have read the things, and learned the skills. People who want to work with me are generally curious or drawn to something different: experiential modality, an authentic, therapeutic relationship, bottom-up processing, slowing down, or want to feel more connected to themselves, others, or an experience. If you have energy circling a specific question, issue, concern, or experience and/or are finding yourself missing or longing for something, feeling stuck, wanting more, intellectualizing less.
My specialties include helping children and teens struggling with identity issues, adoption/blended families, anxiety, depression, OCD, self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, relationship dynamics, behavioral concerns, and stress.
Hi, I am so happy you’re here! I'm Fay and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate at Three Oaks as an Outpatient Psychotherapist.
My passion lies in child, adolescent, and teen therapy.
I work with children and their parents to help them navigate complex emotions and experiences that may feel “too big” and scary for them to handle themselves. In the therapeutic space, I create an environment where they feel understood, seen, and free to be (and discover) themselves.
I utilize therapeutic approaches that include Child-Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strengths-Focused, and Expressive Arts Therapy.
My specialties include helping children and teens struggling with identity issues, adoption/blended families, anxiety, depression, OCD, self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, relationship dynamics, behavioral concerns, and stress.
Hi, I am so happy you’re here! I'm Fay and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate at Three Oaks as an Outpatient Psychotherapist.
My passion lies in child, adolescent, and teen therapy.
I work with children and their parents to help them navigate complex emotions and experiences that may feel “too big” and scary for them to handle themselves. In the therapeutic space, I create an environment where they feel understood, seen, and free to be (and discover) themselves.
I utilize therapeutic approaches that include Child-Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strengths-Focused, and Expressive Arts Therapy.
I am a psychotherapist, author, and trauma survivor whose lived experience deeply informs my clinical work.
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), I have over twenty years of private practice experience and integrate both my clinical expertise and personal insight into my neuroscience-informed, attachment-attuned practice. I am trained in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), EMDR, Attachment-Focused EMDR, the Adult Attachment Interview for Clinical Use, the Wheel of Awareness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Unwinding Anxiety, and Mindfully Aware Practices (MAPs).
I am a psychotherapist, author, and trauma survivor whose lived experience deeply informs my clinical work.
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), I have over twenty years of private practice experience and integrate both my clinical expertise and personal insight into my neuroscience-informed, attachment-attuned practice. I am trained in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), EMDR, Attachment-Focused EMDR, the Adult Attachment Interview for Clinical Use, the Wheel of Awareness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Unwinding Anxiety, and Mindfully Aware Practices (MAPs).
I have experience working with a wide range of concerns including anxiety and stress, depression and other mood disorders, relationships and interpersonal issues, adjustment and acculturation, identity development, family of origin issues, and parenting concerns. I consider myself a generalist and am comfortable treating a variety of presenting issues; however, I am particularly interested in helping clients explore concerns related to perfectionism, sexual orientation, romantic relationships, and racial or ethnic identity development.
I have experience working with a wide range of concerns including anxiety and stress, depression and other mood disorders, relationships and interpersonal issues, adjustment and acculturation, identity development, family of origin issues, and parenting concerns. I consider myself a generalist and am comfortable treating a variety of presenting issues; however, I am particularly interested in helping clients explore concerns related to perfectionism, sexual orientation, romantic relationships, and racial or ethnic identity development.
Are you living a life you can be proud of? I have been helping People of all ages for over 25 years achieve their goals by working together through anxiety, fear, trauma, and anger. I believe in creating an atmosphere of trust in which clients can explore their fears and take necessary chances to better their lives. My approach to therapy combines CBT, EMDR and ACT models with client centered, insight oriented approaches. My passion is helping each and every client meet their goals and find their way to FEELING better.
Are you living a life you can be proud of? I have been helping People of all ages for over 25 years achieve their goals by working together through anxiety, fear, trauma, and anger. I believe in creating an atmosphere of trust in which clients can explore their fears and take necessary chances to better their lives. My approach to therapy combines CBT, EMDR and ACT models with client centered, insight oriented approaches. My passion is helping each and every client meet their goals and find their way to FEELING better.
My name is Kristin Doyle (she/her) & I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Simmons University & my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work. As a queer person of color, I am deeply committed to creating spaces that are LGBTQIA+ affirming & anti-racist. I know how important these spaces are, & how difficult they can be to access. I provide individual psychotherapy to adults and have six years of clinical experience.
My name is Kristin Doyle (she/her) & I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Simmons University & my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work. As a queer person of color, I am deeply committed to creating spaces that are LGBTQIA+ affirming & anti-racist. I know how important these spaces are, & how difficult they can be to access. I provide individual psychotherapy to adults and have six years of clinical experience.
Whether you are seeking support for your child, family, grief, chronic illness, ADHD, OCD, trauma, anxiety, or life's broader challenges, I am dedicated to partnering with you through therapy. My goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment where you feel valued, heard, and supported as we work collaboratively toward meaningful goals and lasting growth. Recognizing that we are not meant to navigate life alone, I am committed to being an integral part of your journey, encouraging resilience, strengthening coping skills, and helping you realize your full potential.
Whether you are seeking support for your child, family, grief, chronic illness, ADHD, OCD, trauma, anxiety, or life's broader challenges, I am dedicated to partnering with you through therapy. My goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment where you feel valued, heard, and supported as we work collaboratively toward meaningful goals and lasting growth. Recognizing that we are not meant to navigate life alone, I am committed to being an integral part of your journey, encouraging resilience, strengthening coping skills, and helping you realize your full potential.
Children, adolescents, and parents experience unique joys and challenges. When children are feeling big emotions, it can sometimes look like anxiety, depression, physical aggression, and defiance. Adolescents are navigating their identities and social relationships. Parents are trying to balance their own needs with those of their families. Therapy is a place to access emotional support and skill building. I provide play therapy to support children, and utilize a more directive style to support adolescents, adults and parents. I provide a safe space that empowers clients to utilize their unique strengths, and I am LGBTQ+ affirming.
Children, adolescents, and parents experience unique joys and challenges. When children are feeling big emotions, it can sometimes look like anxiety, depression, physical aggression, and defiance. Adolescents are navigating their identities and social relationships. Parents are trying to balance their own needs with those of their families. Therapy is a place to access emotional support and skill building. I provide play therapy to support children, and utilize a more directive style to support adolescents, adults and parents. I provide a safe space that empowers clients to utilize their unique strengths, and I am LGBTQ+ affirming.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and provide psychotherapy to adolescents, young adults, and adults. My approach is warm and engaging, curious and authentic. I work collaboratively with my clients and maintain a compassionate and inviting stance. I continue to feel honored to engage in this work and bear witness to such courage and vulnerability. I practice from a relational, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed framework. This means that, together, we will think about how the experiences you have been through in your life have shaped who you are today and how you engage in the world.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and provide psychotherapy to adolescents, young adults, and adults. My approach is warm and engaging, curious and authentic. I work collaboratively with my clients and maintain a compassionate and inviting stance. I continue to feel honored to engage in this work and bear witness to such courage and vulnerability. I practice from a relational, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed framework. This means that, together, we will think about how the experiences you have been through in your life have shaped who you are today and how you engage in the world.
Every family has a uniquely beautiful story worth telling. Let's tell it together.
Every family has a uniquely beautiful story worth telling. Let's tell it together.
Do you spend a lot of time caring for others and find yourself wondering when you’ll have space to care for yourself? Are there moments when anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling at odds with your body, make it hard to feel at ease, even when you’re trying your best? Maybe you’re exhausted from overthinking, overextending, and trying to be enough—yet it still doesn’t feel like enough at the end of the day.
Do you spend a lot of time caring for others and find yourself wondering when you’ll have space to care for yourself? Are there moments when anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling at odds with your body, make it hard to feel at ease, even when you’re trying your best? Maybe you’re exhausted from overthinking, overextending, and trying to be enough—yet it still doesn’t feel like enough at the end of the day.
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor and Educational Psychologist dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and their families throughout Durham, Wake, and Johnston counties. My practice is grounded in a strengths-based approach, empowering children, and families to develop the insight and skills needed to navigate personal and situational challenges, improve daily functioning, and achieve their goals. I enjoy partnering with children and families to identify what matters most to them and to chart a path toward meaningful growth.
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor and Educational Psychologist dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and their families throughout Durham, Wake, and Johnston counties. My practice is grounded in a strengths-based approach, empowering children, and families to develop the insight and skills needed to navigate personal and situational challenges, improve daily functioning, and achieve their goals. I enjoy partnering with children and families to identify what matters most to them and to chart a path toward meaningful growth.
Whether you are seeking help for yourself or a family member, I recognize that beginning that journey takes courage. While I specialize in childhood and adolescence, I enjoy working with individuals of all ages and life stages. My experience with early childhood allows me to appreciate how past experiences shape the present. Taking this first step allows for new inroads to be explored and paves the way for growth.
Whether you are seeking help for yourself or a family member, I recognize that beginning that journey takes courage. While I specialize in childhood and adolescence, I enjoy working with individuals of all ages and life stages. My experience with early childhood allows me to appreciate how past experiences shape the present. Taking this first step allows for new inroads to be explored and paves the way for growth.
Do you ever feel like life is happening to you, instead of you purposefully designing and leading your own life? You are not alone! As a psychologist who works as a Life Coach, I help people take control of their own lives and experience renewed passion for their life! And, people of all ages and from all walks of life can benefit from life coaching! Thus I work with adults, teens, and children. We all have times we need to talk to best figure things out. I provide a safe and active environment where you can focus completely on yourself without fear of judgment, and we work together to find ways to improve things.
Do you ever feel like life is happening to you, instead of you purposefully designing and leading your own life? You are not alone! As a psychologist who works as a Life Coach, I help people take control of their own lives and experience renewed passion for their life! And, people of all ages and from all walks of life can benefit from life coaching! Thus I work with adults, teens, and children. We all have times we need to talk to best figure things out. I provide a safe and active environment where you can focus completely on yourself without fear of judgment, and we work together to find ways to improve things.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have worked with adolescents, adults, and families for over 17 years. As a therapist, I believe that we have most of the tools we already need to make change. Therapy is simply a place where these tools can be identified and strengthened. I also believe people make lasting change through interpersonal relationships. Effective therapeutic treatment occurs through a meaningful, empowering, and reparative relationship. In therapy, I focus on relationships and how these impact our past & present relationships. I have experience with trauma, anxiety, depression, and attachment issues.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have worked with adolescents, adults, and families for over 17 years. As a therapist, I believe that we have most of the tools we already need to make change. Therapy is simply a place where these tools can be identified and strengthened. I also believe people make lasting change through interpersonal relationships. Effective therapeutic treatment occurs through a meaningful, empowering, and reparative relationship. In therapy, I focus on relationships and how these impact our past & present relationships. I have experience with trauma, anxiety, depression, and attachment issues.
Are you seeking to address long term addictions, achieve a healthier lifestyle, or to find help around a complex relationship with someone who uses substances? Maybe you are in sobriety but need support around your mental health or to process past trauma that led to your initial use. Some of my clients seek to use substances in moderation with transparency and the support of a caring, nonjudgemental person. Others are seeking a sober lifestyle and are caught in the throws of self hatred and repeated lapses. Having a place to talk about these things can feel like relief in the midst of a storm.
Are you seeking to address long term addictions, achieve a healthier lifestyle, or to find help around a complex relationship with someone who uses substances? Maybe you are in sobriety but need support around your mental health or to process past trauma that led to your initial use. Some of my clients seek to use substances in moderation with transparency and the support of a caring, nonjudgemental person. Others are seeking a sober lifestyle and are caught in the throws of self hatred and repeated lapses. Having a place to talk about these things can feel like relief in the midst of a storm.
Are you wanting to make some life changes or feeling stuck? Or maybe you’re having trouble with difficult feelings or anxiety. I see adolescents, teenagers, and adults who struggle with attention disorders, depression, anxiety, multicultural issues, trauma, interpersonal problems, and transition. I especially enjoy seeing people of color, students, professionals, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Self-compassion is one of the driving forces in my practice of helping others. My goal is to help you through your life's journey while using empathy, connection, and laughter.
Are you wanting to make some life changes or feeling stuck? Or maybe you’re having trouble with difficult feelings or anxiety. I see adolescents, teenagers, and adults who struggle with attention disorders, depression, anxiety, multicultural issues, trauma, interpersonal problems, and transition. I especially enjoy seeing people of color, students, professionals, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Self-compassion is one of the driving forces in my practice of helping others. My goal is to help you through your life's journey while using empathy, connection, and laughter.
With over 25 years of experience, I subscribe to a solution-focus philosophy, in which I strive to address the problem with you as quickly as possible, but with enough depth to avoid relapse. I set goals early in treatment with adults and couples, or with children/teenagers and their families, so we can find successful solutions and change behavior problems, emotional difficulties, academic difficulties, or family problems as soon as possible. I love people and people's stories, and am always truly and deeply interested in the story of every child, teen, and adult I meet! I also think laughter is therapeutic and therapy can be fun.
With over 25 years of experience, I subscribe to a solution-focus philosophy, in which I strive to address the problem with you as quickly as possible, but with enough depth to avoid relapse. I set goals early in treatment with adults and couples, or with children/teenagers and their families, so we can find successful solutions and change behavior problems, emotional difficulties, academic difficulties, or family problems as soon as possible. I love people and people's stories, and am always truly and deeply interested in the story of every child, teen, and adult I meet! I also think laughter is therapeutic and therapy can be fun.
No matter what life brings you, treatment can bring you "home." All walks of life and all experiences are unique, so your treatment will be tailored to fit for you. Direction, support, guidance and healing available now.
No matter what life brings you, treatment can bring you "home." All walks of life and all experiences are unique, so your treatment will be tailored to fit for you. Direction, support, guidance and healing available now.
Sara Skinner
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW, QS
Durham, NC 27707
Waitlist for new clients
I partner with folks seeking support with trauma recovery, anxiety, parenting, reproductive health (pregnancy, abortion, loss, etc), immigration, adoption/fostercare, grief, burnout, compassion fatigue, and identity exploration.
I have specialized training in a variety of evidence-based trauma, grief, anxiety, and attachment treatments, including IFS and CPT. Mindful-self compassion, embodiment, Health At Every Size (HAES), and feminist practices inform my therapeutic approach. It is my honor to offer therapy in English and Spanish.
I partner with folks seeking support with trauma recovery, anxiety, parenting, reproductive health (pregnancy, abortion, loss, etc), immigration, adoption/fostercare, grief, burnout, compassion fatigue, and identity exploration.
I have specialized training in a variety of evidence-based trauma, grief, anxiety, and attachment treatments, including IFS and CPT. Mindful-self compassion, embodiment, Health At Every Size (HAES), and feminist practices inform my therapeutic approach. It is my honor to offer therapy in English and Spanish.
See more therapy options for Durham
Nearby Adoption Therapists Searches for Durham
- Apex
- Carrboro
- Cary
- Chapel Hill
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- Holly Springs
- Knightdale
- Mebane
- Morrisville
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- Raleigh
- Wake Forest
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.