847-869-1500 
Specialized Treatment for Adopted Young Adults
- Individual phychotherapy
- Family phychotherapy
- Parent counseling
- Family program
- Adoption Services IOP (emerging adults)
The Adoption Services program at Yellowbrick is designed to provide adopted Emerging Adults and their families education, guidance, and support for understanding and meeting the unique developmental needs of those whose lives have been touched by adoption. Yellowbrick’s neurobiologically informed, developmental and relational model emphasizes the primary importance of interpersonal relationships for mental health.
Yellowbrick has developed specific, adoption-informed approaches to assessment and treatment for adopted young adults. In consultation with Northstar Clinical Consultants, a nationally recognized group of senior, expert professionals in the adoption field, Yellowbrick has created a program informed by their clinical expertise and their policy support for adopted children and their families.
Yellowbrick’s multi-dimensional approach takes into account the internalized neurobiological, psychological, and social impact of these different areas in which adopted individuals often struggle. In adolescence and early adulthood the normative processes of separation from home and family, bodily changes, concerns around sexuality, and efforts to develop an understanding of their identities, abilities and interests, powerfully activate their vulnerabilities with regard to both actual and internalized experiences as an adopted person.
The Adoption Services program includes adoption-informed assessment measures as well as both individual and group services for Emerging Adults, parents, and families.
The Adoption Group is a semi-structured discussion group focused on adoption-informed issues related to identity formation and consolidation. Key organizing principles include: adoption is a life-long process; adoption forever links the adoptee with multiple sets of people, including birthparents, adoptive parents, siblings and extended families of birthparents and adoptive parents; adoption affects identity; fantasizing, seeking and longing are nearly universal motivations of people with a history of adoption; adoption involves belonging to and being separate from those who matter to you; and because adoption involves loss, feelings associated with grief are universal.
Specialty afternoon IOP consisting of three hours of group treatment focused on self-expression, education, identity and belonging.
- Bi-monthly education and discussion group focusing on the unique presentations, needs, and experiences of adopted Emerging Adults. An integrated, neurobiologically informed, developmental model will be used to deepen our understanding of adoption as a life-long process of identity formation and growth in connection.
- Multiple Family Group
- Family Activity Group
- The Ancestor Project
- Lifebook
- Outings with specific ethnic/cultural heritage dimension
- Family therapy
- Individualized guidance and support
- The family program is designed to extend and reinforce the individual treatment work of the Emerging Adult. This therapeutic support is offered in both group and individual family contexts to promote understanding and restorative connection within the family as well as supportive connections with other families on the adoption spectrum.
Take the Next Step
Yellowbrick collaborates with adolescents and emerging adults, ages 16-30's, their families and participating professionals toward the development and implementation of a strategic “Life Plan.” An integrative, multi-specialty consultation clarifies strengths, limitations, and risks, and defines motivations, goals and choices.
Affiliations
847-869-1500