Lotus Grove Counseling

Lotus Grove Counseling Therapy for teens & caregivers specializing in the kinship and adoption community.

This November, for National Adoption Awareness Month, we're expanding the conversation.For too long,   has centered the ...
11/01/2025

This November, for National Adoption Awareness Month, we're expanding the conversation.

For too long, has centered the perspectives of adoptive parents and agencies. The stories have focused on "forever families" while often silencing the complex, lifelong experiences of adoptees themselves.

True awareness means moving beyond simple celebration and listening to the voices at the very center of adoption: Adoptees 💜

Centering adoptees isn't just a suggestion; it's a requirement for ethical adoption. This means:

🍂 In Planning: Adoptees must be at the table and paid for their expertise, in planning ALL adoption-related events, panels, and discussions.

🍂 In Advocacy: Adoptee-led organizations and individuals must be the driving force behind policy changes, like unrestricted access to original birth certificates and accountability for unethical agency practices.

🍂 In Support: Post-adoption support must be redesigned by adoptees for adoptees, addressing the realities of grief, loss, identity, and trauma, not just parenting tips.

"Nothing about us without us" is the standard.

This , pass the mic. Listen to adoptees. Amplify their stories. Support their work.

09/22/2025

Do you have lived experience in foster care or adoption? Whether you are looking to heal, learn, or support your child, this model gives a framework towards understanding and processing your grief and identity development. Developed in 2023 is the Adoptee Consciousness Model written by Susan F. Branco, JaeRan Kim, Grace Newton, Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter, and Paula O’Loughlin provides an emphasis on Honest Adoptee Language (HAL) and navigating dual identities. The stages in this model include:

Status Quo - Accepting Common Adoption Narratives
Rupture - New information presented or realized.
Dissonance - Mixed emotions, confusion, and discomfort.
Expansiveness - Capacity to hold complex perspectives.
Forgiveness/Activism - Self-compassion, healing, and social activism.

If your looking for a therapist with lived experienced and adoption competency training, let's connect!

Did you know that September is National Kinship Care Month?Kinship care is when children are placed with relatives or cl...
09/08/2025

Did you know that September is National Kinship Care Month?

Kinship care is when children are placed with relatives or close family friends when they cannot remain with their parents. These caregivers are a part of our communities, preserving family connections and culture.

Our practice is dedicated to providing trauma-informed therapy for individuals with lived experience in foster care and their caregivers. We understand the unique challenges and strengths of kinship families and are here to help you navigate your path forward. You don't have to do it alone.

We're thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone: Lotus Grove Counseling is officially one year old! 🎉This past year ...
09/05/2025

We're thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone: Lotus Grove Counseling is officially one year old! 🎉

This past year has been one of immense growth, learning, and dedication to providing high-quality mental health services to our community. I am incredibly proud of the supportive environment and the positive impact we've been able to make. I am energized for the future and look forward to continued work within the community and building supports and resources with those with lived experience in foster care and adoption.

We are accepting new clients. Interested in starting your own journey with us? Visit our website to learn more about our services.

Debbie Riley's "Six Stuck Spots" framework, from C.A.S.E., is an invaluable tool for understanding the emotional landsca...
08/06/2025

Debbie Riley's "Six Stuck Spots" framework, from C.A.S.E., is an invaluable tool for understanding the emotional landscape of adoptees, particularly as they grow.

Supporting your child through these spots builds trust and strengthens your bond.

For adoptees, understanding and processing their unique story is a lifelong journey. It can be incredibly complex, fille...
07/31/2025

For adoptees, understanding and processing their unique story is a lifelong journey. It can be incredibly complex, filled with questions, emotions, and layers of identity.

When adoptees are left to process their story in isolation, without spaces to connect with others who truly "get it," it can trigger feelings of loneliness and even re-abandonment. The very act of wrestling with their narrative alone can echo past experiences of being set apart.

Providing safe, supportive spaces for adoptees to share, listen, and process together is crucial. It affirms their experiences, validates their feelings, and builds a powerful sense of community and belonging. Consider Lotus Grove Counseling as a part of your support team.

The stories we tell, and are told, shape who we are. For adoptees, the adoption narrative or "entrance story" isn't just...
07/27/2025

The stories we tell, and are told, shape who we are. For adoptees, the adoption narrative or "entrance story" isn't just a story; it's a foundational piece of their identity, their history, and their sense of belonging.

When adoptive families create an open, honest, and affirming narrative, it:

🪷Validates an adoptee's full story, including any loss or grief.

🪷Helps them integrate their past and present into a cohesive identity.

🪷 Fosters trust and deepens family bonds.

🪷 Empowers adoptees to understand themselves and their place in the world.

A healthy narrative doesn't ignore the complexities; it embraces them with love and understanding. Let's commit to telling the whole story, because every piece matters.

Address

716 N. Bridge Street
Elkton, MD
21921

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 8:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Friday 1pm - 8:30pm

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