Information for Adoptive Parents
Adopting Together: Relationship Support for Adoptive Parents A FREE London-based service offering support for parents who have adopted
The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR), in association with the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), is offering free support for adoptive parents. The service helps couples take care of their own relationship, manage the stresses of parenting and enhance their children’s lives.
Who is this service for? If you have adopted and would like expert support for your couple relationship and your family - this service is for you. TCCR has created this specialist service to respond to the needs of adoptive couples who wish to explore and strengthen their relationship following adoption. Couples will be seen in either couple therapy or parents groups. Working with our experienced therapists in a safe and confidential setting, couples can get help and support to address some of the issues that are impacting on their relationship.
How can this service help you? Our specialist service can help by: • Offering you a safe space to reflect on how adoption has impacted on your couple relationship • Allowing better communication between you and your partner • Supporting you with difficulties you may be experiencing • Improving the quality of your relationship and your parenting After attending a consultation appointment with us, you may be offered one of two options, either: • Adopting Together Couple Therapy or • Adopting Together Parents Groups Both options take place at a central London location. For information on our locations and how to find us, visit www.tccr.org.uk
Adopting Together Parents Groups A FREE group-based programme designed to support adoptive couples with their relationship and their parenting.
What’s involved if we join the Parents Groups? You and your co-parent will meet with our expert group workers and they will be able to answer any questions you might have and decide if the group is the right sort of help for you and your family. You can participate in a series of 16 weekly, 2 hour sessions with a small number of other adoptive couples. The groups provide an opportunity to share your experiences, listen to those of others and to get help moving forwards if things have been difficult or challenging.
What do parents say about our Parents Groups? ‘It is a positive, challenging and rewarding journey.’ ‘This is a tremendous opportunity to help your marriage, family, kids and self in a cheerful, helpful, non-threatening environment. A once in a lifetime opportunity.’ ‘Helped me to listen and communicate more. We now argue much less and this has helped us and our child.’ ‘It has been brilliant for our relationship.’
What is the Adopting Together Couple Therapy service? A FREE counselling service designed to support adoptive couples with their relationship and their parenting.
What’s involved if we join the Couple Therapy service? You and your co-parent will meet with a specially trained therapist for up to 20 weekly 50-minute sessions. In these sessions you will get the chance to explore your relationship and any issues that may be concerning you.
What do parents say about our Couple Therapy service? ‘I was so worried about seeking help and now I wonder why it took me so long.’ ‘It was a very professional service. I have got all I wanted from it.’ ‘It has brought my partner and I closer together.’
What next? If you are interested in finding out more about our Adopting Together Service, please visit our website www.tccr.org.uk Alternatively you can get in touch with the Adopting Together team by telephone or email. We can discuss the service further and help you with the referral process. Email: adoptingtogether@tccr.org.uk Call: 0207 380 1950
Adoption Support Fund If this free service doesn’t meet your or your children’s needs you may also be eligible for further assistance from the Adoption Support Fund (ASF). This Government funding is available across England and Wales from May 2015 to provide families with support following adoption. The Fund will enable adoptive parents to access the services they need for them and their children more easily in future. For more information visit www.first4adoption.org.uk/adoption-support/adoptionsupport-fund TCCR - 70 Warren Street, London, W1T 5PB T: 0207 380 1950 E: adoptingtogether@tccr.org.uk Registered Charity No. 211058.