Articles

Santa

Is it time for a therapeutic Santa?

22/12/2022 Christmas can be stressful at the best of times. From family politics to getting the arra…

Navigating a world that isn’t trauma informed

25/07/2022 Parenting a child with early trauma is tough, really tough. It can be rewarding, challeng…

Waking a hibernating blog

26/06/2022 When I started this blog, I had meant it to be at least semi-regular – but sometimes life…

The adoption process is invasive and challenging, but for good reason

21/09/2021 Like many people, I found the adoption process challenging, but once we were approved and…

Routine, transitions and the summer holidays

17/08/2021 Like many children who have experienced early trauma, our little one thrives on routine. …

Adoption: Expectation vs reality

05/08/2021 No matter how prepared you are or how ready you feel, the realities of adoption will alwa…

The isolation and loneliness of adoption

19/07/2021 Adoption can be really isolating. Really isolating. From the challenges of having to be s…

The importance of contact

25/05/2021 Adoption has rightly changed enormously over the years. Where once it would have been see…

Framing contemporary adoption

21/03/2021 There is a gulf between perceptions of adoption within wider society and the experience a…

Adopting a child with additional needs

02/03/2021 Like all prospective adopters, we had to think long and hard about our matching criteria …

A drive for more adopters must be mirrored by a better package of support

13/02/2021 Adoption recruitment is essential, but so is post-adoption support and helping adopted yo…

Sensory overload and early trauma

04/02/2021 I find myself thinking about the sensory processing issues that adopted children face mor…

Therapeutic parenting and authenticity

28/01/2021 Let’s be honest, sometimes parenting therapeutically is hard – really hard. It might be t…

Three ways that you can have your voice heard on adoption right now

22/01/2021 A lot is happening in the world of adoption and children’s social care. There’s a huge on…

“They all do that, don’t they?”

20/01/2021 It’s a mantra that all adopters here frequently. Usually it’s a loved one, who is genuine…

Thinking about adoption support

16/01/2021 It’s clear that post-adoption support is a huge issue. In 2020’s Adoption Barometer surve…

Speeding up the adoption process at all costs is neither in the interests of children or adopters

22/12/2020 (previously published)* My family has benefited significantly from the rigour of the adop…

Early trauma, attachment and lockdown

22/12/2020 (previously published)* Lockdown is difficult for all children, but adopted children and …

Reflections on a year of change

22/12/2020 (previously published)* This year was one of turbulence, upheaval and change on the natio…