ADOPTION SUPPORT FUND
The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund was established in recognition of the additional needs for many adoptive and SGO families, and the difficulties in being able to access specialist support.
The Lotus Psychology Practice is led by Dr Morvwen Duncan, who has led on international research identifying the mental health needs of adopted children, and importantly, being the first to recognise the impact of a child's early experiences, and current challenges on the development of trauma symptoms in adoptive parents.
Having worked at national and world-renowned NHS services, such as the Attachment and Trauma Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Tavistock Fostering, Adoption and Kinship Care Team, our clinicians are specialists in working with adopted or looked-after young people and their families and carers. We provide a variety of services, such as assessments of therapeutic need, therapy, therapeutic parenting support and training.
Many of the services we provide at The Lotus Psychology Practice are funded by the Adoption Support Fund. Please talk to your Local Authority or Regional Adoption Agency directly if you think you might be eligible for funding, as your social worker will need to assess your individual needs and apply for the fund. We welcome any local authorities or social workers to contact us directly.
Sample publications focused on adoption:
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Duncan, M., Fearon, P., & Woolgar, M. (2024). Primary and secondary trauma in adoptive parents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry,
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Duncan, M., Fearon, P. & Woolgar, M. (2024). A qualitative exploration of how adoptive parents experience the direct and indirect trauma of their child’s early maltreatment. Adoption & Fostering.
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Duncan, M., Woolgar, M., Ransley, R., & Fearon, P. (2021). Mental health and behavioural difficulties in adopted children: A systematic review of post-adoption risk and protective factors. Adoption & Fostering.
ASSESSMENT OF THERAPEUTIC NEED
Our assessments for adopted children identify what type of therapeutic support is necessary. We use a range of assessment methods tailored to the individual circumstance and draw upon the research evidence-base in our reports and recommendations.
THERAPY FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN
Our team are experienced in the unique and complex challenges for adopted children and their families. Our clinicians are trained in a range of trauma-informed therapeutic approaches and working within a multi-agency setting.
THERAPEUTIC PARENTING SUPPORT
Our therapeutic parenting approaches are adapted to the unique challenges facing adoptive parents. We understand the impact of parenting a child with early life adversity or many unknowns in their life, and the impact that this can have on a young person's behaviours or emotions in the family home.
TRAINING
We create bespoke workshops and training programmes for schools, charities and health/social work organisations delivered by Clinical Psychologists. This can be individualised to your needs, on subjects such as attachment, mental health and trauma, challenging behaviour, neurodiversity.