Find an Adoption Therapist in Colorado
This page highlights therapists in Colorado who specialize in adoption-related support for adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth families. Browse the listings below to connect with professionals across the state, including practitioners in Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs.
Crystal Gerlock
LCSW
Colorado - 30 yrs exp
How adoption therapy works for Colorado residents
If you are exploring adoption therapy in Colorado, you will find that the work is centered on relationships, identity, and understanding how past experiences shape current feelings and behaviors. Sessions may focus on attachment, grief and loss, trauma recovery, parenting strategies, or identity development depending on whether you are an adoptive parent, an adoptee, or a birth parent. Therapists who specialize in adoption bring knowledge about common adoption dynamics - such as openness in adoption, transracial placements, kinship care, and later-in-life reunions - and tailor their approach to your needs.
Therapy can take place in traditional office settings in cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Boulder, or through online sessions that make it easier to access specialists who live farther away. Many Colorado practitioners combine individual work with family or joint sessions, and may recommend different therapeutic modalities - including attachment-based interventions, trauma-informed therapies, and family systems approaches - to address the particular challenges you bring.
Finding specialized help for adoption in Colorado
When you look for adoption-focused care in Colorado, start by seeking professionals who list adoption as a specialty and who describe relevant experience with the age group and family structure you have. You might prioritize clinicians who have training in adoption-competent care, who have worked with transracial families if that applies to you, or who understand post-adoption services such as help with school transitions or identity exploration. If you live near Denver or Aurora, you may find a wider range of therapists with diverse specializations. In smaller communities or rural parts of the state, telehealth often expands access to clinicians with the precise adoption experience you want.
Consider reaching out to local adoption agencies, support groups, and community forums for recommendations. These local resources often know which therapists focus on adoption-related concerns and can suggest clinicians who are experienced with the issues common in your region. A short initial call can help you assess whether a therapist’s approach and background align with your goals before committing to ongoing sessions.
What to expect from online therapy for adoption
Online therapy has become an important option for many people in Colorado seeking adoption support. When you opt for teletherapy, you can expect scheduled video or phone sessions that mirror in-person appointments in structure and duration. Online sessions can be especially helpful if you live outside metro areas like Denver, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins, or if your schedule makes traditional appointments difficult. You should be able to discuss logistics, personal nature of sessions measures, emergency planning, and how materials or exercises will be shared during the first meeting.
Good online adoption therapy often includes the same therapeutic tools used in person - such as guided conversations about attachment, worksheets for family communication, and exercises to explore identity and loss - adapted to a remote format. If you are working with children, clinicians may explain how they will engage younger clients through activities and parent coaching. Keep in mind that therapists who offer telehealth will indicate the areas they serve and whether they are licensed to provide care to clients in Colorado, which affects your ability to receive ongoing sessions from an out-of-state clinician.
Common signs that someone in Colorado might benefit from adoption therapy
You might consider adoption therapy if you notice difficulties connecting or forming attachment, persistent questions about identity or belonging, or recurring behavioral or emotional struggles that feel linked to adoption history. Adoptive parents sometimes seek support when parenting challenges escalate beyond typical expectations, when children display unexplained anxiety or anger, or when school and peer relationships become strained. Adoptees may reach out because they have questions about origins, feel grief or loss related to adoption, or experience identity confusion at different life stages.
Birth parents and extended family members may also benefit from adoption-focused therapy when they are processing grief, handling the complexities of reunions, or navigating ongoing relationships. If you are in Denver, Aurora, or Colorado Springs and find that adoption-related concerns are affecting your daily life, relationships, or sense of wellbeing, therapy can help you develop skills for communication, coping, and understanding the emotional layers of adoption.
Tips for choosing the right adoption therapist in Colorado
Start by considering the type of support you want - whether individual therapy, family work, parenting coaching, or specialized interventions for trauma or attachment. Look for therapists who describe specific adoption experience and training, and who can explain how they approach adoption-related issues. When you contact a clinician, ask about their experience with situations similar to yours, how they involve family members, and what short-term and longer-term goals might look like. A clear conversation about fees, insurance acceptance, sliding scale options, and session frequency will help you plan for ongoing care.
Think about practical factors too. If you live in a busy area such as Denver or Boulder, you may have more options for in-person appointments and multidisciplinary teams. If you are in a more rural part of Colorado, telehealth may be the most realistic route to a specialist. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel during an initial conversation - a sense of trust and understanding is often the key to productive therapy. Also consider whether the therapist offers resources you value, such as parenting workshops, school consultation, or coordinated care with pediatricians and adoption agencies.
Working with children and teens
If you are seeking support for a child or teen, ask prospective therapists about their experience with developmental stages and with techniques that engage younger clients. Many adoption therapists will incorporate play, storytelling, or creative projects to help children express feelings that are hard to articulate. For adolescents, therapy often explores identity, peer relationships, and questions about birth family and origins, and may include both individual and family sessions to support communication.
Cultural sensitivity and transracial adoption
When adoption involves transracial placements, cultural sensitivity is essential. You can look for clinicians who demonstrate awareness of racial identity development and who can help families create environments that honor the child’s cultural heritage. Therapists in Colorado cities like Aurora and Denver often have experience with diverse communities and can assist with resources and strategies to support healthy identity formation.
Next steps and how to begin
Begin by browsing therapist profiles that note adoption specialty and then reach out for a brief consultation to determine fit. Prepare a few questions about the clinician’s experience, approach, and what the first few sessions might address. If you try online therapy, make sure you have a comfortable, distraction-free spot for sessions and discuss privacy protections with the therapist before starting. It is normal for the search to take a few attempts to find someone who feels like the right match - persistence often leads to meaningful progress.
Whether you live in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, or another Colorado community, adoption therapy can provide a focused place to explore complex emotions, strengthen relationships, and develop practical strategies for everyday challenges. Use the listings on this page to connect with clinicians who specialize in adoption concerns and to begin the process of finding support that fits your family and your goals.