Parent Educators & Family Coaches

In search of adoption counseling, family counseling or individual counseling? Read the "profiles" on these experts and after you speak to two or three, choose one that you feel best fits your needs!

Professionals are listed alphabetically by last name.

Adoption Counseling & Educational Services (ACES)

info@adoptioncounselingservices.com
503-522-0839.
www.adoptioncounselingservices.com

In addition to our counselors' academic credentials and training, each therapist affiliated with ACES, has earned a one year post-graduate certificate in Adoption Therapy.  

Areas served in Oregon include Portland, Beaverton, Dundee and Gresham. Vancouver, Washington can be served as well. This group of clinicians has the ability to provide in home services.

Services provided include counseling and workshops. Therapists work with children adopted internationally as well as children who spent time in state care. Services provided for birth mothers, adults who were adopted and adoptive parents

Philosophy: Adoption can be a wonderful way to build a family.  It can also be challenging.  Adoption Counseling & Educational Services (ACES) is an affiliation of mental health practitioners united in the goal of providing quality services for adoptive families.

ACES' adoption therapists respect and acknowledge that each family is unique.  We
encourage parents to draw on their strengths and abilities, at the same time we help
children explore grief, loss, attachment and identity issues.  Our philosophy is one of
helping families to move from coping with life, to living life joyously as a fully
integrated family.  

Free parent support groups provided.

Suzanne Engelberg, PhD

License-WA1948

206-542-7516 ext.105
DrEngelberg@verizon.net

18532 Firlands Way N, Suite A
Shoreline, WA 98133

Dr. Engelberg is a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist with nearly 20 years experience working with adopted children and their families. Her specialty is addressing childhood and family difficulties impacted by adoption. She has additional expertise with multi-cultural families and families with lesbian or gay parents.

Dr. Engelberg is a past Senior Clinician for the Adoption Resource Center of Children’s Home Society of Washington, and past Coordinator of the Jewish Adoption Consultation, Information and Referral Service of Jewish Family Service. She is a former school counselor and school psychologist, as well as a popular workshop leader on topics of child development, parenting and school difficulties. Dr. Engelberg’s advice has been quoted in national teen magazines.

Dr. Engelberg offers Education and Coaching to parents seeking information and guidance on their child’s or family’s situation. She also offers short-term consultations to parents with questions about adoption-related issues such as relationships with birth family, identity, adoption issues at school, etc. In addition, Dr. Engelberg provides therapy to parents, families and children.

Dr. Engelberg says, “Sometimes we know that our old way of doing things is not working, but we don’t yet know a better way. My role is to help you learn a more effective way to be the parent you want to be. I do this by helping you better understand your child and your situation, and then use this new understanding to create a solution tailored to your family.”

“My therapy style is very collaborative. You are an equal partner in our work together. I will listen non-judgmentally to your concerns and ideas. Together we will develop a plan to reach your goals.”

Dr. Engelberg also provides Therapy Services, Training/Workshop Facilitator Services and Pre-Adoption Consultation Services.

Lyn Marx, M.S., L.P.C.

Oregon-C1426
Adoption Support Online
http://www.adoptionsupportonline.com
541-687-2010

Lyn Marx, MS, is a licensed professional counselor in Oregon. She has earned certificates in “Therapy with Adoptive Families” and “Cyber Counseling”, Level 1 and Level 2. On-line counseling/education services for families touched by adoption, specializing in attachment, grief/loss, trauma and behavior issues.

One of the programs available has been developed by Lyn, for families in the first year of an adoption placement, Getting Attached: An On-Line Jumpstart for Building Forever Families.

Thanks to a grant, Lyn is able to offer the first 4 weeks at no charge!

Lyn says “Counseling/education/coaching on-line is a new approach to meet the needs of busy families. As a Child and Family Therapist who has worked in person with clients for over 20 years, I have been pleasantly surprised at the connection I’m able to make with clients online. Online counseling doesn’t take the place of therapy in person: I’m able to act as a coach/mentor/educator to families who are touched by adoption. In promoting attachment with children who are adopted, parents have a valuable role in the “healing process”. Working with a counselor online can remove any confusion as to who to attach to and support the parents in techniques they can use at home to enhance attachment. Another advantage is that it’s all “written down” for parents to return to whenever they want! AND—you can do it whenever you want!

Find more information at Lyn’s website, www.adoptionsupportonline.com Read Lyn's article to find out more about On-Line Parent Education & Family Coaching.

Madeleine “Mayda” F. Taney, MA, LMHC, ATR-BC

LH00010 651
Inner Well Counseling & Art Therapy
info@innerwellcounseling.com
206-304-1954

824 S. 309th Pl.
Federal Way, WA 98003

Mayda offers support and education by teaching parents to provide more structure and routine and have consistent and realistic expectations while gaining a solid understanding of their child’s developmental needs and diagnosis.

Mayda possesses a unique combination of expertise with 14 years as a special education teacher and her clinical degree and experience. Because of this expertise, she is extraordinarily equipped to consult with and coach parents in navigating and negotiating the educational system on behalf of their children. She can educate and assist parents with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP’s); 504 plans; educational testing and the results and advocacy in behalf of children.

In her work as an educator, Mayda has worked with children and families brought together by domestic and international adoption as well as kinship adoption. She has had the opportunity to work with families of many cultures and configurations.

Mayda also provides Counseling/Therapy services and Educational Consulting services.