Pre-Adoption Consultants

Theodora Ann Drescher, MSW, LCSW

PRE-ADOPTION CONSULTANT

Theodora Ann Drescher, MSW, LCSW

Adoption Love and Service

WA License LW00004297

Tacoma, WA

(253) 324-1185

Theadrescher@gmail.com

Thea is a 45 year old adoptive mother to a 4 year old little girl adopted from China. Her passion for adoption work was peaked as a result of her own adoption journey. Since 2005 Thea has found joy and delight in helping children and families find each other. She has nearly 25 years of social work experience with high risk youth which has been a solid foundation in her success with adoptive families.

Thea has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her concentration in both academic programs was on clinical social work with children and families. She has been a child and family therapist in community agencies and in Special Education Programs in several school districts.  She finished her work in Special Education as a Behavior Consultant to school administrators and teachers.  

 As a Pre-Adoption Consultant, Thea actively listens to families about their adoption questions and concerns. She uses her clinical and assessment skills to fully understand the family strengths and their areas of concern. It is her fundamental belief that the people who inquire about adoption are attracted to it from a place in their heart.  It is that attraction that she is most interested in pursuing with the family as they discern their loving choice to adopt a child.

Thea is familiar with the adoption choices available for families. 

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 Pre-Adoption Consultations to parents seeking information and guidance on preparing for a child with various experiences. For example, how can White parents prepare for raising a child of Color? How can you help your other children prepare for this new family member? What can you expect from a child coming from foster care, or from an orphanage?

While Dr. Engelberg does not necessarily have detailed information on different adoption options, she can help you better understand and compare the various options you have already researched.

In addition to Pre-Adoptive Consultations, Dr. Engelberg also offers consultations to parents with questions about adoption-related issues such as relationships with birth family, identity, adoption issues at school, etc. She also provides therapy to parents, families and children.

Dr. Engelberg says, “When we know what to expect we can make better decisions for ourselves and our children. Being prepared can help us become the kind of parents we want to be.”

Dr. Engelberg also provides Therapy Services, Parent Educator/Family Coaching Services and Training/Workshop Facilitator Services.

Yolanda Comparan, MSW

425-445-7787

Yolanda@adoptionsuccesscoach.com

Yolanda provides the Adoption Starter Consultation. These private and customized educational discussions between you and Yolanda, an adoption expert, will include:
• Discussion of 20 questions to ask yourself if considering adoption
• Learning the advantages and disadvantages of each type of adoption
• Lists of what questions to ask adoption professionals during your research
• Discussion of the myths and the facts about international and domestic adoption
• Get an explanation of the process of each type of adoption
• Learn of suggestions on how to pay for adoption services
• Be given the unique combination of referrals right for you
• Recommendations of books and other written resources to further aid your decisions

Who can benefit from the Adoption Starter Consultation?
• Those that are just beginning to consider adoption
• Those that have specific questions about particular circumstances
• Those that want to ask questions of a knowledgeable person not aligned with particular agencies or professionals
• Those that need honest answers to difficult questions and concerns
• Those that need the facts about adoption when it has to do with unique circumstances
• Those that feel overwhelmed by all the information available

What if I don’t live in the Western Washington area?
Yolanda can still provide you with a quality and accurate education, information and referrals through a private telephone consultation. Just use her toll free number (888-777-1538). Flexible schedule available.
Yolanda will provide a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation and provide you with up-to-date information on your options.

Lutheran Community Services

Laurie Colacurcio, MSW, LICSW
206-694-5731
lcolacurcio@lcsnw.org

LW 00004841

Laurie Colacurcio has been a licensed independent clinical social worker since 2001 and a professional in the field of foster care and adoption since 1989. Laurie is currently the program manager of the LCS Permanency Planning Foster Care Program.

For the past 20 years Laurie has worked with individuals and couples who have created families through international adoption, domestic infant adoption, foster-adoption, and artificial insemination. She has also worked with families who choose to have children in their lives by providing short-term homes for foster children. Laurie has done extensive work with single parents, same-sex couples and couples who have faced the emotional turmoil of infertility. Many adoptions now include some form of “openness” or ongoing contact with birth parents. This may be an unfamiliar concept for many families. Laurie has co-produced two videos on open adoption and can help families choose the level of ongoing contact that is right for their family

LCS offers low-cost short-term consultation for families seeking to clarify the option that is right for them.