Photo of Sara Deyoung, LCSW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Sara Deyoung
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Chattanooga, TN 37405
I have been a clinical social worker for approximately 15 years and I feel honored that my clients share their stories, their dreams and their goals with me. I enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds. I tend to work more with depression, anxiety and relationship issues. I would love to discuss with you more about your specific needs.
I have been a clinical social worker for approximately 15 years and I feel honored that my clients share their stories, their dreams and their goals with me. I enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds. I tend to work more with depression, anxiety and relationship issues. I would love to discuss with you more about your specific needs.
(423) 972-4649 View (423) 972-4649
Photo of Megan Tresh, MS, Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Megan Tresh
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern, MS
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Embracing life's uncertainties, transitions, & unmet expectations can be challenging, but we are able to move forward with meaning & purpose. Sometimes building a level of resilience & mental fortitude is required for us to progress. By using an underlying attachment-based approach, I’m able to provide therapeutic services that are safe, authentic, & non-judgemental to allow for healing & growth. I have found that tailoring the modalities used to each client provides positive outcomes in various situations. EMDR, exposure & response prevention (ERP), experiential activities, & play therapy are among those that I am trained in.
Embracing life's uncertainties, transitions, & unmet expectations can be challenging, but we are able to move forward with meaning & purpose. Sometimes building a level of resilience & mental fortitude is required for us to progress. By using an underlying attachment-based approach, I’m able to provide therapeutic services that are safe, authentic, & non-judgemental to allow for healing & growth. I have found that tailoring the modalities used to each client provides positive outcomes in various situations. EMDR, exposure & response prevention (ERP), experiential activities, & play therapy are among those that I am trained in.
(423) 370-0124 View (423) 370-0124
Photo of Stephanie Carol Hunneke, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Stephanie Carol Hunneke
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 451-4998 View (423) 451-4998
Adoption Therapists

Does my adopted child need therapy?

Not every adopted child needs therapy. However, many can benefit from seeing an adoption-informed therapist, especially if they were victims of abuse or neglect, appear withdrawn or disconnected, have behavioral or developmental issues (which may or may not be related to their adoption), are struggling with feelings of grief or loss surrounding their birth parents, or find it difficult to establish an identity, a challenge that often becomes most apparent during adolescence.

When should adoptive parents seek therapy?

Prospective parents can benefit from therapy even before an adoption—for example, to voice worries and fears; to reconcile infertility struggles, if relevant; or simply to prepare themselves for parenthood. After the adoption, parents who are struggling to bond with their child; are unsure how to talk about adoption or related issues, such as race; or whose child is dealing with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric concerns can address these and other issues with the help of an adoption-competent therapist.

Is family therapy appropriate for adoptive families?

Family therapy can be invaluable for strengthening the bond between adoptive parents and children, helping the latter feel more secure in their place in the family. Family therapy can also help adoptive families navigate complex communication issues—for example, parents who feel uncomfortable discussing race with their child, who in turn feels invalidated by their silence, or a child who has questions about his birth parents but avoids asking them out of fear of hurting his adoptive parents’ feelings.

What therapy is not appropriate for adoption issues?

A discredited therapy known as “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy” or “rebirthing therapy”) should not be used to treat adopted and foster children, though it was largely designed for this population. Attachment therapy involves restraining, coercing, and punishing the child in order for them to “release” negative emotions and attach to their new caregivers—techniques that are abusive and dangerous and have even proven fatal in some cases.