Understanding Post Adoption Depression: Supporting Adopters Through Transition

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

This expert-led training session offers adoption social workers an opportunity to explore Post Adoption Depression (PAD) — a frequently overlooked issue in assessments and post-placement support. While postnatal depression is increasingly recognised in birth parents, research shows that 10–32% of adopters also experience PAD, often without understanding what it is or why it happens.

Becoming a parent through adoption can be joyful yet emotionally demanding. The sudden arrival of a child — already their own person — can bring exhaustion, self-doubt, and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Led by Lynda Graham, who has over 10 years of experience specialising in this field, this session will help social workers recognise:

• the signs of PAD
• explore how to prepare and support adopters emotionally,
• and consider how to include this topic confidently within assessments, training, and supervision.

Through real examples and practical guidance, this session aims to build confidence in identifying and addressing PAD early, helping adopters and children settle and thrive together.

Learning outcomes

• Understanding what Post Adoption Depression is and how it can manifest

• Recognising the signs and risk factors during assessment and post-placement visits.

• Preparing and supporting adopters to acknowledge and manage difficult emotions.

• Confidently including this topic in training, and supervision discussions.

About the trainer

Lynda Graham

Lynda is a Senior Accredited Counsellor with National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. After twenty-five years as a Social Worker and Senior Practitioner, Lynda set up a Private Counselling Practice. She has a particular interest in Post Placement Blues/Depression and has set up a Specialist Counselling and Support Service for prospective and new adoptive parents who are struggling following the placement of their child/children. Having researched this topic for her MSc in Counselling she also provides training to potential adoptive parents, Social Workers and other professionals.  Lynda is also a Counselling Supervisor and Trainer and Adoption Panel member with a local Health and Social Care Trust.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.