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Parrish The ThoughtAuthor: Brian Keith Parrish
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Episode 203: Jill Burgon | From mom to therapist: a personal journey that is changing adoption support around the world.
Episode 203
Sunday, 15 March, 2026
Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show. CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk. In this episode, we sit down with Jill Burgon, a clinical social worker who specializes in helping adoptive families navigate the unique emotional and behavioral challenges that can come with adoption. Jill’s path to becoming an adoption-focused therapist began with her own personal experience as an adoptive mother. After realizing there were basically zero tools or therapeutic resources available to help families like hers, Jill made a life-changing decision in her 50s, she went back to school, got two masters degrees and became the professional she wished she had when raising her adopted son. Today, she helps adoptive parents better understand trauma, attachment, and the specialized support adopted children often need to thrive. In this conversation, we explore the realities of adoptive parenting, the hidden challenges families face, and why Jill believes the right tools and understanding can change the trajectory of an adopted child’s life. CONTACT JILL Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-burgon/ BOOKS, WEBSITES AND RESOURCES Utah therapy offices and programs Children’s Service Society of Utah https://cssutah.org/our-programs/adoption/mental-health-services Adoption-competent, trauma-informed therapy for children and caregivers related to adoption or kinship care. Raise the Future Utah / Utah’s Adoption Connection https://www.raisethefuture.org/family-support/utah Utah family support hub for adoptive, foster, and kinship families, with regional resources and post-adoption support. Anson Family Counseling - https://ansonfamilycounseling.com/ Utah counseling practice offering child, family, and individual counseling. Touchstone Therapy Center - https://touchstoneutah.com/services Utah therapy office with services related to trauma, attachment, child and family therapy, and adoption-related concerns. Wellspring Child & Family Counseling Center - https://wellspringutah.com/fosteradoptive-parents/ Support for foster and adoptive parents, with attention to transitions, loss, and caregiver guidance. Focal Point - https://www.focalpointut.com/transracial-adoption-landing Utah resource especially relevant for transracial adoption, identity, belonging, and culturally responsive support. The Children’s Center Utah - https://childrenscenterutah.org/ Trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. Wasatch Behavioral Health Attachment IOP - https://www.wasatch.org/attachment-iop/ Intensive outpatient program for youth ages 10 to 17 who have been adopted or are not being raised by their biological parents and are working on attachment issues. How to find an adoption-competent therapist Look for these terms in a therapist profile or ask about them directly: TAC or NTI therapist training. Do they use therapies such as TBRI, ARC, PCIT, Theraplay, or DDP? C.A.S.E. National Directory of Adoption Competent Professionals https://adoptionsupport.org/national-directory/ Utah’s Adoption Connection https://www.utahadopt.org/resources/category-filter/category/counselors-who-specialize-in-adoption Online resources, trainings, webinars, and support NTDC, National Training and Development Curriculum https://ntdctraining.org/training-for-families/ Free, research-based training for foster, kinship, and adoptive families. It was developed with input from experts, caregivers, and people with lived experience, including former foster and adoptive youth, and is designed to help parents care for children impacted by trauma, separation, and loss. NCFA Adoption Learning Hub - https://adoptioncouncil.org/courses/ On-demand courses and webinars for adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, and professionals. Grow Beyond Words On-Demand Adoption Courses https://growbeyondwords.com/on-demand-adoption-courses/ Adoption-focused courses for adoptive and foster parents, caregivers, and professionals. C.A.S.E. Webinars - https://adoptionsupport.org/webinars/ Free monthly and on-demand webinars for adoptive, foster, and kinship parents/caregivers and professionals. Celia Center - https://celiacenter.org/ Online support groups and community for adoptees, foster and adoptive parents, kinship families, and other members of the adoption constellation. National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support - https://postadoptioncenter.org/ National hub with training, tools, and a resource library focused on post-adoption and post-permanency support. ASCC, Adoption-Sensitive Clinical Care - https://hbasct.org/ Training and education focused on adoption-sensitive care in healthcare and clinical settings. Cam Lee Small / Therapy Redeemed - https://therapyredeemed.com/ Adoptee-centered therapy, education, podcasts, and courses that can help parents and caregivers learn from adoptee perspectives. Helpful books for parents or caregivers Parenting in the Eye of the Storm: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Teen Years https://us.jkp.com/products/parenting-in-the-eye-of-the-storm A parent resource focused on staying grounded and navigating the teen years in adoption-sensitive ways. The Connected Parent https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/connected-parent-9780736978927/ Practical attachment-focused parenting strategies for children from hard places. #AdoptionSupport #AdoptionJourney #AdoptiveParenting #AdoptionTherapy #TraumaInformedCare #AttachmentTrauma #AdoptionAwareness #AdoptionPodcast #ParentingAdoptedChildren #AdoptionResources
