We support adoptees through compassionate, virtual mentorship.
1:1 Mentorship
One-on-one, virtual mentorship is designed for adoptees to delve into their adoption story.
Mentors receive training that is designed to ensure they support adoptees through listening, reframing, and offering resources and companionship. The goal is for adoptees to feel empowered and develop agency over their adoption narrative.
Adoptees discuss a wide range of topics such as: identity, birth family relationships, gender, sexuality, religion, and racism. Also - and of equal importance, is the space held for lighthearted moments including discussing hobbies, interests, and exchanging laughter. Through these mentorship relationships, we aim to forge meaningful connections, promote personal growth, and enhance the well-being of adoptees.
Requirements for minors (age 18 or under):
The adoptee must desire to participate in mentorship on their own.
The adoptee must understand that mentorship services do not constitute therapy.
The adoptee shall be provided with privacy during their mentorship sessions. If they’d like their parent/guardians present that is just fine, too, however most mentees enjoy engaging in the session in private.
Parents/Guardians may email the Program Coordinator with any questions, issues or concerns (info@adopteementorship.org).
MENTORS
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Angela lives in Seattle, WA and is the founder of the Adoptee Mentoring Society. She is also the author of You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption and the subject of the documentary, Closure. When she’s not creating adoption-related content she is shopping, getting her nails done or watching movies at home with her husband Bryan and their cat, Grandma Pearl.
Angela knows that adoption-competent therapists are incredibly important resources for adoptees. However, there are times when adoptees may not need a therapist to work through a specific issue, but simply desire to connect with someone who deeply understands the complexities of being adopted and to have a two-way relationship.
Angela works with adoptees ages 12 and up.
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Andrew was adopted from China, raised in Vancouver, WA, and has been in Seattle, WA since 2015. During his time at the University of Washington, he began to process his identity as an adoptee and how he wants to show up in the world. He likes learning about new things and has had the opportunity to travel to China, Greece, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and a handful of national parks in the United States. He enjoys watching sports, playing basketball, practicing hot yoga, and being outside (when the weather permits).
Andrew has worked within the customer service industry, education system, and as a personal trainer. He is currently a facilitator with a school-based group counseling program. Through continuous reflection and self-awareness, one of his goals is to create a space where others are seen, heard, appreciated, understood, and celebrated.
Andrew works with adoptees between the ages of 12-22.
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Anna is a retired public school teacher and principal and lives in Brooklyn, New York. She has mentored adoptees since the early 2000’s. Anna has two children and four grandchildren. Adopted in London, England in 1955, Anna found her birth mother’s family in 2000 and her birth father’s family in 2022. Anna enjoys swimming, biking, reading, writing and painting.
Anna has learned that adoption is a life-forming event and that no two adoption stories are alike. Anna believes that while you can only really know your own story, you can listen to and appreciate the multitude of stories that are out there.
Anna works with adoptees ages 12 and up.
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Carolyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate living in South Carolina with her husband, two children, and dog Lola. She works mainly with youth, young adults, and adoptees. She was adopted in Mississippi in 1991 and has been in reunion with both sides of her birth family for about 10 years. She loves being outside, hiking, music, reading, and powerlifting.
Carolyn sees adoption as a lifelong journey and seeks to provide a safe place to explore one’s unique adoptee identity. She knows that each story is different, and desires to build a community where every adoptee feels valued, validated, and heard.
Carolyn works with adoptees ages 17 and up.
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Lauren lives in Seattle, Washington. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in mental health counseling. She loves neighborhood wandering, nature walks, art, volleyball, sharing a meal and cooking! She was adopted as an infant from South Korea and has always been curious about the many facets of identity discovery, especially as it relates to adoption.
Everyone has their own unique story and unfolding. She is looking to provide space for adoptees to share, explore and witness their own and others’ stories within community and find moments of connection.
Lauren works with adoptees ages 17 and up.
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Shannon was born in South Korea and adopted to the States as an infant, yet still somehow ended up with the vaguely Asian-sounding last name of “Tyo”. She now lives in New York City, working as an actor and writer, enjoying hiking, beachcombing, and trying to visit every bakery in the city in her spare time. Shannon has found the online adoptee community invaluable, providing support and innate understanding regardless of location or background; to quote from an adoption-centric episode of the podcast Code Switch, “our homeland is each other.” She is ready to provide space to adoptees at any place in their journey and especially welcomes folx who are also in the queer community or who experience difficult relationships with their adoptive families, including estrangement.
Shannon works with adoptees ages 23 and up.
Do you want to become a Mentor?
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Mentors are a vital part of the Adoptee Mentoring Society!
Mentors use their personal experience and the training provided to support and provide insight to adoptees ages 12 and up in a virtual 1:1 setting.
Mentors may strategically share their own experiences and successes for the purpose of supporting the mentee in their goals.
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Must be an adoptee
Must be 25 years of age or older
Must be available to attend our virtual orientation
Must commit to a 1-year contract (with a 3-session probationary period).
Must have attended at least two Adoptee Lounges
Must demonstrate active involvement within the adoptee community within the past three years
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Expect to mentor between 1-3 individuals per month.
You should expect to spend approx. 3-6 hours per month of additional meetings & engagement
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January - February 2025: Applications accepted
March 2025: Applicant interviews & selection
March 2025: Virtual Orientation & Training
April 2025: Begin Mentoring