Therapy for Adoptees & Foster Youth in Los Angeles

If you're here, you may have been impacted by foster care or adoption and you might be carrying experiences that are hard to explain, even harder to process. You may have felt misunderstood, judged, or like therapy wasn't built for someone like you.

I'm a bilingual therapist who grew up in foster care and specializes in working with those impacted by foster care and adoption. If you’ve ever felt like therapy wasn’t built for someone like you - I get it. Feeling unseen can make it hard to open up, but you don't have to keep carrying it alone. In therapy, there's room for all of who you are, your story, your struggles, and your strength. This is a space to lay some of that weight down and begin healing at your pace.

As an adoption therapist in Los Angeles, I work mainly with teens and young adults, and I have a strong focus on parent-child relationships in adoptive and foster families. Sessions are available in person in Los Angeles and online or by phone throughout California.

L. Patty Flores, MSW, ASW126834
Doctoral Student & Chancellor's Fellow at WashU
Associate Clinical Social Worker No. ASW126834
Supervision by Christina Dixon, LCSW87870

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L. Patty Flores, adoption therapist for adoptees and foster youth in Los Angeles

APPROACH

A Trauma-Informed, Identity-Centered Approach For Adoptees & Foster Youth

My approach to therapy for adoptees and foster youth is relational and intersectional. That means I take your background, culture, and identity seriously because they shape how you move through the world and how you make sense of your experiences. For adoptees and foster youth, these layers often carry added complexity, and I hold that with care. Whether you are navigating foster care, adoption, immigration, LGBTQ+ identity, or family relational challenges, I show up with empathy, honesty, and steady support.

I support current and former foster youth in Los Angeles County, including transition-age youth in extended foster care and young people navigating DCFS, as well as adoptees and adoptive families throughout Southern California. Having grown up in the system myself, I understand how placements, court dates, caseworker changes, and aging out can shape how safe it feels to trust a new adult.

If you have been looking for a therapist who understands the experiences of adoptees and foster youth, I am here to support you. I offer in-person sessions in Los Angeles and online therapy for clients across California, and I work at a pace that honors your story, your needs, and your capacity.

Therapy with me focuses on what's underneath behavior. Whether you tend to react outwardly or shut down, we'll explore the patterns behind it and what they've developed in response to your experiences.

We'll work on recognizing what you're feeling and finding ways to respond that don't leave you overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck.

Some people express through anger. Others shut down. Therapy creates space to understand what's going on internally and communicate it in a way that feels more manageable.

Support for navigating experiences related to foster care, adoption, family dynamics, school or work, and major life transitions that can continue to show up over time.
Trauma-informed therapy session for adoptees and foster youth in Los Angeles

How I Think About Therapy

I believe therapy should fit the person rather than asking the person to fit a single therapeutic model. My work is integrative, relational, and collaborative, drawing from multiple evidence-informed approaches while honoring your lived experiences, culture, relationships, and personal goals.

Mental health does not exist in isolation. Our experiences are shaped by our families, communities, migration experiences, culture, race, identity, and the systems we move through every day. Therapy can be a space to explore those experiences while recognizing both challenges and resilience.

Sometimes our present-day struggles are connected to earlier relationships, experiences, or patterns that developed over time. Together we explore those patterns with curiosity rather than judgment to better understand yourself and create lasting change.

Relationships have a significant impact on emotional well-being. Therapy may focus on improving communication, navigating conflict, processing grief, adjusting to life transitions, and strengthening supportive relationships.

Many people carry stories about themselves that were shaped by difficult experiences or messages received from others. Therapy creates space to examine those stories and reconnect with your strengths, values, and preferred identity.

Stress and trauma are not only experienced through thoughts but also through the body. Together we may notice physical sensations, nervous system responses, and patterns of tension while developing greater awareness, grounding, and emotional regulation.

At times, practical tools can be just as important as deeper exploration. Together we may identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior while building coping strategies that support everyday functioning and emotional well-being.

L. Patty Flores, therapist specializing in adoption and foster care in Los Angeles

Navigating School & Holidays Emotional Triggers For Adoptees & Foster Youth

Research shows that for adopted teens and foster youth, certain school assignments can be emotionally impacting — and holidays can bring up complex emotions for individuals of all ages.

For teens, these moments can feel confusing or overwhelming, especially when they highlight identity, family history, or belonging. For adults, these same experiences can resurface old memories, unanswered questions, or feelings that were never fully processed. Therapy with someone who understands these unique experiences can provide a grounded, supportive space to make sense of these emotions, build coping tools, and feel understood at any stage of life.

Areas of Specialization

Depression, anger, anxiety & trauma
Foster care & adoption therapy
Parent-child relationships in adoptive & foster families
LGBTQ+ identity support
Self-esteem
Educational challenges & support
Teens & young adults

Support for Adoptive & Foster Parents and Their Children

Parent-child relationships are at the heart of my work with adoptive and foster families. Children and teens who have experienced separation, placement changes, or early loss often learn to protect themselves in ways that can look like anger, withdrawal, or testing limits. These behaviors usually make sense once we understand the history behind them.

I help adoptive parents, foster parents, and caregivers understand what their child may be communicating, respond to attachment needs, and build trust, safety, and connection at home. Sessions can include the young person, the parent or caregiver, or both, depending on what will be most helpful for your family.

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In-Person & Online Therapy for Adoptees & Foster Youth

I offer in-person sessions in Los Angeles and online therapy for adoptees, current and former foster youth, and their families throughout California, from Los Angeles County to San Diego, the Inland Empire, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and the Central Valley. Online and phone sessions make it easier to access support without commuting or needing to find a specialist nearby.

Therapy can be a helpful option if you are navigating identity, grief, family separation, belonging, rejection, attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, trauma, college transitions, or complicated relationships with biological, foster, or adoptive family members.

Sessions are available for teens, young adults, and parents or caregivers who want a private, consistent space to talk through experiences connected to foster care, adoption, trauma, relationships, and life transitions.

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My Journey & Qualifications Professional Background Supporting Adoptees & Foster Youth

I am also a researcher, speaker, and advocate with years of experience working alongside communities that are often overlooked or underserved. My advocacy began long before my formal training and has continued throughout my career in education, mental health, and youth-serving systems.

I have worked with foster youth, homeless youth, probation-involved youth, LGBTQ+ young people, youth of color, and immigrant communities. This work has shaped my commitment to equity, dignity, and creating spaces where people feel seen and supported. I also provide immigration evaluations and letters for individuals and families navigating the immigration process.

I hold two Associate degrees (an A.S. in Criminal Justice and an A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences). I earned my Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and my Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Smith College. My academic training, combined with years of advocacy and lived experience, informs the relational, culturally grounded approach I bring to my work.

L. Patty Flores, MSW, researcher and advocate for foster youth and adoptees

"My colleague & good friend, Patty, is an inspirational & empowering clinician, as not only a professional, but also as an expert with lived experience of the child welfare system. She provides affirming, compassionate care in both English & Spanish."

Dr. Sky Lea Ross, LMFT, PsyD

"Patty brings a rare combination of clinical insight and lived experience that deeply enriches her work. Her commitment to immigrant families and trauma-informed practice is exceptional."

Dr. Cheryl Aguilar, LICSW, Ph.D.

"Patty's lived experience, education, and research background inform her deep commitment to the practice of healing. The ways she holds space invites each client into the room, just as they are. What she provides is a rare gift."

Sean Sparks, LMFT

📍 Los Angeles, CA · In-person sessions in Los Angeles · Online and phone sessions throughout California

Phone: (213) 222-8794 | Email: patty@defyinglabels.com

I am employed by CR Dixon Counseling Inc for therapy services. For more info, visit her website: www.cdixoncounseling.com

L. Patty Flores, MSW, ASW126834
Doctoral Student & Chancellor's Fellow at WashU
Associate Clinical Social Worker No. ASW126834
Supervision by Christina Dixon, LCSW87870

Contact

Let's Talk

Reach out for a consultation and we can discuss what support looks like for you.

Email: patty@defyinglabels.com

Call: (213) 222-8794

Location: Los Angeles, California

SUPPORT

FAQs

I mainly work with teens and young adults who have been adopted or impacted by foster care. I also have a strong focus on parent-child relationships, supporting adoptive parents, foster parents, and caregivers as they build trust and connection with the young people in their care.

Yes. Parent-child relationships are a core part of my work. I support adoptive and foster parents in understanding their child's behavior, attachment needs, and history, and in strengthening communication and trust within the family.

I offer sessions Monday through Saturday between 9am and 8pm. Sunday appointments may be available upon request to support adoptees, foster youth, and families who need additional flexibility.

Both. I offer in-person sessions in Los Angeles, as well as online and phone sessions for clients located anywhere in California. This allows adoptees, foster youth, and families to choose the format that feels safest, most accessible, and most supportive.

Yes. I speak fluent Spanish and offer therapy sessions in Spanish for adoptees, foster youth, and families who prefer support in their first language.

Therapy frequency depends on your needs, goals, and capacity. Many clients attend weekly or biweekly. We can talk together about what feels supportive and sustainable for you, especially if you’re navigating identity, trauma, or family transitions.

I am not currently in-network with insurance. I hope to offer insurance options in the future to increase access for adoptees, foster youth, and families from all backgrounds.

My standard fee is $180 per session. I offer a limited number of sliding-scale spots for those who qualify. Please reach out to discuss availability and options.

I use IVY PAY, a secure mobile app designed specifically for therapy services.