Adoption weaves layers of emotion and experience into a child’s play and relationships, often in ways that can be both challenging and deeply meaningful. In this session, you’ll uncover how the Seven Core Issues in Adoption—loss, rejection, guilt/shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery/control—show up in the play therapy room. Through practical tools and strategies, you’ll learn to spot these themes as they unfold, guide adoptive children in expressing complex feelings through play, and collaborate with caregivers to nurture their child’s healing and strengthen identity development.