Lynn Earnshaw Counselling
Therapist for Adult Adoptees
A safe space to explore your story, your feelings, and your sense of self — with someone who understands the lifelong impact of adoption.
Hi, I’m Lynn, a qualified relational counsellor and adoptee therapist supporting adult adoptees across the UK. As an adoptee therapist, I offer adoption counselling for those wanting to understand their story and strengthen their sense of self. Together, we can explore adoption trauma, identity challenges, and self-worth in a compassionate, trusting relationship. I’m based in Horsforth, Leeds, and work with clients both in person and online.
If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your identity, unsure of where you truly belong, or struggled to express what’s going on inside, you’re not alone. These are deeply human, and often hidden, experiences for many adoptees.
As an adoptee myself, I understand the complex emotions this journey can bring. My own experience has shaped both my life and my therapeutic work, giving me insight into how adoption can affect our inner world, even decades later.
I offer a warm, accepting environment where we can explore your story at your pace. Whether you’re working through feelings of not being “enough,” managing fears of abandonment, or seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you.
With an MA in Integrative Counselling and further training in adoption support, I work relationally, with warmth, empathy, and respect for the uniqueness of your experience.
Support After Adoption
Adoption is a multifaceted experience - one that can bring a sense of love and belonging, but can also raise feelings of loss, uncertainty and disconnection.
Common experiences of adult adoptees
Identity Confusion
Questions about your identity and who you truly are.
Feeling ungrounded due to a lack of biological roots.
Low Self-Worth
Struggling with feelings of low self-worth and self-esteem.
Questioning your value and place in the world.
Feeling Out of Place
Feeling like an outsider looking in. Sensing that you don't really belong.
Shame and Guilt
Feeling rejected and 'not good enough'.
Feeling guilty about wanting to explore your roots.
Abandonment Fears
Deep-seated fears of abandonment stemming from the trauma of being separated from birth parents
Misunderstood
Other people not understanding, suggesting that you should have 'moved on' or 'be grateful'.
If some or all of these experiences feel familiar or you are struggling with complicated emotions connected with reunion or perhaps you just want to explore what it means to you to be adopted, I am here to listen, support and guide you through your personal story.
As someone who has lived through these challenges, I approach my counselling practice with a deep sense of compassion and understanding for the complex emotions involved. My experience as an adoptee has instilled in me the value of self-discovery, emotional healing, and building meaningful connections. I am committed to helping you work through the layers of your own experiences, offering a safe, non-judgemental space where you can explore your feelings at your own pace.
How can therapy help?
Gain Greater Self-awareness
Understand and accept the multi-faceted nature of your identity.
Enhance Self-Esteem
Re-build your self-worth, reinforcing a sense of inherent value and self-respect.
Establish Emotional Security
Gain a stronger and more secure sense of your authentic self. Build trust and stability in relationships.
Deepen Understanding
Understand that your feelings and experiences are valid.
Develop Coping Mechanisms
Manage feelings of not belonging and rejection, helping you build healthier relationships.
Whether you are seeking to explore your adoption story, manage unresolved emotions or simply find a path toward peace and self-acceptance, I am here to help you navigate this important part of your life.