Clare Heyhoe
[email protected]

Hi,
My name is Clare Heyhoe and I am a counsellor. I am undertaking a research project on adoption breakdown as part of my Masters degree at Cambridge University, and I would like to invite anyone who has experienced adoption breakdown to talk to me about it and for me to hear your story.

WHY?
I believe the impact, trauma and emotional cost of breakdown for adoptive families and children, is never truly understood or heard. I would like Local Authorities and Agencies to hear the voices of adoptive parents and their experiences, in order to try to prevent future breakdowns.

WHAT, HOW AND WHEN?
During March, when and where convenient for you – within Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire or Cambridgeshire if at all possible. It will be an informal, semi-structured interview, where I hope you will feel relaxed enough to talk to me.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All that you say will be confidential. Names will not be used and I will make sure you cannot be identified. I will need your consent to record our session(s) in order for me to analyse what you have said for the report. You will be able to read through these transcripts. You can change your mind about taking part at any time and leave the research project.

NOT SURE….
By talking about your experience, many mixed and possibly overwhelming emotions may be triggered. I offer empathy, warmth and am non-judgemental. I am also a member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists), bound by their ethical guidelines for research where well-being is paramount. I have ongoing supervision with Fiona Peacock, who is a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and a Certified Theraplay Therapist and Trainer.

If you are willing to take part, thinking about it, and/or have any questions, please can you get in touch with me at: [email protected].

Thank you for reading this and hope you get in touch. Clare.

Claire – thank you for letting me do this.