Adoption Counseling in Brandon, FL
For adoptive, foster and kinship families in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, and online across Florida
Adoption brings love, and it also brings loss. Children who have lived through early separation often carry that loss in their bodies. It can show up as meltdowns, defiance, shutting down, or trouble trusting the adults who love them most.
At the Center for Parent Coaching, Brainspotting & Therapy, Maxine Golden helps adoptive, foster and kinship families understand what is underneath the behavior. Together, you build the safety and connection your child needs to heal.
Who This Is For
- Adoptive parents whose child is struggling with attachment, anger or anxiety
- Foster and kinship caregivers supporting a child through transition
- Families involved with the court or child welfare system
- Adopted children, teens and adults exploring identity, grief or birth family questions
- Parents who feel exhausted, triggered or stuck in survival mode
How Maxine Works
Maxine brings over 25 years of experience with foster care, adoption and court-involved families. Her approach is trauma-informed and attachment-focused, and it works with the nervous system, not against it. Sessions may include:
- Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to build connection and felt safety
- Brainspotting to process trauma held in the body
- Play therapy so younger children can work through feelings without needing words
- Polyvagal-informed tools to help the whole family move from reaction to regulation
- Parent coaching so you leave each session with steps to use at home
Maxine is a Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern in Florida and is adoption-competent trained.
Where Sessions Happen
In person at our Brandon office (710 Oakfield Dr, Brandon, FL 33511), serving families across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Online sessions are available anywhere in Florida.
Paying for Counseling
We do not bill insurance. We do accept Step Up For Students scholarships and can provide a superbill. Adoptive families may also apply for funding help through the Sylvia Thomas Center or Camelot Community Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with the child, the parents, or both?
Both. Most families see the best results when parents are part of the work, so sessions often include parent coaching alongside the child's therapy.
My child was adopted as a baby. Can early loss still affect them?
Yes. Even very early separation can shape how a child handles stress and trust. Understanding this is often the first step toward change.
Do you see families outside Brandon?
Yes. We see families from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas in person, and anywhere in Florida online.
You don't have to figure this out alone. Book a consultation or call (813) 545-9505.