Tim Lindwall, LICSW

My practice is first of all rooted in developing a strong relationship with all my clients. The ability to connect with people and show up for them so that they feel cared about is foundational for all the work that follows. This is especially important in working with adoption, foster and kinship families that have had negative experiences or trauma in relationships and attachment. Having worked with hard-to-place teens looking to be adopted and with boys in group homes who aged out of the system, I grew an appreciation for the safety and even wisdom these teens have in keeping people at arm’s length. I view it as a deep honor and privilege whenever one of these old souls lets me into their circle.

Working from a strong relationship allows me to be a “co-worker” in shaping the family towards the goals of how they want to live together. I like working with parents to better understand their kid’s behavior by reinterpreting it through a holistic and family systems approach, which opens up new possibilities for how the parents respond to the behavior. Parenting is difficult by all standards and caregivers parenting in situations of adoption, foster or kinship deserve all my respect and support. Having worked with kids and parents in group homes, treatment centers, case management and in-home therapy has given me lots of experience to understand and support both caregivers and youth through these difficult circumstances and complex systems.

Whether it is working to support the youth individually or in the context of family therapy, I am passionate about supporting adoption, kinship and foster care families.