Support for Adoptive Families in Northern Ireland
CARING FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS
PARENT AND CHILD THERAPIES
TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS
TESSA Northern Ireland
Support for Adoptive Families
in Northern Ireland
CARING FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS
PARENT AND CHILD THERAPIES
TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS
TESSA Northern Ireland
HELLO AND WELCOME TO
TESSA NORTHERN IRELAND
TESSA stands for Therapeutic, Education and Support Services in Adoption. We are a project aimed at supporting families across Northern Ireland who have at least one child between the ages of two and twelve years old, who has been adopted.
TESSA is a Family Routes project, partnered with Adoption UK (NI).
TESSA is currently funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, as part of their Reaching out, Supporting Families initiative


At TESSA we believe…
- Relationships and connection are at the core of our work and through strengthening relationships we build resilience
- Empathy, kindness and comfort makes us feel better
- Feeling seen, heard and valued by parents, teachers and carers helps children feel safe and calm
- Some ‘traditional’ parenting styles are not helpful in parenting a child who has experienced early trauma
- You are the expert of your family and their needs. We will let you guide the way with our support.
Find out more about Equine Therapy in TESSA
OUR VALUES
OUR SERVICE MODEL
TESSA support starts with parents because parents are a child’s safe base. The more flexible, resilient and supported parents feel, the stronger the family unit will be ..
SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURES

How To Access Our Services
You can self refer or you can be referred by your post-adoption team via our contact details.
To view more details and download a referral form use the link below.
Recent Items From Our News & Events …..
TESSA Teens – Equine-Facilitated Learning Programme
An equine-facilitated course designed for adopted teenagers to attend along with their parents in a group setting. This blended programme will deliver elements of equine-facilitated learning, the...
TESSA Teens Launch Friday 6th May 2022
We are delighted to invite you to attend the launch of our new service TESSA Teens. TESSA Teens is a mental health project designed to support the therapeutic needs of adopted teenagers and their...
TESSA successful in bid to the Mental Health Fund!
TESSA Coordinator, Roxanne Small, Family Routes Board Member, Oliver Johnson, and Family Routes Administrator Marie Walker, meet with Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, Robin Swann, to receive funding from the Department for Health’s Mental Health Fund.
