Making the important decision to adopt may be one of the most challenging and difficult decisions a person or couple can make. If it is the result of infertility, it may mean giving up the dream of having a child by birth. This can be experienced as a very tragic loss. It is not unusual for any person grappling with this decision to experience a great deal of anxiety and fear, in addition to sadness. They may wonder, “Which type of adoption should I choose? What type of child? Which agency can I trust? Will the child be healthy? Will my extended family accept this?” The process of adoption itself can feel overwhelming, especially in terms of the paperwork involved and the home study that is required prior to approval for adoption. The stress on a marriage can be great, especially if one partner is ready to proceed with adoption before the other.
People who adopt from the foster care system have special concerns as well. Because many children in foster care have special needs, prospective parents are aware of the importance of financial support to provide medical, emotional, or academic support for the children. They may worry that services provided during foster care will end once the child is legally adopted. Kinship adopters particularly have concerns about how to handle future contact and relationships with the child’s birth parents.
Whatever the circumstance, our family therapists understand the questions and concerns of prospective adoptive parents and can provide the education, support, and counseling to help them through the decision-making process. Call today to get started.
