Adoption Counselors' Perspectives of Counseling Postadoptive Families

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the mental health needs of families who adopted from the state welfare system. Using consensual qualitative research, the authors examined the perspectives of 8 clinical mental health counselors who provided counseling services to postadoptive families. Findings represented by 5 domains and supported by 15 categories include the counselors' perspective of (a) strength of the current program, (b) families in crisis, (c) parents' construction of their child's problem, (d) programmatic limitations, and (e) systemic limitations.

Substance Use Disorders and Adoption Status: Implications for Counseling Practice

“…All counselors may benefit from reviewing the Competencies for Counseling the Multiracial Population (Kenney et al, 2015) that includes specific competencies for working with transracial adoption, many of which can be applied to working with AKN members in general. To address the overall lack of counselor preparedness (Lancaster et al, 2017) for working with the AKN, counselor education programs and continuing education providers may offer content areas to address adoption-related competencies. Such content may include information outlined in the following section.…”

“…Brodzinsky’s (2013) special report on working with adopted persons and their families highlighted the need for adoption competent providers, and Atkinson et al’s (2013) research addressed core areas needed for competency. However, despite efforts to operationalize adoption competency, evidence suggests counselors remain unprepared to address the unique counseling needs of the population (Lancaster et al, 2017). Therefore, we will provide two frameworks—(1) Roszia and Maxon’s (2019) Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency and (2) Baden et al’s (2012) Reculturation Model—by which counselors may build upon their interventions with adoptees and their families seeking substance use counseling.…”

“…Brodzinsky's (2013) special report on working with adopted persons and their families highlighted the need for adoption competent providers, and Atkinson et al's (2013) research addressed core areas needed for competency. However, despite efforts to operationalize adoption competency, evidence suggests counselors remain unprepared to address the unique counseling needs of the population (Lancaster et al, 2017). Therefore, we will provide two frameworks- 1…”

A Content Analysis of Adoption Articles in Counseling Journals: A 30-Year Review

“…The risk of maladaptive adjustment was speculated to be higher if a child had been placed in temporary residence (e.g., foster home) prior to adoption (van Londen, Juffer, & van Ijzendoorn, 2007). Similar to adoptees, adoptive parents were also inclined to experience various levels of struggles (Lancaster et al, 2017).…”

“…Adoption as a social phenomenon has gained intensive scholarly interests from across disciplines such as social work (e.g., Boyle, 2017; Hill & Moore, 2015), psychology (e.g., Lawler, Koss, & Gunnar, 2017; van IJzendoorn & Juffer, 2005), and human development and family studies (e.g., Leslie, Smith, Hrapczynski, & Riley, 2013; Sweeney, 2013). However, a dearth of information on adoption can be found in the field of counseling including family counseling (Lancaster, Ovrebo, & Zuckerman, 2017) despite various needs of adoptees and their adoptive families.…”