Adding a child to your family is a life-changing decision that can be immensely rewarding. Adoptive parents know that not all families are related by blood. Open adoption is a wonderful way to grow your family and provide a home to a child in need. However, all types of adoptions come with their own challenges. A counselor can help you navigate the open adoption process, as well as life after adoption. Here are four ways a counselor can help you through the open adoption process:

1. Ensure you understand the challenges and rewards of open adoption

Open adoption describes a situation in which children maintain communication with their birth parents. Open adoptions can help kids feel wanted and loved. They can also answer some of the common questions that kids have about their birth parents and family structures. However, maintaining a connection to a child's birth family can sometimes be challenging for adoptive parents. A counselor who specializes in open adoption services can help you by ensuring that you know what you're getting into before you commit to the open adoption process.

2. Help you acknowledge and deal with your emotions

After adopting a child, you may experience a range of emotions. Most parents are happy to have a new child in their lives, but you may also feel anxious about your decision. You may even wonder if you've made a mistake. These feelings can cause adoptive parents to feel guilt. However, it's natural to have a lot of emotions after undergoing a major life change. A therapist can help you understand and acknowledge all your feelings so you can be the best parent you can be.

3. Provide family counseling

Blended families can face challenges that other families do not. This is especially true of families that adopt older children through the open adoption process. Family counseling can be a valuable resource in these situations. Family counseling sessions will give everyone a safe space to talk about their feelings and needs. Frank discussions will help families integrate so they can become a cohesive unit.

4. Offer referrals to individual and children's therapists

Adoption counselors who provide family therapy can't provide individual therapy to their existing patients due to the potential to create a bias toward a particular patient. However, your therapist can refer you to another counselor for individual therapy. If you think your adopted child would benefit from therapy as well, your adoption counselor can give you a referral to a children's psychologist.

Share