Creating A New Home: Adoption and Adapting

Adoption can create many happy families for people who cannot have children or just for people that are willing to help share a happy home to a loving child. Children who are adopted usually have positive outcomes but there are a few who experience stress and trauma when it is time to adapt to their new home. This can be an emotional and stressful time for the new parents as well since everyone is starting to learn more and more about each other each day. Having a chance to explore and learn through counseling can not only help the adopted child, but can also help the adopting parents.

Building a Bond

Many children are adopted at young ages which mean that they never get a chance to know who they are or where they have come from. This can cause many children to wonder about what may happened and why they are not with their birth families. Not knowing who they are may lead to increase in anger or anxiety in the child. Through play therapy the child can explore their identity and express themselves through their own language of play. This will help the child open up more. it may also help the parents know what the child may feel or want to happen in the new family dynamic.

The behavior problems that may arise do not just affect the adopted child but can affect the entire family system and may also result in increased placement disruption in the adoptive home. The adopting parents and family are very important in the development of their child. For the parents, being able to parent the child through attachment theory will help the child in feeling safe and secure in their new home. This theory will allow the parents to learn how to secure the child of their presence and teach them ways to help soothe the child in distress. Along with therapy, the loving adopting parent will be able to successfully help the child face their issues of adapting.

Continuous Adaption

There is always a need to learn more about the adopted child or even as an adopting parent. This will lead to learning different ways to adapt and cope as the family continues to grow closer as one. Learning each other’s way of language (verbal and non-verbal) as well as expressions of emotion will allow each person to know how to interact with each other. This is necessary for each person so that they as able to build a happy healthy relationship.

Adapting to a new place can be difficult for anyone, and very difficult for a child. Having a counselor provide guidance through therapy will help ease anxiety and fear for the adoptive family as a whole. A counselor can help set limits, boundaries, and expectations for the family. This will allow everyone in the family to feel secure, confident, and strong in their new family.