Child Adoption: Therapy

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

Adoption has a lifelong impact on those it touches, and members of adoptive families may want professional help as concerns arise. Timely intervention by a professional skilled in adoption issues often can prevent concerns from becoming more serious problems.

Professionals with adoption knowledge and experience are best suited to help families identify connections between problems and adoption and to plan effective treatment strategies. Sometimes a difficulty that a child is experiencing can be directly linked to adoption, but sometimes the connection is not readily apparent. In other situations, issues that seem on the surface to be related to adoption turn out not to be at all. It is important that the therapist understand that although the adoptive family is often not the source of the child's problems, it will be within the context of the new family relationships that the child will begin to heal.

This factsheet offers information on the different types of therapy and providers available to help adoptive families, and it gives some suggestions on how to find an appropriate therapist. Specifically, this factsheet covers:

• Professionals who provide mental health services
• Approaches to therapy (including attachment therapy)
• Treatment settings
• Finding the right therapist
• Working with a therapist
• Resources

Professionals Who Provide Mental Health Services

Many different types of professionals provide mental health services. The person or team best suited to work with a particular family will depend on the family's specific issues, as well as the professional's training, credentials, and experience with adoptive families.

Pediatrician or Family Practice Physician. These medical doctors specialize in childhood or adolescent care and typically treat routine medical conditions. They serve as primary care physicians who refer children for additional diagnostic studies or procedures and who coordinate referrals to specialists.

Psychiatrist. These medical doctors (with M.D. degrees) specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and emotional disorders and substance abuse. After completing medical school, psychiatrists receive postgraduate training in psychiatric disorders, various forms of psychotherapy, and the use of medicines and other treatments. Some psychiatrists complete further training to specialize in such areas as child and adolescent psychiatry. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications.

Clinical Psychologist. A clinical psychologist has completed a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology and usually has completed advanced courses in general development, psychological testing and evaluation, as well as psychotherapy techniques and counseling. Many clinical psychologists develop a subspecialty in child and adolescent development, psychological testing, or family therapy. Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders, including both short-term crises and longer term mental illnesses.

Clinical Neuropsychologist. A clinical neuropsychologist holds a Ph.D. degree. These specialists have completed training in biological and medical theories related to human behavior. Their postgraduate training focuses on the assessment and treatment of brain diseases and injuries and neurological and medical conditions, including traumatic brain injury and learning and memory disorders. These professionals may be able to help in distinguishing organic (medical) problems from psychological problems.

Social Worker. A social worker has completed a bachelor's (B.S.W.) or master's (M.S.W.) degree in social work. Social workers are trained to focus on a child or family within the child or family's social environment. Some social workers may refer to themselves as psychotherapists; however, they may or may not have professional training in psychological testing. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) have a graduate degree and have passed a clinical test to become licensed in their State to offer counseling to individuals and families. Licensure and titles differ from State to State.

Marriage and Family Therapist. Marriage and family therapists have graduate degrees in counseling or psychology and may have taken a licensing exam to receive their Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license. Almost all States have licensing laws for marriage and family therapists. These professionals evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders and other health and behavioral problems, addressing a wide array of relationship issues within the context of the family system. Family therapists focus on communication building and on family structure and boundaries within the family.

Licensed Counselor. A licensed professional counselor has a graduate degree in a specialty such as education, psychology, pastoral counseling, or marriage and family therapy, as well as a State license to practice counseling. Licensed professional counselors diagnose and provide individual or group counseling with a variety of techniques.

Pastoral Counselor. Pastoral counselors include pastors, rabbis, ministers, priests, and others who provide faith-based therapy and counseling. They usually have a graduate degree (many have completed doctoral training), and many also have a special certification in pastoral counseling. They focus on supportive interventions for individuals or families, using spirituality as an additional source of support for those in treatment. Not all individuals who provide faith-based counseling have been formally trained or are credentialed as pastoral counselors.

It is important for adoptive families to share openly with their mental health professional that their family includes one or more adopted persons and to inquire about the counselor's training and experience related to working with adoptive families and adopted persons. A growing number of States offer a postgraduate certificate to mental health professionals to help them to understand the dynamics of adoption and to tailor treatment modalities to the needs of families and individuals impacted by adoption.

About the Author

www.childwelfare.gov
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.