Counseling Adopted Persons in Adulthood

Abstract

For the past 50 years, adults who were adopted during infancy have been research participants for empirical studies with goals ranging from twin studies for heritability, to adjustment following adoption, to attachment. While the research body is broad, it has given little attention to counseling practices with adopted adults. Because empirical research and clinical practice can inform each other, this article integrates literatures in both areas so that counseling practice with adopted adults can guide research, just as research guides practice. The authors grouped the clinically relevant literature into three main areas: identity (including genealogical and transracial adoption issues), search and reunion, and long-term outcomes. Within each section, the authors critiqued the literature as it informs counseling practice, used case studies to depict clinical implications, and suggested treatment strategies for use with adult adoptees. Epidemiological research found adequate adjustment for adopted adults. However, clinicians and researchers must address the consistent finding that a subset of adoptees struggles and copes with issues different than their nonadopted counterparts. The authors identify best clinical practices and a future research agenda related to adult adoptees and propose an adoption-sensitive paradigm for research and practice.

Implications of Transnational Adoption Status for Adult Korean Adoptees

“…Over the past 30 years, scholars have attempted to underscore the significance of adoption for the counseling profession (Hartman, 1991;Helwig & Ruthven, 1990;Janus, 1997;Kowal & Schilling, 1985). However, concerns voiced in the 1980s and 1990s, which include a lack of professional training (Sass & Henderson, 2000) and limitations in research because of methodological issues, inconsistent comparison samples, and within-group variability (R. M. Lee, 2003;Zamostny, Wiley, O'Brien, Lee, & Baden, 2003), continue to be reiterated more than 20 years later (Baden, Treweeke, & Ahluwalia, 2012;Baden & Wiley, 2007;Corder, 2012;Zamostny et al, 2003). Recent literature on adoption has been primarily conceptual in nature (Baden et al, 2012;Dwyer & Gidluck, 2012;Malott & Schmidt, 2012), whereas empirically based research remains focused on adoptive families and adolescent adoptees (Watson, Stern, & Foster, 2012).…”

Ex post-facto study of long-term stress in a sample of adoptees

“…Several studies have reported distinctive attributes of searchers in opposition to non-searchers. Baden & Wiley (2007), reviewing 13 studies concluded that, generally, there were no differences in the basic demographics of the adoptees, but the searchers were more often women (Sobol & Cardiff, 1983;Kohler, Grotevant, & McRoy, 2002;Schecher & Bertocci, 1990), older at adoption (Aument & Barret, 1984;Sobol & Cadiff, 1983;Haugaard, et al, 1998), scored higher in: dissatisfaction with their adoption (Haugaard, et al, 1998), level of depression, feeling different, not belonging to their adoptive families (Slobodnik, 1997;Howe & Feast, 2000), stressful life events, dissatisfaction with the way that communication about adoption-related issues was handled in the adoptive family (Sobol & Cadiff, 1983;Haugaard, et al, 1998), maladjustment (Cubito & Obremski, 2000) and, finally, scored lower in self-esteem (Border, Penny, & Portnoy, 2000). However, not all studies found negative aspects.…”

Narrative Therapy for Adoption Issues in Families, Couples, and Individuals: Rationale and Approach

“…Ultimately, therapists must take on the task of expanding their practical and cultural competency in therapy with certain subsets of the adopted population. With 2.5% of American children being adopted and a higher percentage of adoptees seeking therapy than non-adoptees (Baden & Wiley, 2007), it is important that mental health professionals review extant literature on the topic and seek out specialized training as part of continuing professional development, even if they do not specialize in adoption-related therapy. Such professional development through research and training allows therapists to get a sense of some of the different realities experienced by different people, always remembering that the role of the narrative therapist is to maintain a not-knowing stance.…”

“…Approximately 2.5% of children in the United States are adopted, and adoptees represent a higher proportion of persons seeking therapy than nonadopted persons (17.71% adoptees; 8.67% non-adoptees; Baden & Wiley, 2007). Although statistical data regarding the prevalence of birth parents in therapy is not available (Sass & Henderson, 2002), the prevalence of adoptees in therapy suggests that exploration of adoption in therapy and specific therapeutic interventions may be an important addition to the research on individuals, couples, and families who are touched by adoption.…”

“…Baden and Wiley (2007) cite research supporting that adoption issues are mediated not only by intrapsychic variables but also relationships with significant others and the broader society. In the following excerpt, Feeney, Passmore, and Peterson (2007) point out possible cultural influences on the adoption experience and narrative:…”