Adoption Therapy:  Perspectives from Clients and Clinicians on Processing and Healing Post-Adoption Issues

— Written in 2014, by at least 11 Adult Adoptees in conjunction with several adoptive parents and therapists, 216 pages

— Review written by Heather Gonzales in 2022

 Quick Review & Considerations: 

  • This is written by a number of Adoptees and offers a wide variety of lived experience perspectives rather than being from only one adoptee or specialist (The only chapter that does not include the voice/perspective of an adoptee is the chapter on finding a good therapist (written by an adoptive parent and counselor which definitely limits perspectives that are necessary on this topic)

  • Each chapter covers a new topic increasing both the breadth and balance of subjects

  • Each chapter has different authors which adds variety if there is one style of writing that is less preferred

  • Chapters do not need to be read in sequence

  • Includes less common aspects of certain topics worth considering, such as a section on conception due to rape

  • Several chapters cite other research and literature to support writing, but some do not

  • Readers should be mindful of blanket or one-size-fits-all statements. For example, in chapter 2, in the section on seeing an adoptee youth in counseling without the parent. (Not all adoptees, adoptive parents, or therapists would require or agree on the statements here for every client/circumstance) and the language around co-dependency in adoptees in chapter 12, and may be felt by some as unhelpful, labeling, restrictive of growth, or being put in a box.

© Heather Gonzales, Encompass Adoptees - All Rights Reserved, 2022

 

Please Note:

Listing books here is not intended to indicate absolute agreement with all content, techniques, suggestions, word choices, or other work by the authors- but to indicate a large portion of information that was found helpful.  It is recommended that whatever you read, no matter who recommends it or writes it, that readers use critical thinking and that content is reviewed in a thoughtful, contemplative, and reflective manner.

List and comments reflect the individual opinions of Heather Gonzales and are written from the perspective of an adoptee, for those looking for resources for adoptees or adoptive families specifically. Lists are not necessarily a reflection of all staff or Encompass Adoptees as a whole