The relationship of an adoptee and the immediate family : psychologists' perspectives

Abstract

The relationship nurtured, formed, and established between the adoptee, and their immediate family is the foundation that will reflect on the adopted child's development. The study focused on psychologists' perspectives on the dynamics of this relationship and their perceptions from their work done in the field of adoption. A qualitative research design was applied. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five psychologists practicing family therapy. Findings indicate that every adoption story encounters different forces at play. The mental and emotional turbulence that most adopters go through is certainly an enormous responsibility and challenge for the individuals who are adopting. Hence, the importance of a contained emotional environment becomes evident during the research and the building of a strong family narrative, using relative humor. The findings suggest that adopters should be open to seeking help at any point in time during the adoptive process. Concerning open adoption and its effect on the relationship, psychologists had mixed opinions towards the preparation and the actual benefits of such an agreement.