Choosing Therapy for Adopted Children and Youth

Some adoptive families will seek additional support from a therapist or counselor to help with adoption concerns for their children, themselves, or the family. Find resources in this section to help determine when to seek therapy and how to choose a therapist experienced in adoption.

Clinical Research Shows Corrective Attachment TherapyTM Works
Evergreen Psychotherapy Center
Provides results of a study that combined emotional, cognitive, and family systems therapy and discusses parenting-skills training.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With At-Risk Families

Series Title	Issue Briefs
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 270KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2013

Describes the characteristics and benefits of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), a family-centered treatment approach proven effective for abused and at-risk children ages 2 to 8 and their caregivers—birth parents, adoptive parents, or foster or kin caregivers. It was written primarily to help child welfare caseworkers and other professionals who work with at-risk families make more informed decisions about when to refer parents and caregivers, along with their children, to PCIT programs. This information may also help parents, foster parents, and other caregivers understand what they and their children can gain from PCIT and what to expect during treatment.

Proactive Parenting for Adoptive Families: How to Recognize Issues and When to Seek Help
Paddock
Illustrates the benefits of therapy to strengthen family attachments.

Seeking Therapy for an Adopted Child: A Guide to Getting Help
MacLeod (2007)
Includes questions for adoptive parents, tips on finding a therapist, therapy options, and recommends further reading.

Supplemental Therapies for Adoptive Families
AdoptionIssues.org
Provides information on psychotherapeutic approaches such as occupational therapy, speech pathologists, neurofeedback, and more to supplement standard therapy.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children Affected by Sexual Abuse or Trauma

Series Title	Issue Briefs
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 465KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2012

Explores research and practice on trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), which is an evidence-based treatment approach shown to help children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma-related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following child sexual abuse, domestic violence, traumatic loss, and other traumatic events. The treatment—based on learning and cognitive theories—addresses distorted beliefs and attributions related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment in which children are encouraged to talk about their traumatic experience. TF-CBT also helps parents who were not abusive to cope effectively with their own emotional distress and develop skills that support their children.