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.

All About Therapy for Older Adopted Children
Hicks (2017)
Adoption.com
Explains the importance of finding a skilled and compatible therapist for your adopted child.

Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT)

Series Title	Issue Briefs
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 380KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2013

Describes the characteristics and benefits of AF-CBT, an evidence-supported intervention that targets (1) diverse individual child and caregiver characteristics related to conflict and intimidation in the home and (2) the family context in which aggression or abuse may occur. 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 children and their parents and caregivers to AF-CBT programs. This information also may help parents, foster parents, and other caregivers understand what they and their children can gain from AF-CBT and what to expect during treatment.

Alternatives for Families – A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Provides a brief overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT), a family treatment that is proven to improve relationships between parents and caregivers of school-age children. The site includes a fact sheet and a culture-specific fact sheet that provide detailed information about AF-CBT.

Red Flags That This Therapist Might Not Be the Right Fit
Creating a Family (2020)
Describes what to look for when evaluating an adoption-competent therapist and lists red flags that indicate they may not be a good fit.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
Quality Improvement Center for Adoption & Guardianship Support and Preservation (QIC AG)
Describes Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), a treatment for children with complex attachment histories. The site describes the assessment that begins the treatment, the content of the sessions, and the role of the therapist.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals

Series Title	Factsheets
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 284KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2019

Helps child welfare professionals gain a better understanding of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), including which clients should be referred for this approach, how it is implemented, and resources for additional information. PCIT is a family-centered treatment approach for children ages 2–7 with disruptive behavior and has also been used with abused and at-risk children ages 2–12. It is an appropriate therapy for all caregivers—birth parents, adoptive parents, or foster or kin caregivers—and includes the treatment of both the parent and child together along with live coaching. One of PCIT's benefits is that it can help reduce the risk for child maltreatment.

Treatment Outcome Research
Evergreen Psychotherapy Center
Provides results of a study that combined emotional, cognitive, and family systems therapy and discusses parenting-skills training.

What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?
PCIT International
Describes the two phases of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), a treatment proven effective in helping parents of young children with behavioral issues. The website includes videos that describe the interactive therapy and show coaching sessions, and it offers a directory for providers in your area.

What Is Trauma-Focused Therapy
Center for Child Trauma Assessment, Services and Interventions (2018)
Provides a definition and description of trauma-focused therapy, its benefits, and treatment activities. This website also discusses how to know if a therapist is trauma-informed, and links to pages that provide tips for choosing a trauma-informed provider.

(Back to Top)