It is estimated that adoption affects the lives of forty million Americans. This is startling, considering that there are approximately five million adoptees in this country. However, there are birthparents, adoptive parents, birth and adopted siblings, grandparents and a whole array of extended family members who are impacted by adoption. Adoption is becoming more prevalent in the 1990's.
Adoption has the potential of being a very positive way to create a family.
In my research and practice I explore the special issues and concerns that birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees face. There are normal crises that occur. While all families and individuals go through developmental stages, the special circumstances that adoption creates add issues and complexity to the process of development. These issues are normal and healthy under the circumstances that surrender and adoption create. A systemic approach is needed in order to work with adoptive family systems.