Angie Langseth-Bostwick

Adoption Issues

Loss- Fear of ultimate abandonment. Children may worry they will be taken or given away Loss of genetic connection to adoptive family. Adoptive parents may feel loss of this genetic connection with their adopted child. Adoptive parents may also have grief issues related to infertility

Rejection- Personalize the fact that the he/she was given away. Issues of self-esteem

Guilt/Shame- Shame about being different. Feel deserving of negative experiences.

Grief- Grieve loss of birth parents. May grieve the fact that she/he does not fit in with adoptive family

Identity- Not having information about or access to birth family impedes integration of self

Intimacy- Fear of getting close to others lest repeats the chance of reenacting earlier loss

Created by Angie Bostwick, MA, LMHC 2007