“Now I Know I’m Not the Only one”: A Group Therapy Approach for Adoptive Parents

ABSTRACT

Many children who enter the care system and are subsequently adopted have had exposure to a range of potentially traumatising experiences including domestic violence, abuse, neglect and loss of key caregivers. There are also an increasingly high number of adopted children presenting with the impact of intrauterine exposure to alcohol, drugs and stress. They are often adopted by adults with their own experiences of loss and fertility difficulties. Despite the low overall level of adoption disruption, it is becoming clear that some adoptive parents may face difficulties in terms of forming and maintaining secure attachments across time with their children. A 9-week therapeutic group intervention was delivered to a group of 15 adoptive parents in Northern Ireland. This incorporated psychoeducation on a range of topics including attachment theory, trauma and the impact on brain development. It also incorporated theory and practical strategies for parenting therapeutically with traumatised children, and those with foetal alcohol and drug-related difficulties. The main focus of the group was on developing the capacity for mind-mindedness in the parents, through the more reflective focus of the second half of each group. The results from the evaluation indicated the positive impact of this intervention on parents' understanding of their children, increased confidence in parenting, and increased sense of competence in coping with challenging behaviour. It also indicated a positive change in the children's behaviour and in the parent-child relationships.

KEYWORDS:

• Adoption
• attachment
• group therapy
• nurturing attachments

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ciara Downes

Ciara Downes is a Clinical Psychologist based in Northern Ireland. She has worked in child and adolescent mental health services, and currently works in a consultation and therapeutic team for children in care and adopted children. She is the clinical lead within this service for adoption, and has a special interest in increasing knowledge about attachment and developmental trauma. Her main research interests are trauma and its impact.

Sara Kieran

Sara Kieran is a Specialist Therapist based in Northern Ireland. Her background is in social work and she has 12 years' experience working with children, young people and families across both the statutory and charity sectors. She has also completed post-graduate training in systemic practice and family therapy, and is a qualified systemic practitioner. She is currently employed by a dedicated consultation and therapy team for looked after and adopted children, and has a special interest in the field of attachment and developmental trauma.

Bridget Tiernan

Bridget Tiernan is a Clinical Psychologist and a Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist based in Northern Ireland. She has worked within learning disability services and is currently working in a therapeutic team with children in foster care, residential care and adoption. Her main areas of interest include psychoanalytic approaches to trauma, loss and relational insecurity.