Adoption Counselling

© 2005 All Rights Reserved: Mark Harrison

Adoption affects every cornerstone of the adoption constellation (adoptees, natural parents, adoptive parents, and even their loved ones) on all four realms of our human existence: physical, mental, emotional, and, especially, spiritual.  There are joys and challenges.  It is the challenges or obstacles that few people ever look at, along the journey for those affected by adoption.  In Canada, there are few-to-none who have specialized training in post-adoption issues within the mental health field. Christine is Saskatchewan’s only practicing certified Adoption and Foster Care Counsellor and also a Certified Adoption Reunion Counsellor, trained via Heather Carlini, Director of The Carlini Institute and via Algonquin College.  Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (developed by Daniel Hughes, Ph.D.) is now available in Saskatchewan!!!  DDP is an integrative method of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1990s for the treatment of children and youth who manifested serious psychological problems associated with intrafamilial trauma and serious failure to establish stable attachment patterns.  Most of the clients receiving this treatment were residing in foster homes, adoptive homes, or—at times—residential treatment centers.  CLC: A Path to Healing now offers this method of psychotherapy relative to those children and families with attachment issues and behavioral difficulties (resulting from neglect, abuse, etc).

Pre-Adoption Counselling

• For prospective adoptive parents to provide emotional support & guidance, while creating an awareness of  adoption trauma down the road, especially in adopting children domestically, internationally or with special needs (developmental delays, medical conditions, behavioral issues, etc.);
• For natural parents to provide emotional guidance & support are mandated by the Ministry to relinquish their children upon birth and/or older children (assist in the transition).

Post-Adoption Counselling

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Recovery for natural parents & adoptees;
• Grief and Loss (Bereavement) Counselling;
• Adoptee/Natural Parent Trauma and Recovery;
• Provide psychosocial and psycho-educational support for families formed by adoption;
• Emotional support and guidance for adoptive parents and/or loved ones touched by adoption.
• Attachment issues and behavioral difficulties (resulting from neglect, abuse, multiple foster care placements, etc).
  

Search and Reunion Counselling

• Support and guidance pre-, during, post-search process (or wishing to search for information about the other party);
• Planning and preparing for reunions;
• Core Issues and Patterns through Reunion process;
• Soul Healing in Adoption (How we store the energy of our past; and why it is important to heal.);
• Transforming Negative Emotions in Reunions.

Support Groups/Workshops

• Natural parents;
• Adoptees;
• Adoptive Parents;
• Loved ones affected by adoption (extended families, partners, etc.);
• Search & Reunion Issues, etc.

 Note:  Home-studies are not provided as a service.