The Benefits of Post-Adoption Support for Birth Parents

Placing a child for adoption is never an easy decision. However, it’s much more difficult when you have to face it alone. Many women, when placing their child for adoption, work through lawyers or facilitators instead of adoption agencies. While you can have a good experience with a lawyer, adoption agencies have at least one major benefit for birth mothers and that is in providing post-adoption support.

Even after the adoption is finalized, birth parents may continue to experience a range of emotions, including grief, guilt, and loss. Post adoption support and counseling can provide a range of benefits for birth parents as they navigate the challenges of adoption and move forward with their lives.

Emotional Support

One of the key benefits of post adoption support and counseling for birth parents is emotional support. Placing a child for adoption can be a traumatic experience, and birth parents may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, guilt, and grief. Post adoption support and counseling can provide a safe and supportive space for birth parents to process their feelings and work through the complex emotions associated with adoption.

Connection to Resources

Post adoption support and counseling can also provide birth parents with connections to a range of resources, including counseling services, support groups, and educational programs. These resources can help birth parents navigate the adoption process and address their needs as they move forward with their lives. For example, support groups can provide a sense of community and connection with other birth parents who have gone through similar experiences.

Reunification Support

In some cases, birth parents may have the opportunity to reunite with their child at some point in the future. Post adoption support and counseling can provide birth parents with the support they need to navigate the reunification (link to reunification resources on DPA) process and build healthy relationships with their child. For example, counseling can help birth parents work through any feelings of guilt or shame they may have about placing their child for adoption, and can provide guidance on how to build healthy and positive relationships with their child and their child’s adoptive family.

Legal Support

In some cases, birth parents may have legal questions or concerns related to the adoption process. Post adoption support and counseling can provide birth parents with connection legal support and guidance to help them understand their rights and responsibilities. 

Access to Information

Birth parents may have questions or concerns about their child’s well-being after the adoption is finalized. Post adoption support and counseling can provide birth parents with information and updates on their child’s health, development, and overall progress. This can help birth parents stay connected with their child and provide them with peace of mind as they move forward with their lives.

Healing and Growth

Finally, post adoption support and counseling can provide birth parents with the tools they need to heal and grow after the adoption process is complete. Through counseling and other support services, birth parents can develop coping strategies, build resilience, and learn new skills that can help them move forward with their lives in a positive and healthy way. This can include developing healthy coping mechanisms, improving their communication skills, and learning how to build healthy and positive relationships with others.

Overall, post adoption support and counseling can provide a range of benefits for birth parents as they navigate the complex and emotional process of adoption. Whether it’s emotional support, access to resources, legal guidance, or help with reunification, post adoption support can help birth parents build healthy and positive relationships with their child and move forward with their lives in a positive and healthy way.

Finding Support After an Adoption

Unfortunately for many birth mothers, there is no central resource for providing post-adoption support, counseling, or guidance. Most birth families are on their own when it comes to seeking out and finding help after placing a child for adoption.

This is especially true when women place their child for adoption through an adoption lawyer or facilitator. While lawyers and facilitators may provide excellent service during the adoption process, their interest in the case usually does not continue after the adoption is finalized. Furthermore, even if your attorney or facilitator does provide some support, they may not have the resources, training, or experience necessary to help struggling birth mothers.

In most cases, the best place to find support after an adoption is a licensed adoption agency like DPA. In addition to completing adoptions, we also provide support and services to birthmothers and adoptive parents before and after placement. One of the most important services we provide at DPA is counseling for birth mothers after adoption. In addition to this, we host a number of events and retreats, specifically for birth mothers to come together and find healing and common ground. 

The Types and Benefits of Post-Adoption Support

Depending on a birth mother’s personal feelings and needs after the adoption is finalized, different types of support could be a fit. Some of the most common types of post-adoption support include:

• Support groups or retreats for birth mothers.
• One-on-one sessions with a counselor or therapist.
• Alternative therapy methods including meditation or artistic therapy.

Every type of therapy has its own benefits and uses. Furthermore, not all types of therapy are effective for all people – so just because you’re not comfortable with one style of counseling doesn’t mean counseling won’t work for you. If you’re having issues after your adoption, you should seek help and keep an open mind until you find a program or solution that works for you.

It’s also important to keep in mind that feelings of grief, depression, or confusion after placing a child for adoption are normal and not something to be afraid of. That said, counseling provides a way to experience those feelings with guidance and support from a trained professional. This can help you engage with your emotions and move past them in a healthy, productive way.

Where to Find Post-Adoption Support

There are many places you can find support, guidance, and counseling after an adoption. Private counselors and mental health providers can often help with many post-adoption feelings, and birth mother or adoption support groups exist in most cities and communities.

However, finding counselors with experience in adoption matters can be more difficult. The best place to find experienced counselors is at an adoption agency like DPA. Agencies make it their mission to help birth parents and adoptive families with their adoption journeys, including providing support and help after the adoption. If you’re looking for support – or want to ensure you have it after your adoption is complete – an adoption agency is a good place to start.

To learn more about the benefits of post-adoption counseling and whether a counseling program could be right for you, contact us today at Deaconess Pregnancy & Adoption.