This manual presents a structured, evidence-based protocol for mental health treatment for families that adopt vulnerable children. Children who are adopted at an older age through foster care and those adopted from overseas orphanages are at high risk for behavioral and emotional distress. This important manual presents a structured, evidence-based protocol for providing mental health treatment to families adopting vulnerable children. Drawing on their extensive clinical experience as founding members of premier national organizations that serve adopted children and their families, the authors of this book describe the typical presenting behavioral problems of adopted children, as well as the underlying issues contributing to these problems that uniquely affect adoptive families. These include concerns related to parent child attachment, loss and grief, trauma, the child’s understanding of his or her adoption “story,” identity development, and
Table of Contents List of Online Handouts
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Foundations
Chapter 1: Theoretical and Empirical Underpinnings of Adoption-Specific Therapy
Chapter 2: Overview of Adoption-Specific Therapy
Part II: The ADAPT Curriculum
Chapter 3: Module 1: Trust, Positive Coping Strategies, and Behavior Management
Chapter 4: Module 2: Developmental Understanding of Adoption Experience
Chapter 5: Module 3: Loss and Grief Issues in Adoption
Chapter 6: Module 4: Attachment and Joining With the Adoptive Family
Chapter 7: Module 5: Search for Identity and Transracial Adoption
Chapter 8: Module 6: Adoption and the Outside World
Chapter 9: Module 7: Trauma Treatment
Chapter 10: The Termination Session
References
Index
About the Authors
