The Marriage Counseling Blog

Family counselors are becoming a very helpful resource for families that have grown in a variety of ways. Whereas the traditional family idea of opposite sex parents and biological children is the most commonly thought of, the reality is that, these days, the family next door is just as likely to have become a family as a result of marriage with step children, parents with foster children and adopted children as well as biological children and gay or lesbian couples raising children.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy says:

Adoptive parenting is the same as, and different from, parenting children by birth. It is the same in that parents love their children and want what’s best for them, and worry about their child’s health and well being in the same way that biological parents do. It is different because adopted children face unique challenges and feelings related to being part of an adoptive family. These challenges include feeling different from children who were not adopted, feelings about why they were placed for adoption, feelings about birth parents, as well as concerns about handling questions by peers and adults about their adoption. Adoptive parents need to know how they can help their children to successfully handle those challenges.

It is important to keep in mind that parenting is parenting and children are children, however, adoption and blended families can have their own sets of unique obstacles to meet and overcome as a family group. A responsible and experienced family therapist can help your family understand the issues that you are dealing with and help your family find solid footing and growth through love and compassion.

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