If you are thinking about adopting your partner’s children, you probably already know how stressful adoption can be for everyone in your family. After all, according to Psychology Today, adoption can bring about family conflict, especially if not everyone is fully on board with the process.
Because adoption can be a long and complicated journey, it can be easy to lose control of your mental health. You do not have to put up with increased anxiety, depression or conflict, though. Indeed, you might improve things considerably by going to therapy.
Understanding why you feel the way you do
Even if you know adopting your parent’s kids is the right thing to do, you might have some mixed emotions about the adoption. While your emotions are perfectly normal, an experienced family therapist can help you understand why you feel the way you do. He or she can also recommend coping strategies to help you deal with your emotions.
Building a stronger family unit
Your stepchildren might feel a strong connection to their absent biological parent. If so, when you are trying to adopt them, your stepkids might act out against you. While you might not have the tools to deal with their resentment, a family counselor undoubtedly does. Simply put, attending a few therapy sessions can help you build a stronger family unit.
Even though the angst of your adoption may seem to be unending, nothing lasts forever. Ultimately, though, anything you can do to emerge from the process in a mentally and emotionally healthy place is likely to benefit everyone in your blended family.
