Clinical Issues in Adoption Through the Lifespan

Note: If you attended this session live and received credit, you cannot attend the on demand session for additional credit.

The psychological treatment of adoptees is complex and varied across the lifespan. The “whole person in the family” will be reviewed from the perspective of the child, adolescent and adult. Much depends on the early childhood experiences of the adopted person and the environment of the adoptee before and after the adoption. International and transracial adoptees have extra factors that affect their psychological health and well-being. This program will provide a big-picture, broad overview of the psychological stress and mental health issues that affect many adoptees across the lifespan. This program will focus on snapshots of interventions for early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The underlying assumption is that adoption causes a type of early developmental trauma for the adoptee. This lens allows psychologists to see that adoption affects the person across the lifespan.

This session is at the intermediate level and is designed for psychologists and other mental health professionals.

Objectives:

1. Recognize the developmental challenges that are common to adoption.
2. Explain the importance of family cultural competency in families with transracial or international adoptions.
3. List the ways that adoption is a lifelong process for all members of the adoption triad.
4. Describe how early development trauma is likely to affect many adoptees.

This session qualifies for 3 continuing education credits. You must attend the full program to receive continuing education credit.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.