Does Adoption Therapy Work?: Evaluating a Therapy Program for Adopted Children and Their Families
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which participation in an integrated therapeutic intervention for adopted children and their families related to positive psychological outcomes. Fifty children and their parents receiving adoption-competent therapy at a community mental health center specializing in the treatment of adoptive families were assessed prior to and at the conclusion of treatment on indices of child and family functioning. At post-test, children exhibited fewer emotional and behavioral problems than they did at pre-test. No differences in family functioning were found. Higher levels of therapist adherence to the treatment model were associated with fewer emotional problems, greater parental satisfaction with adoption, and greater satisfaction with treatment. Implications for practitioners, directions for future research, and the limitations of this study are discussed.