🧸 Adopted Children: Support, Identity, and Hope

Therapy & Guidance for Adoptive Families in Orlando and Beyond

Every year, approximately 120,000 children are adopted in the United States. Many of these adoptions involve children once considered "unadoptable" due to physical, developmental, or emotional challenges—often called special needs adoptions. Today, more than ever, adoption offers these children the chance to grow up in loving, permanent families instead of foster care or institutional settings.

💬 “When Should We Tell Them?”

Talking to Your Child About Their Adoption Story

One of the most common questions adoptive parents ask is:
👉 “When—and how—do we tell our child they’re adopted?”

Child and adolescent mental health professionals recommend that children learn about their adoption from their adoptive parents, not from extended family, friends, or overheard conversations. This builds trust, security, and openness, and sends a powerful message: adoption is something to be proud of, not hidden.

🧠 Two Common Approaches:

  • Early Telling Approach:
    Many experts suggest introducing the concept of adoption as early as possible, using age-appropriate language. This allows the child to integrate the idea naturally into their identity over time.

  • Later Disclosure Approach:
    Other professionals recommend waiting until the child is old enough to understand the concept more fully, avoiding early confusion or misinterpretation.

Regardless of the approach, what matters most is how the story is told—with truth, warmth, and reassurance.

📚 Storytelling That Heals

Children's books about adoption can help ease the conversation and normalize the experience. At The Counseling Corner in Orlando, we can recommend developmentally appropriate tools to assist parents in sharing this important part of their family’s journey.

🌱 Emotional Responses: What to Expect

Children respond to the news of their adoption in different ways, depending on their age, maturity, and emotional development. Some may:

  • Deny the adoption or fantasize about their birth parents

  • Believe they were abandoned for being “bad”

  • Worry that they were kidnapped or unwanted

🌟 But when parents talk openly and positively, these fears are far less likely to take root. Conversations about adoption should be ongoing, not one-time disclosures.

According to research, adopted individuals may have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and identity confusion compared to non-adopted peers (PMC, 2021). Open, honest, and developmentally appropriate conversations play a critical role in reducing shame and promoting emotional resilience.

🧠 Adoption and Attachment

Children adopted from institutional care or neglectful environments may face attachment challenges. These include difficulty trusting others, emotional regulation issues, and behavioral problems.

🔍 Attachment Disorders, such as reactive attachment disorder (RAD), are more common among children adopted later in life or from adverse early environments (AttachmentProject.com).

At The Counseling Corner, our team of child and family therapists is trained in:

We help families rebuild bonds, restore emotional safety, and foster a secure base for their child.

🧭 Identity and Adolescence

Adolescence is a time of self-discovery, and for adopted teens, questions about identity can feel even more intense—especially for those adopted across cultures or countries.

This is often referred to as "genealogical bewilderment"—a psychological term that describes the confusion and grief some adoptees feel when they lack knowledge about their biological origins.

It is normal and healthy for teens to:

  • Wonder about their birth parents

  • Ask where they came from

  • Explore how they fit into their family, school, and social circles

This interest is not a rejection of their adoptive parents—it’s part of growing up. Adoptive parents can offer emotional support by saying, “It’s okay to be curious, and we’re here to help you explore those questions.”

🌍 For transracial adoptees, building a connection to their birth culture can strengthen self-worth and racial identity. Culturally affirming experiences, media, and community engagement are all helpful tools. The Counseling Corner offers specialized services to support identity development in adopted teens.

🛠️ When to Seek Help

While many adopted children thrive, others may experience:

Parents often wonder if these struggles are adoption-related. The truth? It varies. But either way, you don’t have to face it alone.

If your child is:

  • Preoccupied with adoption

  • Showing signs of emotional distress

  • Struggling with behavior, relationships, or school

📍 The Counseling Corner provides comprehensive support services for adoptive families:

Our clinicians in Orlando are trained in adoption-competent care to help families build connection, address emotional needs, and move forward with confidence.

🧡 A Lighthouse for Adoptive Families

Adoption is beautiful—but it also comes with layers. At The Counseling Corner, we understand those layers. Whether you’re celebrating your child’s story, answering hard questions, or helping them heal old wounds, we’re here for you every step of the way.

🔎 Related Topics

  • Child Counseling Services in Orlando

  • Therapy for Adopted Teens in Florida

  • Parent Coaching After Adoption

  • Attachment-Based Therapy Approaches for Families

📞 Ready to Talk?

🌟 You don’t have to wait until there’s a crisis: 407-843-4968 or email info@counselingcorner.net
Let us walk with you now—offering peace, perspective, and proven tools to help your child feel safe, whole, and deeply loved.

👉 Schedule a session today with one of our adoption-competent therapists.
📍 Proudly serving Orlando, Central Florida, and surrounding communities with in-person and online sessions.

🔗 Visit www.counselingcorner.net to learn more about our adoption support services.