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Five Reasons to Take Advantage of Adoption Counseling Services

While it can be incredibly rewarding, adoption is also hard, and no amount of support can completely wipe away difficult feelings. But for pregnant women considering adoption, adoption counseling and support services can sometimes help ease the burden.
Wherever you are in your adoption journey, if you are experiencing emotional difficulties, know that you don’t have to go it alone. You are entitled to adoption counseling services, which can be beneficial in a number of ways. Here are just a few benefits of working with an adoption counselor:

  • Your adoption counselor can help guide you through the adoption process. From helping you find the perfect adoptive family for your child to referring you to medical, legal and financial resources, your counselor will be there through every step of the adoption process. They can be a great resource for helping you make decisions about your adoption and hospital plan. Aside from emotional counseling and support, your counselor can help coordinate the practical services you’ll need before, during and after the adoption.
  • Your adoption counselor can provide experience and expertise. Your adoption counselor has likely had plenty of experience working with pregnant mothers and adoptive parents. Whether this is the first time you’ve placed a child for adoption or you’re already familiar with the process, this expertise can be beneficial when you have important questions or simply need someone to talk to.
  • Your adoption counselor can help facilitate your relationship with your child’s adoptive family. Not only can your counselor help coordinate logistics and put you in contact with adoptive families via phone calls, emails or visits, but they can also mediate your conversations and provide coaching and support to help you build the relationship you want to have with your child’s adoptive family.
  • Your adoption counselor can help you process feelings of loss and grief. Adoption can be joyous and fulfilling, not only for adoptive families, but also for you and your child. At the same time, birth parents often experience feelings of loss and grief. Everyone processes these feelings differently, and your counselor can help you work through your grieving process in a healthy, healing way.
  • Your adoption counselor can provide post-placement support. Even after the adoption, your counselor can provide ongoing guidance.

They may be able to connect you with a local adoption counselor or support group in your area, and they can also help facilitate ongoing contact with the family as needed.
No two adoptions look the same, and expectant mothers vary greatly in the type and amount of support they need. You may talk with your counselor regularly through every step of the process, or you may only check in on occasion when you have a question or are facing a tough decision. It’s entirely up to you to decide what type of relationship you’d like to have with your counselor — just know that they are always there and ready and willing to help.