Ashleigh Freeman
Prof. Caruso
UWRT 1103
April 8, 2017
As time progresses and society changes, adoption has begun to flourish and become a
popular option for many couples unable to conceive, single parents or couples in general just
willing to adopt. However, even though adoption is a beautiful and rewarding experience, the
media never truly captures the negative, the negative psychological effects that affect the people
involved in the process. Many birth mothers that chose to give up their child for adoption suffer
from depression, guilt and many other affects mentally as well as the adopted children, who
instead feel a loss of identity or the feeling of not being good enough for anyone. It is said that a
childs bond with their mother begins before birth even happens and that a child can sense a
separation from their mother even years after birth. This may be the result for some adopted
children who feel they are lacking or missing something in their life due to being away from
their mother for so long. Unfortunately, there are few services to help those in need during these
types of situations, leaving many feeling hopeless and lost. I decided to create a counseling
program that is completely devoted to helping birth mothers, adoptive families and adopted
children deal with the struggles and changes of life that come with adoption.
This program is known as Open Ears Counseling, where 3 on staff counselors are there
to support, counsel, answer questions and guide people involved with adoption to healthier and
happier lifestyles. This service, does not provide any other counseling service to anyone but birth
mothers, adoptive families and adopted children so that these people have a safe, understanding
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and comforting place to reside when going through their psychological traumas. This program
will be a 24/7 program where counselors will be on call throughout the nights so that if someone
is suffering from an emotional break during the middle of the night, they are able to talk to
someone because a scarce amount of people understand the true mental state that a person that
Open Ears Counseling will offer over 8 services to the adoption community, a few
Adoption Therapy and many more specific therapies to help with each and every mental issue
that one may experience through their time of adoption. Many people do not see the
psychological effects that one can suffer after giving up a child, adopting a new child into your
home or being adopted at an older age where a child fully understands what is happening to
To promote my counseling program, I have created this brochure that will be in various
prenatal and pediatric clinics for mothers contemplating adoption and newly adoptive mothers
bringing their children for a checkup and will also be available for children who are adopted in
schools, after school programs and even in the university setting for young adults. This will help
get the word about for this rare service and maybe encourage more facilities like this one out in
the community after seeing positive results from Open Ears Counseling. This is a serious and
overlooked issue that is not given enough attention in the healthcare and mental health system.
Often people overlook this issue because it was a choice, but just because it was choice does
not mean that it was not hard and left a scar on some people. More treatment facilities like the
one I have created will help with possible unexplained depression and anxiety disorders in
Works Cited
"Adoption Counseling Services." Nightlight Christian Adoptions. N.p., 2017. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
Park, Madison. "Adopted children at greater risk for mental health disorders." CNN. Cable News
Rummig, Vicki M. "ADOPTION: Trauma that last a lifetime." ADOPTION: Trauma that last a