Making an adoption plan is not a one-time decision. Instead, it involves a series of decisions. Buckner counselors are available to help you sort out your feelings and help you weigh the “pros and cons” in each decision. You may have feelings that you aren't even aware of until a professional counselor asks the right questions.
Buckner counselors offer knowledge and professional experience in adoption and crisis pregnancy related issues. We can help you look at these things:
Exploring Parenting v. Adoption
Many birth parents fear going to an agency for counseling because they are afraid they will be "talked into adoption." Buckner wants to help you look at ALL the options and feels that it is vital to explore options in parenting.
Adoption’s Impact on Children
Not only will birth parents make decisions that will impact the rest of their lives, those decisions also impact the rest of a child's life. Our counseling is focused on what is in the child’s best interest.
Dealing with Grief and Loss
Birth parents may need help in dealing with some of the losses in adoption: loss of the parental role, loss of self-esteem or possibly the loss of their family's trust. A counselor can help a person identify these losses and offer some coping methods to deal with the stages of grief.
Knowledge of Legal Issues
Buckner counselors assist birth parents with the various legal issues in adoption. Each legal step is carefully explained, and copies of all signed documents are given to the clients.
Selecting and Meeting a Family
Through counseling at Buckner, birth parents will explore their feelings about meeting a prospective family. With their counselor, prospective birth parents identify specific qualities desired for adoptive parents, discuss their fears and concerns and receive preparation for meeting with and establishing an ongoing relationship with an adoptive family.
Preparing for the Hospital
In order for the birth families to be prepared for the birth of the baby, issues such as childbirth education, anticipating responses from hospital staff and establishing a detailed plan for delivery and the hospital stay are all covered in counseling.
Support Groups
Buckner support groups offer an opportunity for birth parents and birth grandparents to hear what others have to say about their own adoption experience and to gain support from others who have experienced the placement of a child. Click here for a schedule of our support group dates.
