ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author describes the parents in three adoptive families who have used specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Fostering, Adoption and Kinship Care Team, their experiences of professional involvement and of work with team. Experienced adoption professionals understand only too well the extreme nature of the challenges faced by adoptive parents. A. Hart and B. Luckock also state that many adoptive parents can feel reluctant and uneasy about attending therapy sessions, as they are anxious that their discussions, anxieties, and feelings might be shared with the social workers. Few people understand the specific needs of adopted children and their parents. The truth is that the author depression was directly related to ongoing stress associated with living for nine years with two children with extremely challenging behaviour. Some of that help has been exceptional, some adequate, and some has been distressing, adding unnecessary stress to a system already under duress.
