I am an approved adoption counsellor with Barnardo’s Link Counselling Service . Which means i can carry out adoption counselling on behalf Barnardo’s. Please ask for details.
Why have approved adoption counselling?
Some individuals seek counselling for concerns they feel may be related to adoption (such as low-self esteem) but where adoption is not the key issue. In cases such as these, where the entire counselling experience is not likely to revolve solely around the adoption itself, it is fine to seek help from a professional who is not an Approved Adoption Counsellor.
If you are unsure about which type of counselling is going to be the most appropriate, talking to a counsellor or psychotherapist and simply explaining your needs will allow them to advise you on the best option.
How could counselling help with adoption?
If you have been affected in some way by the experience of adoption then you may benefit from seeking help from an Approved Adoption Counsellor or psychotherapist.
A counsellor or psychotherapist who is trained in this area could help individuals struggling with adoption to:
understand and explore the way they are feeling
develop new coping strategies
find ways of managing stress
learn more about the life long effects of adoption.
Adoption law
In 2010, the law changed so that only counsellors and psychotherapists registered as an adoption support agency (ASA) with Ofsted are able to offer specialist adoption services.
These amendments to the Adoption and Children’s Act of 2002 were designed to ensure that the one in four UK individuals affected by adoption in some way, are provided with support and services from practitioners who hold the proper qualifications and experience.
Approved Adoption Counselling
The introduction of this legislation now means that any counsellor working with a client for whom any aspect of adoption is the main focus, must be registered with Ofsted (or RQIA in Northern Ireland) and subject to regular inspections. You can check an individual’s registration on Ofsted’s website.