Complex Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Developmental Approach to Clinical Practice (Clinical Practice with Children, Adolescents, and Families) - Tapa dura

"This is a superb book--carefully organized, theoretically sophisticated, and clinically wise. It offers an in-depth biopsychosocial perspective on the complicated world of complex adoption and new reproductive technologies. Clearly written and widely accessible, it is 'must' reading for practitioners, teachers, and others who work in the field or whose lives are affected by these remarkable new developments." --Gerald Schamess, MSS, Smith College School for Social Work

"A superb contribution. I hear the wonderful voice of Selma Freiberg in the lucid, jargon-free style of these scholarly clinicians. The volume provides in-depth, useful knowledge about adoption and new reproductive technologies in the new millennium. It is thoroughly documented by clinical observations that are connected with a systematic review of the literature. In a practical and highly readable manner, the book describes how clinical care and policy planning can keep pace with the changing structure and function of the family in the United States." --Albert J. Solnit, MD, Sterling Professor Emeritus, Pediatrics and Psychiatry; Senior Research Scientist, Yale Child Study Center

"In a well-integrated and articulate presentation, this book examines the unique family narratives of families formed through nontraditional means. The work will help practitioners guide parents towards a healthy attachment with their child and towards meeting the changing developmental needs of the child and family. I highly recommend this volume not only to clinicians but also to child welfare workers, physicians, lawyers, teachers, and others working with families formed through complex adoption or assisted reproductive technology. It will also be a valuable addition to graduate courses in clinical social work and psychology." --Elaine Herzog, EdD, Clinician Administrator, Child and Adolescent Services, University Behavioral HealthCare, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

New pathways to parenthood are being traveled by growing numbers of couples and single adults, including many who face medical and social barriers to having children. From a psychological standpoint, families formed by complex adoption and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are first and foremost just that--families. Yet they also face a unique array of issues and challenges that may be clarified and resolved in the therapeutic setting. This much-needed book provides a deeper understanding of the ways that complex adoption and ART shape the life experience of children and parents, identifying important areas and methods for assessment and treatment. Combining developmental and ecological research with in-depth case material, the book establishes an integrative framework for clinical practice.

The authors draw upon knowledge and skills gained from working in a variety of new family contexts. In the area of adoption, many new options have evolved that differ from traditional practices of adoption at birth. Thousands of older children in foster and institutional care in the United States and abroad are awaiting permanent placements. Open adoption, kinship adoption, and transracial adoption are also transforming family life, as is the use of ART, which raises significant issues of family identity and family process. The book explores such key themes as the significance of early experience, the capacity to recover from exposure to trauma, the impact of heredity and the difference that environment can make, and the centrality of primary attachment relationships. Also discussed are the impact of bias and other issues affecting families of difference, including lesbian and gay families. Concluding chapters consider promising future directions for training and research.

This is an important resource for social workers, family therapists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals working with children and families, as well as researchers and students in these fields. It will serve as a text in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses.