Building a bond despite the trauma — The use of multi-family therapy (MFT) in adoptive families

Abstract

The aim of the following article is to present an original program, whose purpose is to support the upbringing competence of adopting parents with regards to raising and assisting children with emotional and anxiety disorders. A crucial issue upon which the program has been designed, are difficulties in creating bonds in adoptive families. Eight adoptive families, including 15 adults and 12 children (between the ages of 5.5–10) took part in the therapeutic project described. In preparing the project, we referred to the experience of therapists who use the Multi-Family Therapy Method in their practice. An additional element of the program was video training. Most of the participants evaluated the participation in the program positively. The parents highlighted the benefits of exchanging experiences, gaining support and eliminating feelings of guilt. Engaging children in the therapeutic process (MFT) additionally allowed for a more extensive perspective on understanding the attitude and behavior of children. Creating a safe bond in adoptive families is a difficult process, yet essential for their further functioning. For this reason, it is important for families to be able to take advantage of specialized therapeutic practices in programs geared towards providing support after the adoption process.