Choosing open adoption

Jennifer Bliss, PsyD Adoption Expert, explains why it can be difficult for parents to choose an open adoption, but why it is important and benefits the child much more than a closed adoption
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Choosing open adoption

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I could understand why perspective adoptive parents would be skeptical about choosing open adoption route, especially if they have gone through many years of infertility and the emotions involved in that. Their goal is to be a parent and the idea of taking on an additional relative seems unnecessarily complicated. And I understand that, but you are not choosing open adoption because it´s in your best interest, you are choosing open adoption because it´s in your child´s best interest. Open adoption allows a child to grow up in the healthiest environment possible in an adoptive family. They know they weren´t abandoned. They weren´t abandoned. They know who they are. They don´t focus or concentrate constantly on the past because they know it. They can look towards the future. So adoptive parents will often choose it because it is in the best interest of their child but the ironic part is that the studies show over and over again that parents in an open adoptive relationship are actually more confident in their role as the real parents than parents in closed adoption. There isn´t the anxiety of who is she, where is, is she going to steal the baby back, is she hiding behind the bushes. She doesn´t need to in an open adoption. You know where she is. She is Megan. She lives in Chino and she´s dating a guy named Bob. You are going to see her next summer when she is in town. There´s no mystery and there´s no fear because everything is out in the open.

Jennifer Bliss, PsyD Adoption Expert, explains why it can be difficult for parents to choose an open adoption, but why it is important and benefits the child much more than a closed adoption

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Expert Bio

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Jennifer Bliss, PsyD

Founder of Bliss Adoption Services

Dr. Jennifer Bliss has dedicated her career to adoption education and support. She specializes in providing clinical services for all members of the adoption triad, including adoption education/consultation and pre/post adoption relationship support. Throughout her career, Dr. Bliss has been passionate about educating the public on best practices in adoption and the psychology of open adoption. She is also the author of a new book on open adoption, Another Choice: A compassionate Guide to Placing a Child For Adoption.
Dr. Bliss received her BA in Psychology and BS in Education from University of Southern California. She went on to earn her MSW from UCLA and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Ryokan College. Dr. Bliss has supervised adoption counselors across the country and has spoken on the psychology behind open adoption at universities and statewide conferences. She has also appeared as the open adoption expert on radio programs, podcasts, television shows and was the primary adoption consultant and featured counselor on WEtv's 4-part documentary series, "Adoption Diaries.”

 

www.BlissAdoptionServices.com

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