Adoptive families can often feel left out of the search and reunion process. This can stir up a number of feelings, including a fear of losing the child they raised and loved. For many adoptees, these are important relationships that they do not want to jeopardize. Reassuring their adoptive families, including them and being open and honest can often help them feel comfortable with the reunion.

Adoptive families may not be supportive in the adoptees search because they may feel they have not been a good enough family. They may fear rejection by the... more

You may be asking yourself and wondering, “Am I ready to search for my natural family?” Keep in mind that searching is about finding out the truth about your self. It is NOT about relationships, although most people hope to be able to have some type of relationship with their birth family. The majority of the people who search do indeed have some contact with the other person or family. A lot have wonderful relationships and others might only talk one time.

All relationships need maturity, mutual respect, acceptance, forgiveness, and unconditional love, but... more

Asking yourself what you hope to find when you make contact will help you focus your thinking. Exploring ideas of what the other person may be thinking and feeling will help you to develop empathy.

Meeting other birth parents – but not your own birth parents – can help you feel the range of feelings and adjust to different scenarios. Meeting other people from your own past, such as an agency social worker or former foster parent will help you connect with the feeling of meeting someone who really cared for you and thinks about you from time to time.

Before... more