Abstract

How can adoptive parents and their teenagers navigate the challenges of the adolescent years?

Full of valuable, grounded advice, this guide will help parents to understand the impact of early trauma on a child's development and the specific nature of the changes that occur during adolescence. With tips for coping with common problems, it combines first-hand accounts from professionals, parents and teenagers themselves. It also covers essential topics such as: family and peer relationships, developing healthy intimate relationships, emerging identity issues, and contacting birth family.

Accessible and honest, Parenting Adopted Teenagers is an invaluable resource for adoptive parents as well as professionals working with them.

My initial reaction to this book has been gratitude for putting together all of the issues that have been a concern to me for the past 5 or 6 years. My daughter has just completed her first year at university and I have to recognise the fact that this has been helped by the support that I have been able to give her. However, I do not doubt that this support would not have been possible unless I in turn had been supported. Rachel has brilliantly outlined what it is to be a therapeutic parent and what it means to be an adopted teenager. I would urge any interested parties to read this book. I will certainly keep this as my constant source of support and reflection.
Marion, adoptive parent
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with adopted teenagers or pre-teens - or indeed anyone wanting to think about and strengthen their relationships with their children - as it is full of very helpful insights and the latest research. I really like Rachel Staff's approach, always looking at the feelings, neuroscience and developmental issues that may lie behind behaviours, which is immensely valuable in helping parents and young people steer a course through challenging times.
Jane, adoptive parent
This book helps explain so many of my children's difficult and challenging behaviour. It is so rare for a professional to acknowledge so clearly the role of parents and that supporting us is also supporting young people. I found this consistent theme through the book so helpful and encouraging. Rachel Staff gets this issue that parents taking care of themselves is vital because unless we are emotionally healthy and resilient we won't be able to support our children. I strongly recommend this book to everyone parenting or working with adopted young people.
Sorrel, adoptive parent
Rachel Staff is a senior therapeutic social worker for Adoptionplus as well as an independent social worker and trainer. Rachel has specialised in adoption and adoption support for the last 12 years. She currently runs training and support groups for parents of adopted teenagers as well as working with teenagers themselves.
What those in challenging circumstances need is understanding, to feel they are not alone, and practical advice and support. Rachel's book delivers this and I trust that it will become a well thumbed reference for very many adopters.
From the foreword by Hugh Thornbery