Prepared by Susan Travis
Education and Post Adoption Services Coordinator

The authors of "Post-Adoption Blues", Karen J. Foli, Ph.D, and her husband, John R. Thompson, M.D., are adoptive parents who are familiar with the expectations and challenges of the adoption process. Their book was written as an effort to fill a void in available literature on issues that they struggled with during the post-adoption period of their youngest child.

The book focuses on the reactions and emotions of the adoptive parents. For example, parents may ask themselves "how can I complain or seek support from others, when society considers me a saint?" We have to 'prove' ourselves to be good parents many times during the adoption process, and therefore, expectations are high. Parents they spoke with in preparing to write the book shared that not only were their emotions difficult to understand, but the results of their emotions - guilt and shame - were difficult to cope with.

The post-adoption blues can range from mild anxiety to a full blown disorder similar to postpartum depression, yet minimal research has actually been done in this field. The authors share their personal experience and clinical expertise with us in their book, as they realized that their experiences represent the experiences of many families. When asked what their book offers to adoptive parents, they responded by saying that it "offers adoptive parents the opportunity to express their post-adoption emotions in a legitimate, credible way, and to have this expression met with nonjudgmental ears."

We encourage all of you to purchase a copy of this book whether you are just beginning the adoption process, or have been post-adoption for several years. For more information on the book and the authors, as well as where you can purchase your copy, please visit their website at www.karenfoli.com/postadoptionblues/.

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