Looking To Adopt? Why A Psychological Evaluation Is Required
You made the decision to adopt a child. Maybe you have struggled with infertility issues and cannot conceive a child of your own. Or you may be single and ready to become a parent, despite not having a partner.
Whatever your reasons are, you are definitely ready for this next chapter of your life. Thankfully, we are now living in a society that no longer places value only on a traditional definition of what a family is.
Nobody goes into the adoption process thinking it will be easy or quick. You know there will be home visits, phone calls, paperwork, and a lot of work to even get approved to be an adoptive parent.
There are a lot of requirements that come with the process, but one thing you weren't expecting was the requirement that you must undergo a psychological evaluation.
But why is this required?
Different Adoption Agencies Require Different Types Of Testing
There is no standard when it comes to what adoption agencies require. Each agency you could work with may require different types of testing from one another. Which makes this really hard to navigate amidst everything else you need to complete.
As complicated as this part of the process can feel, it is definitely a necessity to ensure the safety and best possible placement for a child or baby.
Safety First
The rigorous requirements of the adoption process are there for a reason. First and foremost, it is to ensure that the child going into your home is going to be safe and cared for.
A lot of people assume that adoption agencies really only care about the financial side of things. If you can provide for the child, you're automatically in. But caring for a child goes beyond financial responsibilities. The safety and well-being of a child are of the utmost importance.
Psychological testing can help determine if someone is fit to be a parent. It can help rule out any indicators that the stress of being a parent may cause an abusive situation to take place. Or even more commonly neglect.
It Can Prevent Disapproval
A good psychological evaluation doesn't just involve the test itself. Sometimes, a psych test will raise some red flags that could be questionable to an adoption agency. Resulting in you not being approved to adopt.
These red flags, however, don't necessarily mean you aren't equipped to be a parent. All it means is that there are some things you may need to work on before adopting a child into your home. This process should always include review time with the practice or clinician who is completing the evaluation.
As part of the review process, if red flags are seen, you should work with someone who is able to help you expand on your skills as a parent. And in some cases, work to address past trauma that could affect you as a parent.
It Can Teach You Valuable Parenting Skills
The adoption process is challenging and it takes time. This is really similiar to being a parent, because it's a commitment. Your dedication and attentiveness to the process of adoption is one of the first steps needed to become a great adoptive parent.
It teaches you skills in patience, timeliness, compassion, and understanding. Sometimes, a potential adopter doesn't truly realize what it takes to fully integrate a child into your home. Psychological evaluations can help give some insight into that process.
If you are in the process or thinking about adopting a child, we congratulate you on wanting to take the next step. There are so many children in the United States and worldwide who need good loving homes.
At our practice, we are dedicated to providing extremely thorough evaluations and a review process that can help you along the way. Don't hesitate to reach out if you are ready to have us complete your adoption psychological evaluation.
