How to Become an Adoption Therapist

Whether they meet with the adopted child or the new parents, adoption therapists help people deal with a variety of emotions and problems. The therapist may work with race issues, emotional attachment or to help a child form a personal identity. If you want to work in this specialized field, there are a few things you should know about becoming an adoption therapist.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Certification for your state
• Master's degree

1. Study child psychology as an undergraduate to prepare yourself for an adoption therapy graduate program. In order to become a registered adoption therapist, you'll need to have a master's degree. Many therapists earn their doctorate degree before opening a private practice.
2. Volunteer with an adoption agency or institution. You'll want to get as much experience as possible working with both children and the adopting families. It'll probably be much easier to approach adoption issues from a therapist's point of view after you've witnessed adoptions firsthand.
3. Ask local adoption institutions if they have a resident therapist. You may be able to shadow this therapist and see firsthand how he works. Be professional and remember that, even though you are just a therapist in training, you're required to keep client information confidential.
4. Talk to your state's therapy or nursing boards to find out about the required certification. After you complete a course of study at a university, you'll often receive a certificate and be entered into a statewide database of adoption therapists.
5. Establish a relationship between your private practice and local adoption agencies. You could offer to spend a certain number of hours each week working with the children at this agency in exchange for referrals to new parents.

Tips & Warnings

• If you move your practice from one state to another, a school may have to review your transcriptions to determine if your education meets certification requirements in the new state. Some states, like the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area, have the same certification requirements, but there is no national standard for adoption therapists.
• Many adoption therapists specialize in certain areas, like preadolescence adoption or using play therapy with young children. If you to become a therapist in an area that is the home of many other adoption therapists, you may have to specialize your practice to remain competitive.
• If you shadow another therapist, remember to respect the privacy of her clients. You may be asked to leave certain sessions if the family wants privacy.