TPC-Journal-V5-Issue2

The Professional Counselor /Volume 5, Issue 2 245 parenting before and after they are adopted. Parents with internationally adopted children are encouraged to take all social and cultural variables of parenting into consideration (Kotchick & Forehand, 2002), while using an authoritative parenting style as the principal guideline. Implications for counselors. Psychoeducational programs can be intervention strategies for counselors to better serve adoptive families’ parenting needs. Programs may include a miniature of Baumrind’s (1978) work with emphasis on how current parent themes align with the parenting typologies (i.e., authoritative, authoritarian and permissive). Counselors also may consider providing parenting examples; specifically, as suggested by Morris, Cui, and Steinberg (2013), they may provide examples related to intercultural parenting. Group counseling is another option that counselors can consider for families. Parental networks of families with children adopted from the same country of origin were found to be an effective intervention for post-adoption adjustment of families (Welsh et al., 2007), as international adoptive parents tend to listen to and seek help from informal networks whose participants have experienced similar challenges. Focus can be on feedback or experiences that families can gain from each other, while lessening the facilitating role of the counselor. Conclusion A close review of the unique international circumstances related to adoption from China draws attention to risk and protective factors of post-adoption adjustment. Parents of all international adoptees and counselors working with adopted children and adoptive families may want to take the multicultural characteristics of each child into consideration. There are vast differences within international adoptees as a group. Children’s health, attachment and adjustment patterns vary based on their countries of birth, and each individual differs from others in the post- adoption adjustment process due to personal reasons other than cultural factors. Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure The authors reported no conflict of interest or funding contributions for the development of this manuscript. References Barcons, N., Abrines, N., Brun, C., Sartini, C., Fumadó, V., & Marre, D. (2011). Social relationships in children from intercountry adoption. Children and Youth Services Review , 34 , 955–961. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.028. Bartholet, E. (2006). International adoption. In L. Askeland (Ed.), Children and youth in adoption, orphanages , and foster care: A historical handbook and guide  (pp. 63–78). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Baumrind, D. (1978). Parental disciplinary patterns and social competence in children. Youth & Society , 9 , 239–276. doi:10.1177/0044118X7800900302 Becker-Weidman, A. (2006). Treatment for children with trauma-attachment disorders: Dyadic developmental psychotherapy. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal , 23 , 147–171. doi:10.1007/s10560-005-0039-0 Beijersbergen, M. D., Juffer, F., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2012). Remaining or becoming secure: Parental sensitive support predicts attachment continuity from infancy to adolescence in a longitudinal adoption study. Developmental Psychology , 48 , 1277–1282. doi:10.1037/a0027442 Bledsoe, J. M., & Johnston, B. D. (2004). Preparing families for international adoption. Pediatrics in Review , 25 , 242–249. Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss, Volume. I: Attachment . New York, NY: Basic Books. Brennan, C. (2013). Challenging behaviors in infant and toddler non-parental care: An exploration of caregiver beliefs and response strategies (Doctoral dissertation, University of Washington). Retrieved from https://digital.lib.washington . edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/23615/Brennan_washington_0250E_11914.pdf?sequence=1