[sammmax1]

are there any birthmothers who have had a pleasant, comforting, rewarding counseling experience working with a counselor through an adotpion agency?

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by sammmax1

are there any birthmothers who have had a pleasant, comforting, rewarding counseling experience working with a counselor through an adotpion agency?

I have. But I was counseled by one of the best... Jim Gritter who wrote The Spiritt of Open Adoption.

[kitkat582497]

Yes abd NO My 1st Counseler was a total B*$th... I didn't like her oe bet... Now Linda Thank God for her... I don't know how I got sooooo luckly when she came into my life... Shes more then a counseler shes my friend... And I need that more then a counsler... So there are good ones and there are bad ones... My 1st one told me that at the Hosptal tha I should hold my baby I went off... Linda came in and went off on her to haha... thats when Linda became my counseler... She sopurred me the HOLE time still is... BUT I think that there are more bad ones then good ones... I'm going back to school to become a Bithmother counlerer Sooo I can give back...
Kathy

[Tigger27]

I had the best counselor with my agency that counseled, worked with me and supported me through both pregnancies, both times I placed both my daughters.

She became one of my close friends and I love her to death for everything she did for me. She is one of the most outstanding, wonderful counselors I know that worked with the agency I went through and counseling birthparents before, during and after the adoption took place until she felt each person was ready to go. Even when she let me go and told me I was fine to be without counseling, she still told me she'd always be there for me if I ever felt the need to talk and gave me her contact info.

I also had another counselor for the past year that I just ended the same time as I ended with my counselor from the agency, who was a marvelous counselor. He was awesome and truly had a talent and a gift for counseling and helping people to heal and deal with their emotions and problems - He became one of my close friends as well and I love him to death.

Both He and my counselor from the agency were the perfect combination of counselors to help me figure out my core issues and deal with things. I thank the Lord for having had them as my counselors and now as my friends every day. I'm currently studying to become a counselor in the adoption field as well because I would like to be like my counselor from the agency I went through - she's become one of my role models and I've also wanted to go into counseling/psychology for a long time now, but just recently narrowed down to adoption counseling as my focus.

So, Yes, I had the best experience for me with counseling with my counselor from the agency and my other counselor, who was an independent counselor.

Anne

[sammmax1]

may i assk how old you are

[Tigger27]

I just recently turned 28 years old.

Anne

[Montraviatommyg]

Wish I could say yes but I had absolutely no counselling whatsoever.

Pip

[MajaHedman]

My counsellor is good. There are some things that I wish they did differently, but then I was a conundrum for them in the beginning, lol. A year later I still call her now and then when I have a sad day and need to be reminded that I am a good person who made a hard choice and that yes my son still loves me.

Of course I also spoke with Brenda during some of my darkest days. I'm so glad she was there for me as well.

[m-mom]

after six years I just recently went to a counselor through my agency. It was nice b/c my counselor is also an adoptive mom so she can give me her perspective on some insecurities that I was having about my sons a-mom. It was really helpful and she even helped me write the a-parents a letter about some issues I was having. Everthing turned out so much better then it was before I started seeing her. Eventhough I only saw my counselor twice I feel like that was all I needed, and I am also going to start going to a birth-mother support group that she is hosting. Mainly to have support from people that really can say " i know how you feel"
It's kind of funny b/c like the others I too am persuing my degree in psychology. I have one year left, but i dont think I want to focus specifly on adoption, maybe more on pregnant teens that dont know what the hell they're going to do.