The Dynamics of Adoption

Amal Treacher works on issues of ethnicity, especially those of dual-heritage, and is currently researching childhood subjectivity, through psychoanalytic and cultural theory frameworks. She is Principal Lecturer in Psychosocial Studies at the University of East London. Ilan Katz is Head of the NSPCC Practice Development Unit. His main research interests are child protection, identity and the sociology of childhood. Both editors are directors of CAIS (Centre for Adoption and Identity Studies) at the University of East London.

Documenting experiences representative of all those involved in the adoption process - adoptee, adoptive and birth parent and professional, and informed by psychoanalytic and social and cultural theory perspectives, this important addition to the literature on adoption highlights a new dimension in social policy and personal accounts in this field.

1. Narrative and fantasy in adoption: towards a different theoretical understanding, Amal Treacher, Psychosocial Studies, University of East London. 2. The adoption narrative - stories that we tell and those that we can't, John Simmons, Social Work Department, Goldsmiths College, University of London. 3.The Jewish kindertransport from Germany to England, 1938-39, Rebekka Gopfert, Becks Publishing House, Germany. 4. Infertility and the 'bureaucratic' child, some thoughts on the treatment of two adopted patients Julian Lousada, Tavistock Clinic. 5. The adoption experience from a social worker's point of view Barbara Prynn 6. Identity-Formation and the adopted person revisited John Triseolitis, Department of Social Work, University of Edinburgh. 7. The dynamics of projection in trans-racial adoption Barry Richards. 8. Race, ethnicity and transracial adoption. Ravinder Barn, Royal Holloway College, Univeristy of London. 9. Towards the reality of reunion: an adoptive mother's journey through the fantasies and realities in adoption and birth mother reunion Alison Benton. 10. Lesbian and Gay parents as foster carers and adotpive parents Damian McCann, Principal Family Therapist, Barnet Health Care Trust and Fiona Tasker, Department of Psychology, Birkbeck College. 11. Pregnant bodies and rational parenthood Sallie Greenwood, The Waikato Polytechnic, New Zealand. 12. Changing practice in adoption: experiences and lessons from East Sussex Barry Luckock., School of Cultural and Community Studies, University of Sussex. 13. Clinical work with Adults who have been adopted Rose Golberg, Tavistock Clinic. 14. Triangles of adoption - the geometry of complexity, Ilan Katz, Practice Development Unit, NSPCC. With poems by Margot Henderson. Index.