International Adoption Psychological Assessment

The psychological assessment is a necessary part of your international adoption process.

While your home study provides your adopting country with details of you, your life, and your personal history, the psychological assessment provides significant information regarding your mental health.

Adopting countries want to make sure their children are going to emotionally, physically, and intellectually healthy homes.

international adoption psychlogical assessment

If you are in the process of international adoption you probably have questions and concerns about your assessment just like I did.

I too am an adoptive parent. I have personally adopted two beautiful children from Haiti and I know how lengthy and complicated the whole process can be.

Below I have answered some of the questions you might be asking yourself about your upcoming psychological assessment.

How do I prepare for my international adoption psychological assessment?

Many adopting parents feel overwhelmed, fear, and stress as they work through the adoption process. These feelings, although difficult to face, are completely normal in your situation.

There are a number of reasons for these feelings:

1.	There are professionals who have the control to say yes or no to your dream of becoming a parent,
2.	Almost every detail of your life has been exposed to strangers, and
3.	There is an immense amount of complicated paperwork involved in this process.

It is my hope that by acknowledging these thoughts and feelings you can normalize your experience to some degree. The international adoption process can be a long journey in which you will face many hurdles.

As a result, it is very important to take time to relax as you proceed with your quest to bring home your forever child or children.

International Adoption Psychological Assessment

Here are a few tips to make your assessment easier:

1.	When scheduling your assessment appointment, it is important to give yourself enough time to relax before and after. You might want to schedule a fun or enjoyable activity prior to or following your appointment.
2.	As you think about the assessment, practice being yourself. It is always best to remember your good qualities, what your strengths are, and to acknowledge that there is no perfect individual and/or perfect parent.
3.	Talk with other adoptive parents who have completed this step in the adoption process. They can relate to your thoughts and feeling. If you cannot find someone locally to discuss your adoption many individuals are now joining international adoption groups online.
4.	You may want to take time to discuss your fears and worries openly with your spouse or with a close friend. Acknowledging these fears and worries out loud can often dispel them.

How do I make an appointment for my assessment?

If you are located in eastern Canada, you may make an appointment for your international adoption assessment with Anne by clicking on the calendar to your right. It will take you directly to our secure appointment scheduling website.

Your international adoption psychological assessment can be scheduled on Monday afternoons. If Monday afternoons will not work for you please contact Anne and she will do her best to accommodate you.

Schedule your international adoption psychological assessment with Anne Graham, Licensed Psychologist.

What will I need for my psychological assessment?

In order to complete your psychological assessment you will need to finish your home study and have a copy of your home study for your psychologist to review.

It is not advisable to complete your psychological assessment before you have completed your home study. While some psychologists will allow it, the assessment will cost much more as it will take much more time to complete.

What will happen at my international adoption psychological assessment?

The beginning of the interview will include general fact gathering and a discussion of confidentiality.

In a psychological assessment confidentiality will look different then in a typical therapeutic situation as you are requesting a document to submit to other authorities and/or professionals for the purpose of adoption.

In the next phase of the interview we will discuss issues that are significant to you as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. You will also be asked about your mental health, past or present mental health issues, ways you may have addressed or are addressing mental health issues, and how you see any mental health issues affecting your ability to adopt and/or parent.

In the final phase of the assessment you will be asked to complete formal psychological tests.

What tests will be used in my international adoption psychological assessment?

The psychological assessment includes a formal testing process as was noted in the previous question. These are tests that are used by psychologists, have empirical study behind them, and look for potential weaknesses and strengths.

They are self-report questionnaires which will give further information on personality issues, mental health issues, and character strengths. They are not designed to trick you or make you look bad.

There are no incorrect answers and should be answered as honestly as possible.

Some countries (such as the Philippines) specify what test or tests are required while some (such as Thailand or Haiti) leave the testing to the discretion of the psychologist.

How long the interview will be?

The interview will take up to 3 or 4 hours. The appointment will include an interview and time for formal test(s). Please make your appointment at a convenient time when you will not be pressed for time.

(As of July 2013, Anne completes adoption asessments on Monday afternoons. If this time will not work for you please contact Anne.)

How long will it take to get the final copy of the assessment?

Once your interview and testing are completed, it will take two to three weeks for your international adoption psychological assessment to be completed by Anne.

How do I make payment for my adoption assessment?

You may pay for your assessment prior to your appointment or on the day of your interview process.

You may pay with cash, cheque, or you can use PayPal by clicking here and selecting option #3.

Adoption assessments vary in price from $800 to $1200 depending on the requirements of the adopting country.

After making payment by PayPal, you will instantly receive a PayPal invoice for your records. Anne will then send you an official invoice asap by email in PDF format.

You will receive a copy of your psychological assessment once it has been paid for in full.

Where can I get my assessment translated?

There are many countries that require all of your documents to be translated into the primary language of that country.

Your psychological assessment will be written in English and it will be your responsibility (or your agency's responsibility) to have it translated.

There are many excellent translators and you may be surprised at how inexpensive it can be.

Some excellent and inexpensive translation services can be found at www.freelancer.com.

Freelancer.com connects those who need a project completed with those who need employment. It is worldwide.

Freelancer can be used short term and is free to post a project.

Instructions:

Click www.freelancer.com or the logo above.

Click the "Hire" button.

Click

Select "Writing"

Select "Translate Something"

Click "Post Your Project Free" button

On the next page you will need to create a user name and password.

You will also need to fill in your project details and click "Post Project Now".

Be sure to specify what you need, your budget and your time frame. Most translation projects

Click here to see the current translation projects on Freelancer that are being bid on or completed right now to give you ideas for wording your project.

For help watch this video...

There is absolutely no cost to submit a project. After submitting your project you will receive many proposals from many different folks around the world. It is best if you can find someone in your adopting country to do your translating as languages vary from country to country.

When you find a proposal you like, you can then accept it. Your virtual worker will complete your project. You will not pay anything until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

Expect to pay between $.02 and $.08 per word compared to the about $.20 plus you will pay in Canada or USA. Payments are usually made thru PayPal.

You can always tip your virtual assitant upon completion of the project to show your appreciation.

Freelancer will take a percentage as their fee when you make payment to your worker.

Other Translation Options:

Check your local yellow pages for translation services.
Go to Google and search "English to ??? translation" to find suitable translation services.
Ask the orphanage who most adoptive parents use for translation.

What about notarization?

Most countries require the international adoption psychological assessment be notarized. This can be done by a local lawyer. Many lawyers do not charge for such a service once they find out what you need the notarizing for.

international adoption psychological evaluation

Home International Adoption Psychological Assessment Contact Anne Privacy Policy Site Map