Abstract

SILVA, Amanda Carollo Ramos da  and  ABRAO, Jorge Luís Ferreira. From institutionalization to an adoptive family: the child's experience in this transition. Estilos clin. [online]. 2021, vol.26, n.1, pp.83-98. ISSN 1415-7128.  https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1981-1624.v26i1p83-98.

This article aims to demonstrate from the psychoanalytic viewpoint the fate changes for children in transition from the institutional dwelling to a foster family, emphasizing the binding process to the new family. Issues on the legislation, as well as the procedural steps for adoption are presented, and then aspects of the psychoanalytical theory on children experiencing abandonment, separation from the original family, mourning, and development of new affective relations, which are common issues to children in late adoption. The used method is the case study which provided the analysis of a child experience about to be adopted. The results indicate that the adoptee had not yet experienced the mourning as to the impossibility of returning to her biological family, which caused the interruption of the approximation with the applicant adoption family. This report points out the need for listening and preparing the child to experience the adoption process, the assessment of the child psychic condition and availability to be inserted into a new family. It is concluded that the fact the child is legally fit for adoption doesn't correspond to being emotionally ready for this change in life. Thus, the importance of judicial psychologist advice in this context is demonstrated.

Keywords : late adoption; affective relations; institutionalization; adoptive family.

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