(Re)construindo vínculos: relato de experiência de um grupo de apoio à adoção

Forming bonds in adoption is a complex process, with moments of emotional fragility for adults and for children and adolescents, but services to support families in the postadoption period are still scarce. International studies point to the need for support felt by families in the process of adoption and Adoption Support Groups (GAA, in Portuguese) have been an important modality of support in Brazil. Bearing in mind the important contribution that GAA can make to families by adoption, this study intends to describe the experience of a partnership between the University and a South-Brazilian ONG (in Portuguese) during a one-year period, in conducting the group’s work. The groups took place monthly and were conducted by graduate students with clinical and research experience in the field of adoption. The themes of the meetings were chosen by the participating families themselves. The experience showed the power of the group to encourage families to report feelings and doubts in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment, which contributed to the demystification of themes related to adoption and, possibly, to the construction and strengthening of bonds with children and with other families.