The process of adoption can involve disruption to the child's relationship to their birth family, including birth siblings. Research has focused on exploring birth sibling relationships after adoption. However, the majority of previous research has focused on the experiences of adopted children or adoptive parents meaning adult adoptees’ voices are greatly underrepresented. Adoptees may also experience psychological adjustment in adulthood. Similarly to above, there is a significant focus on psychological interventions for adoptive children and families within the literature, compared to adult adoptees. This thesis aims to give adult adoptees’ perspectives a voice within this field of research.

Part one, presents an empirical paper that explored adult adoptees’ narratives of their experience of birth sibling relationships. The findings suggested that birth sibling relationships are to be understood within the wider family system; birth family, adoptive family and professionals that contribute to the narrative of birth sibling relationships. Adoptees’ narratives gave insight into the meanings and understanding of a felt sense of connection or disconnection within the birth sibling relationships.  

Part two of this portfolio presents a scoping review of experiences of psychological interventions for adult adoptees, from both adult adoptees’ and professionals’ perspectives. The findings of the review suggested that there is a lack of evidence exploring psychological intervention experiences, noted by the absence of evidence based psychological interventions for adult adoptees. The review gives clear recommendations for future research and clinical practice