Does Reunion Cure Adoption?

Adoption and reunion experiences were examined in birth‐mothers who were reunited with their adult children following a change in adoption laws. Their feelings surprised, bewildered, and sometimes even shocked them. Whilst they described initial reunion meetings in uniformly glowing terms, they also experienced enormous turmoil. Reunion was expected to be a resolution, but in fact, constituted a major life crisis. The policy of one mandated counselling session prior to reunion is examined in this light The author discusses the wider implications of the legislation in terms of society's acknowledgement of past injustice, and the lost potential for healing. Implications for family therapy are discussed.