The Adoptee Consciousness Model was developed to increase awareness of issues adoptees face throughout their lifetimes.

The model is depicted as a spiral with five stages referred to as “touchstones” that represent different aspects of adoptees’ awareness or consciousness. It is not a linear or fixed set of stages with a “final” or “desired” outcome. Adoptees may move between these touchstones multiple times over their lives. Most do not remain in just one period of consciousness throughout their lifetime.