PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The inclination of an adoptive child to find their birth parents is a natural one, but what people on both sides of the equation — birth parents or the adopted child — are often not prepared for is what they find at the end of their search.

Dr. Argie Allen, director of Clinical Training in the Department of Family Therapy at Drexel University, says, “Usually there is an unknown. That person wants to pursue the why and so they embark on a journey of what happened.”

But Allen says you need to ask yourself several questions before you start your search.

“Let’s really talk about what your intention is, because there is a strong possibility that your fantasies of who this person is or was may not come to fruition. It could be that person embraces you with open arms. It could be this person chooses not to embrace you, whatever their reasons are.”

She says if you keep all of this in mind it will help quell any disappointment you may encounter along the way.

Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio 1060