A child with special needs is any child that because of a medical, emotional, or learning problem may need added accommodations and supports. These may include medicine, therapy, social skills instruction, and extra help in school, which other kids generally do not need or might benefit from for a temporary time.
As a parent of two special needs children, I am deeply familiar with the challenges that child rearing has for parents. I have always admired just how brave these kids are to wake up and face the day. I also appreciate the patience, tolerance, and loving understanding that parents learn they must develop.
Parenting a child with special needs can be a very difficult process.
Children who have special needs may have a hard time regulating their emotions, and they may act out more behaviorally because they have a difficult time communicating their feelings, especially when upset. The fight or flight response is their primal instinct and children, in this mode, are prone to using unsafe hands, challenging limits, trying to take control, and may oppose, as an avoidance strategy, what you are asking them to do.
As parents, emotions may run high because you may be wondering what you are doing wrong, or why your interventions are not working, or how come the same cycle of challenges is repeating on a daily basis. Other families, without special needs children, hold their own judgments. Family members, with good intentions, may offer unsolicited advice. This is a fine recipe for high stress. This is unhelpful because to be most effective, parents need to feel calm and confident in their child rearing approaches.
I have always admired just how brave these kids are to wake up and face the day. I also appreciate the patience, tolerance, and loving understanding that parents learn they must develop.
My approach to counseling for children with special needs is to include the parents so that open communication is maintained, goals and expectations regarding the treatment is clear, and bench marks are created to help you measure your child’s progress.
Treatment modalities with children involve play and art therapy to speak to the child in their natural language and help them master control in a safe context, and cognitive behavioral interventions are utilized to help them improve their thinking and problem solving skills.
Parents are also offered sessions to consult on ways in which to tweak parenting interventions, work on improving behavior management, learn how to adjust parenting expectations, and process the variety of emotions that may surface parenting a child who has unique challenges. I am also a strong proponent of the treatment team, and will offer resources regarding other professionals that may need to become involved to better help you and your child.