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Counselling for parents

Amandajj

Hello everyone, I'm Amanda and a single mum of a 6 year old high functioning little lad.  I am also a trainee counsellor and just about to start a research project.  I am passionate about autism and strongly believe there needs to be more awareness of it. 

My research project is asking the question whether counselling should be available to parents following the diagnosis of autism for their child.  I would be very grateful for any feedback anyone can offer me on this subject.  I have found very little research done on this and would be very grateful for any views you may have.  

If you have any questions for me on this please ask.

Amanda

Parents

  • When my youngest was diagnosed, they broke the news to me as if they were giving me some traumatic news and awaiting an outpouring of emotion.

    They overlooked the fact that I self-referred my child, I had sent them a 20+ page report on all her difficulties and therefore was clearly expecting an autism diagnosis.

    The fact that I am an Aspie myself and I saw the diagnosis as a logical outcome of a process (which I expected), and also as a relief that they recognised her condition and I didn't have to battle for a second opinion or anything, meant I was very unperturbed by the outcome and this probably wasn't what they were expecting.

    I think money should be ploughed into supporting autism as a condition more than counselling for it.  Counselling is available on the NHS when people need it anyway.  A sense of loss or grief is the same whatever the cause so I don't think specific autism-related grief counselling is necessary.

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  • When my youngest was diagnosed, they broke the news to me as if they were giving me some traumatic news and awaiting an outpouring of emotion.

    They overlooked the fact that I self-referred my child, I had sent them a 20+ page report on all her difficulties and therefore was clearly expecting an autism diagnosis.

    The fact that I am an Aspie myself and I saw the diagnosis as a logical outcome of a process (which I expected), and also as a relief that they recognised her condition and I didn't have to battle for a second opinion or anything, meant I was very unperturbed by the outcome and this probably wasn't what they were expecting.

    I think money should be ploughed into supporting autism as a condition more than counselling for it.  Counselling is available on the NHS when people need it anyway.  A sense of loss or grief is the same whatever the cause so I don't think specific autism-related grief counselling is necessary.

Children
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