If you, or someone you know, has a child with special needs, you already know that there are many new challenges for the entire family. From infancy to young adult years, the child’s special needs influence the lives of everyone in the family. Roles and routines may change, and siblings, parents, grandparents and other extended family members may be affected.

Has your child been diagnosed with: ADHD? Autism Spectrum Disorder? Chronic Illness? Communication Disorders? Behavioral Disorders? Hearing Impairment? Learning Disabilities? Mentally Handicapped? Cerebral Palsy? Multiple Disabilities? Physical Disabilities? Traumatic Brain Injury? Visual Impairment?

Whether any of these diagnoses are appropriate for your child, or you have other concerns about their cognitive, physical, or social development, the therapists at Family Therapy Associates are ready to help you explore your concerns and find solutions that "fit" for you and your family.

If you are wondering if you and your family might benefit from therapy,
ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you find it difficult to witness your child's daily challenges?


• Do you worry about the well-being of other children in the family?


• Is there increased tension with your spouse?


• Are you are a single parent going through this on your own?


• Are you troubled about the fair distribution of time, money and attention to other family members?


• Are you experiencing feelings of guilt, anger, sadness, fear, or anxiety?


• Do you find yourself constantly worrying about your child’s future?


• Are you struggling with the exhausting nature of the situation?


• Are you reluctant to discuss these emotions with friends or family members because they are just “too close to the situation”?

At Family Therapy Associates, we see many families who are struggling to cope with the special challenges they face when a child is ill or disabled. They come to us searching for ways to balance emotional, physical, social, and/or spiritual needs for the entire family. Responses to this stress vary as much as the answers to how best to cope. The problems are individual, the situations are different and the choices are personal.

So How Can Therapy be Helpful? The parents we work with tell us that when they find the support that they need, they are better able to provide and enjoy a positive, caring, and loving environment for the entire family. Through therapy they have recognized that it is a "normal" process to need to explore ways of coping with a child with a disability or chronic illness, and it is far better to be prepared if and when a critical issue arises. Often the therapy comes as a combination of psychotherapy, consultation, and educational resources. Finding this balance between the special needs of the child and family life is an important part of the therapy process.

What services are available for families of children with special needs?

Individual or Family Therapy - Weekly or bi-weekly sessions for parents and/or children.

Consultations - Therapeutic conversation for less intensive counseling for those who want to address a specific difficulty; often resolved in only 1 or 2 sessions.

School Collaboration – At the request of parents, we are available to collaborate with the school system, attend parent-teacher and attend IEP meetings.

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