Joan Marie Pagan, MA provides counseling services for families with children with developmental disabilities, particularly parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder. The counseling provided to parents of a child with a disability can be either individual or couples therapy, as each parent responds differently to the diagnosis based on their own individual personality. Most parents often face feelings of frustration, anger, worry, anxiety, sadness, hope and joy. Parents often seek counseling when facing a child's new diagnosis, to address changing family dynamics, issues between siblings/parents, behavioral challenges or to navigating through resources.
Counseling sessions are also available for siblings of children with a developmental disability. Depending upon the age of the sibling, issues around acceptance, embarrassment, and frustration are some of the areas often raised in therapy. Often, feelings of anger or guilt may arise as a sibling may struggle to understand their brother or sister.
Through individual, couples or family therapy:
1. Parents and children have a source of support and a place to talk about the fears and anxieties parents with children with special needs may experience.
2. Work through feelings of anxiety, frustration, or worry around the diagnosis.
3. Talk about your child's strengths and challenges and set goals.
4. Gain an advocate with school districts and make difficult decisions regarding programs and therapies.
5. Manage behavioral challenges at home and in the community.
6. Trying different therapeutic techniques to find the most effective strategies for facilitating communication and play skills within the family unit.
7. Working to facilitate positive communicative interactions between parents and children.
8. Increase ability to incorporate the child’s special needs into the family in a supportive and empathetic environment.
