Any parents of SN children had counselling?

[Blossom4538]

Has it helped you work through any emotions/struggles?

We find chatting to Camhs helps, although that may be coming to an end soon.

I think both DH and I could possible do with some support emotionally, at the minute.

I had carers counselling ..10 sessions I believe it was about 4years ago now..it didn't work for me I'm afraid..but counselling is a very personal thing ..I think at the time I was too enclosed in my own grief and the counsellor would say the same thing every time ...like " have you made time for a coffee for yourself this week or a massage" or ' your life is never going to be the same again"...not helpful.i would cry my eyes out once leaving and it's totally put me off doing anything like that again.. it was the same though when I had counselling for my cancer though to be fair...it's just not my cup of tea! ..my son is 8 now and has severe autism.Cahms have been helpful recently with strategies to deal with my son but in the past it's been hit and miss..I'm reluctant to talk about my mental health with any professionals involved with my son as it ends up with me taking multiple parenting courses which I've already done before..I think they really do believe that it will help but of course it's sometimes issues with other stuff like dealing with ignorant gits out in community and family and friends ghosting that we need to talk about and I'm afraid little much can be done about that..

I had some counselling to deal with some of my anger that I felt and wasn't able to express.It helped me. I went through a private route and had about 6 months and it did help getting someone else's perspective on it.

Actually I think articulating what you wanted and didn't get can be an amazing weight off your mind. In a way one isn't allowed to say this out in the Real World..people will just fob you off.

Perversely, I found being able to say what I thought was great about ds2, really helpful too, and how I felt really proud of myself for raising him etc.

We didn't really have counselling as such, but Family Therapy. And she didn't really have a clue about what life with ds2 was like, and most of her suggestions just annoyed me, but at least it was a chance to out some of my emotions, good and bad!!!

CBT conversely was yet another example of someone not really recognising what you are dealing with...pinning it all on your early life experiences, and not recognising that the source of your anxieties might be the stress you are under with your SN child..but then as you do the CBT, you feel stronger and more able to recognise what is really going on...(even if the therapist doesn't)

Every little helps