Special Needs Parents
Caring for a child with special needs is hard work. You need support too. I’m here to help you feel less isolated and more confident — in yourself, and in your child’s future.
You Might Recognize These Questions:
“Am I doing enough?” “What if this doesn’t work?” “Why did this happen to us?”
When your child has special needs, life often brings more questions than answers — whether your child is young and just starting school, or an adult you’re still supporting and advocating for. You’re navigating emotions and challenges that others simply can’t understand — and it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed, jealous, or even angry, especially watching other parents with “typical” kids, or other families whose adult children have moved into full independence.
- Isolation — it feels like no one truly understands
- Exhaustion — the endless meetings, IEPs, ISPs, and appointments leave you drained
- Disconnection — from your partner, friends, or other loved ones
- Doubt — constantly questioning whether you're making the right choices
- Judgment — feeling scrutinized when your child has behavioral challenges
- Worry — about the future, including who will care for your child when you no longer can
My Approach
You are not alone — that’s what I’m here to remind you of, again and again.
I bring both professional training and a deep respect for what you’re carrying to help you navigate this world. My goal is to create a space where you feel truly understood — where you don’t have to explain the IEP or ISP meetings, the hard days, or the fears about the future you don’t say out loud.
Beyond a space to feel understood, we’ll also work toward action: What needs your attention right now, and what can wait? What can you delegate or let go of? What kind of support does your child actually need? I’ll help you find the right resources without adding more to your plate.
We’ll also focus on the relationships that matter — with your partner, friends, and support network — because those connections are vital to your wellbeing, even when caregiving makes them hard to maintain. Using CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based tools, we’ll work on self-compassion and practical coping skills to help you find more balance.
Ultimately, I want to help you feel confident advocating for both your child and yourself.
I Can Help You...
- Feel calmer and more confident in your role as a parent
- Understand that you're not alone in this
- Navigate complex emotions like guilt, frustration, and fear
- Learn how to advocate for your child's needs
- Build a stronger sense of connection with your child
- Find more moments of joy and connection
- Manage difficult days without feeling overwhelmed
FAQs
My child was just diagnosed with autism or a disability. Do I really need therapy, or should I just focus on getting them the right services?
Both matter. Getting your child the right support is essential, but so is having your own space to process what this means for you and your family. Many parents don’t realize how much they’re carrying until they finally have somewhere to put it down.
I feel guilty even considering therapy when my child or loved one is the one struggling.
This is one of the most common things I hear, and it’s understandable. But you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of your own wellbeing isn’t taking anything away from your loved one, it’s what allows you to keep showing up for them.
Is this only for parents of young children, or do you work with families navigating disability at any age?
I work with families across the full lifespan, from parents of newly diagnosed children to adults supporting aging parents or adult children with disabilities. Every stage brings its own weight, and I meet you where you are.
My family looks fine from the outside. Is therapy still worth it if we're "managing okay"?
Managing and thriving aren’t the same thing. A lot of families I work with look put together on the outside while quietly exhausted on the inside. Therapy isn’t just for crisis, it’s for making sure you’re not just surviving your circumstances, but actually living within them.
Do you work with the whole family, or just the parent/caregiver?
Most of my work is individual, focused on the parent or caregiver carrying the emotional weight of the family’s situation. That said, I’m happy to talk through what structure makes the most sense for your specific situation during our free consultation.