Michelle Befi, Vincent Bemmel, Doreen Samelson, Lindsey Sneed, Jennifer Hoobing
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand how parents experience their child's autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and highlight opportunities for marriage and family therapists (MFTs) to apply their specific training and expertise to support these families. A thematic analysis was performed on data collected during the parents’ initial assessment to better understand the components of their experience. Four major themes emerged from the analysis: understanding, acceptance, coping, and emotion. Many subthemes were also identified across these major themes and while the majority of parents revealed positive experiences, a portion of parents expressed challenges with the diagnosis. Marriage and family therapists are equipped with specific training and expertise which can help identify difficulties in the diagnostic experience, help families improve their well-being through building resilience, and create a healthy environment for the treatment journey ahead in the context of individual, couples, or family therapy. We present recommendations for MFTs working with families with autistic children.
期刊介绍:
The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families is the official journal of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC). The purpose of the journal is to advance the theory, research, and practice of counseling with couples and families from a family systems perspective.