How Can Group Therapy for Parents of Neurodivergent Children Help me?
Often as a parent of a neurodiverse child we can feel really lonely and be really hard on ourselves as a parent. It can be really hard to learn to let go of the expectations we have and the feelings that you just aren’t measuring up.
But how could group therapy for parents of neurodivergent children help with this?
1. Helps to feel not so alone
Meeting with a group of parents whose kids are similar or are going through something similar can make a huge difference in the level of isolation that you feel. That feeling that you have when you talk to your mom friends and they look at you with that quizzical look in their eyes when you talk about your child, isn’t there. Often you see the other parents nodding when it comes to the experiences you are having and the feelings you express because they have all been there and all had the same types of feelings.
2. Learn new skills or adaptations to traditional skills that can actually help you in your life
Often when you seek traditional therapy or have gone to a parent training for parents of neurotypical kids the skills just don’t fit for you or your child. When the group is designed for parents of neurodiverse children your child’s experience of the world and your experience of parenthood are taken into account. No more, you just need to get more self-care from a therapist that doesn’t understand how hard traditional self-care can be when you can barely leave the room to use the bathroom. A group tailored to your experience will give you ideas and help you problem solve ways to take care of you
3. Hear what has helped or does help other parents in a similar situation
When you get to be around other parents who are experiencing something similar to you, you learn about what has worked for them. This is really nice because at least with parents whose kids are similar to yours you can at least get some ideas of what might work. You might find an idea for something that you have given up finding help for. You might also get some insight about what might be going on for your child that you have never thought of before.
4. Figure out what expectations might be reasonable and which ones are too high
When you don’t have any other kids to compare your child to or only neurotypical kids to compare, it’s hard to know what expectations might make sense for your child. It can even be unfair to compare your child to what you were doing at certain ages. When you have other parents’ whose kids are experiencing something similar you hear what expectations have made sense and what expectations have been unrealistic. You can make better decisions about what might work well for your child.
5. Learn more about how your child interacts with the world
When your child interacts in the world differently than you do it can be hard to understand them and to see things from their point of view. It can also be hard for them to understand what you are thinking and doing. When you are around other parents who are in the same situation, often they might be able to explain what their child has said to them or explain things that they have learned about their child over the years.
Begin Group Therapy for Parents of Neurodivergent Children in Sacramento, CA
Of course, all of our children are different and we are all different but for some people group therapy can make all the difference to helping you feel like you can keep your head above water. I want to help you be more confident in your decisions for your neurodivergent child, whether they have ADHD, autism, or another neurodivergent diagnosis. I know the worries and anxieties that you feel. You don’t have to do it alone my California based counseling practice is here to help. And we can connect with online therapy sessions for your added simplicity. Get started with these steps:
Fill out a contact form to get connected with me.
Read about my approach to therapy for parents of special needs and neurodivergent children.
Find direction and support in parenting your child.
Other Services for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids in Sacramento, CA
Here at my Sacramento, CA-based therapy practice, I understand how complex it is to be a mother of a neurodivergent child. If you need therapy for grief as you constantly worry about your child’s future, I can support you in those feelings. If you’re feeling isolated in this experience, I offer support for that too. We also all need community, especially with the way parenting a neurodivergent child affects our relationships! So, I offer group therapy if you’re looking more specifically for a special needs parent support group or an ADHD parent support group. Please reach out so we can get you connected with the caring, specialized support you need, here.