Special Parents: Parents of children with SEN or health problems
Having a child with Special Educational Needs, chronic medical or mental health problems or who is sick is a unique situation (I shall use the phrase “Special Children” and “problems” to summarize). Whilst, I expect that no parent would say that having children has not changed their life in a very significant way, having a “Special Child” is very different. Whilst you deeply love your child, life is very different than you expected it to be, as a parent.
It is very hard for parents who have not had a child with problems to understand what it is like. You may have extra pressures on your time, money and your home environment. Some of you may have had to give up your job. Then of course there is the emotional effect on you. Having a “Special Child” undoubtedly affects your emotional wellbeing. Many parents suffer from a type of grief reaction, when given a diagnosis and the path towards acceptance of your child’s problems is different for every parent. Then of course you have to deal with the every day care of your child, as well as dealing with the professionals in your child's life.
Parents often get support from family and friends, especially friends with children with problems too. Support groups are a lifeline for many parents. There is some support for parents from the NHS, such as counseling and psychotherapy, however many parents have come to terms with their child’s problems but want to move forward with their own life in a positive way.
I expect many of you with “Special Children” spend a huge amount of time sorting out things to make you child’s life better. But how much time do you spend on making your life better? You can change your life on your own, there are many self-help books, however most people find it hard to focus and motivate themselves on their own. This is where a Life Coach can help.
A Life Coach is someone who works with an individual to help them identify and accomplish their own personal and professional goals faster and more efficiently than they could do on their own.
There are many reasons why you might see a Life Coach, these include:
- Coming to terms with the way your life is now
- Practical difficulties of managing your child’s life
- Giving up work
- Changing job to suit family life
- Going back to work after a break
- Difficult times in your child’s life e.g. going to secondary school
- Being unhappy with your work life balance
- Time management: maybe you find you have little quality time to yourself, with your partner or with your child(ren).
- Lack of time for your family and friends
- Self esteem problems
- Unhappy with your home environment
- A general feeling that your life should be better
Why Chose Dr Leonaura Rhodes: the Life Dr?
- I have two children, both of whom have suffered from medical problems.
- One of my children has Special Educational Needs.
- I have been faced with tough decisions about career and personal life
- I understand that there is a dreadful lack of support, especially from people who have experienced similar problems.
For more information on me and how I work see “Why chose the Life Dr” page of this website.
For more information on the type of issues that can and can’t be dealt with in Life Coaching sessions see “What is Life Coaching”.
© 2004, 2005, 2006 Dr Leonaura Rhodes. Design by Andreas Viklund.