'Challenging the Status Quo' Mothers of Children with Disability and their Relationships with Professionals: Counselling Psychology and its Social Justice Agenda
Family practitioners are increasing likely to engage with mothers whose child has a disability (The Common Assessment Framework, Department of Education and Skills, 2006). This Portfolio aims to uncover the dynamics that shape such relationships and to throw light on what needs to be addressed in order to achieve best outcomes. The first section presents an overview which briefly describes each section and identifies the various threads which interlink through them. The second section, the research component, explores how mothers of children with complex disabilities experience their relationships with professionals supporting them. The study describes the strengths and difficulties within these relationships as being influenced at personal, systemic and social levels and explores the implications of these findings with regard to Counselling Psychology. The third section is the clinical component and describes professional engagement with the mother bereaved of her disabled son. This piece reflects on the use of Person Centred Counselling in supporting her to restructure her identity as she copes with her loss. The final section, the commentary piece, sets the research findings into a broader conceptualisation of social injustice, oppression and disempowerment and calls on British Counselling Psychology to renew its appreciation and involvement in social issues.
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