ABSTRACT
Parents rarely expect their child’s disabling condition or life-threatening illness. The
confirmation or diagnosis, whether at birth or later, often creates an immense crisis of
changed expectations and hopes, and parents may experience intense reactions during the
early days. In this chapter, we will be looking at some of the ways in which professionals
can help parents through this initial traumatic period and beyond. Various psychological
theories and frameworks will be introduced as a basis for informing and guiding practice.
