Parenting a child with special needs or a new diagnosis can feel like a full-time job on top of a full-time job. Between therapies, appointments, school, and work, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or anxious. While most conversations with your child’s therapists focus on their goals and progress, many parents tell us they wish they had a space to focus on their own emotions, stress, and well-being.
To meet that need, Westside Children’s Therapy is introducing Individual Counseling for Caregivers – a service created to support you. Unlike our Parent Support sessions, where the child is the primary client, these sessions are centered entirely on the caregiver. They provide a space to talk through the challenges of parenting, find balance, and build strategies for your own mental health and self-care.
Why Parents and Caregivers Need Support
Parenting a child with special needs often means wearing many hats – advocate, parent, emotional support, case manager, problem-solver – all at once. You’re navigating treatment plans, coordinating therapies, and trying to make the best decisions for your child, all while balancing work, family life, and everything else that needs your attention. It’s no wonder that so many caregivers describe feeling stretched thin or unsure of where to turn for their own support.
When a child first receives a diagnosis, parents may experience a mix of emotions – relief in finally having answers, but also sadness or uncertainty as they adjust to a new reality. This is completely normal. Many families go straight into “action mode,” signing up for therapies, seeking school supports, and doing everything possible to help their child thrive. In the process, though, it’s easy for parents to set aside their own emotional needs.
Managing multiple therapies, implementing recommendations at home, and keeping up with daily life can quickly become overwhelming. Over time, some caregivers begin to feel that their child’s diagnosis has become their whole identity. That’s why it’s so important for parents to have a space that’s just for them – to process, to breathe, and to take care of their own wellbeing.
Who Can Participate in Westside’s Individual Counseling for Caregivers?
You don’t need to have your child currently receiving services at Westside to benefit from these sessions. Caregivers from outside our clinic are welcome, and both parents can attend together if desired. For insurance purposes, one parent is identified as the billing client, but partners can join as needed.
What’s Covered in Sessions?
Our counseling is short-term and solution-focused, tailored to help parents navigate major life shifts, such as:
- Adjusting to a new diagnosis or treatment plan for your child
- Managing stress, anxiety, or sleep disruptions
- Balancing work, home, and parenting responsibilities
- Practicing mindful parenting and self-care
- Processing grief or frustration about changes in your parenting journey
While Individual Caregiver Counseling is typically a short-term, 6-12 week program, some parents may choose to continue beyond that if ongoing support is needed. The sessions provide space to explore the ways caregiving affects all aspects of your life, with strategies and support to help you feel more grounded and in control.
Westside’s Unique Approach to Parent Counseling
At Westside, our master’s-level therapists truly understand the emotional landscape of parenting a child with unique developmental, social, or emotional needs. While many adult therapy providers take a broad approach to mental health, our team is deeply connected to the world you navigate every day.
We see firsthand how caring for a child with special needs can impact your stress levels, sleep, relationships, and overall well-being. Because we work closely with both children and their families, we bring a specialized understanding that many traditional therapy settings simply don’t offer.
Parents often tell us they’ve tried adult therapy elsewhere, only to feel misunderstood or unsupported in the specific challenges that come with special needs parenting. At Westside, our counseling is designed to bridge that gap – offering a space where you feel seen, heard, and guided by someone who truly “gets it.”
How the Sessions Work
- Child-free environment: The focus is entirely on the parent or caregiver.
- Flexible format: Sessions are available in-person or via telehealth, and immediate daytime appointments are available.
- Separate therapists for child and parent: If your child is already in counseling at Westside, a different therapist will be assigned for your sessions to ensure confidentiality and focus.
- Support for both parents: While one parent is the identified client for insurance, partners can attend sessions as needed.
Because we offer teletherapy, you can fit your own counseling session into your child’s therapy time – whether that’s from your car or a private room in one of our clinics (if available). It’s a simple, convenient way for you to get the support you need while your child is getting theirs.
Getting Started
Individual Counseling for Caregivers is available immediately, and appointments can be scheduled via telehealth or in-person. This service is often covered by insurance. If you’re ready to take a step toward support and balance, call us at (815) 469-1500 or click the link below.
