Parental Acceptance of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Family Counseling Approach

Parents may feel a sense of despair when taking care of children with cerebral palsy. Some parents may even find difficulties in accepting the fact that their children were born with the disability. For this reason, needs analysis for parents of children with cerebral palsy is important by using a family counseling service that fits the family culture and socio-economic condition. This research aims to explain the parental needs of parents of children with cerebral palsy. This research used a quantitative approach by applying descriptive statistical analysis and was conducted in Padang with 21 samples of parents of children with cerebral palsy. The data of the research were obtained from questionnaires in a family counseling service for parents of children with cerebral palsy. Results of the research suggested that parental needs of parents with cerebral palsy involve several indicators: parental acceptance; factors influencing parental acceptance; parenting problems and challenges.