Counsellor’s experience of living with a child with a chronic illness

Abstract

This qualitative research is an exploration of the subjective experience of being a parent of a child with a chronic illness and the personal meanings that are attributed to this phenomenon. The data was gathered from four practicing counsellors, using semi-structured interviews and analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The aim of this study is not to propose any ‘universal truths’ about a parent’s experience. However, this glimpse into their subjective experience provides valuable insight to what emotional and psychological factors have impacted them as a parent since the diagnosis of their child’s illness. From the point of view as a parent it raises some implications for an empathic understanding of how they feel as a mother, whilst looking at additional support at crisis points of their child’s illness, including the diagnosis. The primary findings were the emotive symptoms that parents experience categorised as: Shock, Loss, Fear, Anxiety & Stress, Helplessness, Sadness & Hurt, Denial, Disbelief, and Loneliness. There were a number of other challenges that parents face whilst being a parent of a child with a chronic illness, with reference to the emotional and psychological impact, along with how they have coped. These findings can also support research in this area.