Abstract
Family adaptation to the child’s illness proceeds through four stages: pre-diagnostic; confrontational; long-term adaptation; and terminal. Family needs and accessibility to help vary in each stage. The confrontational stage is an optimal time for the introduction of the social worker as family counsellor, since the intensity of the crisis may diminish the effectiveness of existing patterns of coping behaviour in the family and motivate its members to accept help in modifying and strengthening their adaptive capacities. During the confrontational stage, parents face a threefold task: to assimilate the reality; to master the anticipatory grief reaction aroused by that reality; to maintain need-fulfilling relationships within the family. In each area, contributions of the social worker can be delineated. A careful appraisal of parents’ defences can, however, help to ensure that their needs are adequately met. First, such an evaluation can safeguard relationships between parents and other significant persons. Second, evaluation of defences helps to ensure that inapparent needs are not overlooked.
Published Version
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