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Learning and Developmental Disability Assessment and Counseling

Families who have a child with an developmental disability experience the same difficulty and dilemmas that bring most families to Breakthrough for therapy. (See information on Family and Couple Therapy)

Parenting a child with a learning or developmental disability can significantly contribute to stress in a family. Parents tell us about their never-ending efforts to obtain adequate services for their child. They also share their fears about what the future may hold for their son or daughter. Will he make friends? Will she find satisfying work? How much independence will he achieve? What about dating, marriage, parenthood?

The energy focused on parenting a child with a disability may lead parents to put their own relationship on the back burner. Couples often request assessment or counseling for themselves while also getting help with parenting concerns. When their own relationship is on track, couples find it easier to support each other and to parent as a team.

Most Common Concerns

• Families often consult with us about how to help their son or daughter learn to socialize and make friends - this is not easy in a world that often devalues people with disabilities
• Families also ask for information about how they can help their children understand their sexuality and learn to make healthy decisions about sexual relationships.
• Families also ask for tips on teaching children the skills to protect themselves from exploitation by others, especially sexual exploitation.

Specialized Services:

Therapy for Developmentally Delayed Teens and Adults who have experienced Sexual Abuse

• Studies indicate that as many as 68% of developmentally disabled men and 84% of women have been sexually abused, usually by someone they know. Some have been abused in institutions, others by their caregivers. We offer the same therapeutic approaches as those provided for any sexual abuse survivor with accommodations made for those with special communications needs.

Therapy for Developmentally Delayed Individuals who have committed a Sexual Offense

• Breakthrough therapists also provide assessment and therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities who may be either at risk of or who have already sexually abused a peer or a younger child. It is important to note that people with developmental disabilities are less likely than others to commit sexual offenses.
• Assessment focuses on discerning the possible environmental stressors, such as significant losses or changes in a person's life, inadequate social supports, or past sexual victimization that may have contributed to the offense. Family, support staff (such as group home staff), the therapist and the offender work together to build a circle of support and reduce the stressors in the individual's life. Family members and support staff also participate in the therapy process so they can coach and support the individual as she/he is practicing new skills.

  Therapy helps the offender:

  • Take full responsibility.
  • Learn relapse prevention skills.
  • Understand and express feelings, including sexual feelings appropriately.
  • Learn and practice social skills
  
  
• Since many of those referred for counseling or therapy have themselves been sexually victimized, therapy dealing with sexual abuse is also provided.

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