Dr. Marci Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.
Counseling families of children with Autism
and other developmental disabilities
401 Alberto Way Suite 1
Los Gatos, CA 95032
ph: 408-356-6510
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Understanding and Coping with Developmental Delays
When a parent learns their child has a developmental delay, they are filled with an array of emotions and feelings. Some parents go through a period of denial as it is too difficult to take in the information around the diagnosis. Some parents had strongly suspected the diagnosis and once it was made by a clinician, the parent experienced some sense of relief and moved to focus on obtaining services.
Dr. Schwartz's Services
Marci Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. provides counseling services for parents with children with developmental disabilities, particularly parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder. The counseling provided to parents of a child with a disability can be either individual or couples counseling. Dr. Schwartz also provides counseling to young adults with a focus on addressing their independent living skills to prepare for post high school goals.
Marci received her Ph. D. from NYU with a doctoral dissertation on families of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Schwartz's Approach
Each parent responds differently to the diagnosis based on their own individual personality. But most parents deal to some degree with feelings of frustration, anger, worry, anxiety, sadness, hope and joy. The following are areas that many parents of children with a developmental delay, particularly parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, focus on in individual, couples or family therapy:
- Work through feelings of loss and grief around the diagnosis.
- Explain the diagnosis to extended family and cope with those family members not able to recognize the child’s special needs
- Advocate with school districts and make difficult decisions regarding programs and therapies.
- Manage behavioral challenges at home and in the community.
- Increase ability to incorporate the child’s special needs into the family.
- Provide a source of support and a place to talk about the fears and anxieties all parents with children with special needs experience including concerns about planning for the child’s future.
Copyright 2010 Dr. Marci Schwartz, LCSW Ph.D.. All rights reserved.
401 Alberto Way Suite 1
Los Gatos, CA 95032
ph: 408-356-6510
