[Psychosocial and emotional situation in the care of severely mentally handicapped children and adolescents].

Abstract

This paper deals with some aspects of the work on establishing relationships with the parents and relatives of severely mentally handicapped children and adolescents. Some of the emotional strains, frustrations and tensions experienced by the care-"experts" are discussed. On the basis of many years of personal experience and with reference to the contemporary literature, it is evident that consistency with oneself, openness and realism are the necessary conditions for establishing an effective, constructive interaction between the rehabilitation team and the parents. For this purpose it is necessary to set aside unilateral expectations in relation to the "experts" with the resulting neurotic false attitudes on both sides. In this way it is also possible effectively to avoid the phenomenon of the being "burned out" and an inappropriate "helper syndrome" among the mental health workers. Such phenomena obstacles to the optimum rehabilitation of the mentally handicapped and to effective work with the parents.