Curriculum for Addiction Professionals > Competency 5: Continuing Care of Families Affected by FASD > 7b. Counseling and Structured Group Involvement
Competence 5: Continuing Care of Families Affected by FASD
Continuing Care Services for Clients with Children with an FASD or Possible FASD,
Continued
Counseling and Structured Group Involvement
In counseling women with children with an FASD, the addiction professional needs
to address certain issues, such as:
- Guilt and shame about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the child
- Concerns about parenting a child with an FASD, including questions about child growth
and development patterns, and effective discipline methods
- Impact of the child’s FASD on the woman’s relationship with her partner
and her family
- Maternal and child bonding
- Stress and anger management
- Reunification with children if they have been removed from the mother’s custody
or she has been in an inpatient setting
In addition to participation in ongoing recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA), some clients may benefit from participation in support groups for parents
of children with an FASD. They may also need couples counseling to address issues
related to the woman’s drinking while pregnant, the child’s FASD, and
ongoing issues such as communication and finances to care for the child. Many clients
will need crisis management assistance to cope with stress of learning one’s
child has an FASD and caring for the child while focused on recovery.