Parents Clarification of : familial coping ressources

1. COSIP Counselling Concept • Parents • Clarification of: • familial coping ressources • communication about disease within the adult system • parental information policy • Child • Clarification of: • cognitive understanding of disease • fears, concerns and stressors • individual coping ressources • Family • fostering open communication about disease • child-appropriate translation of parental coping style 3-8 sessions in 3-6 months

2. Burdening for Children: • diffuse imaginations and fantasies of the illness • „conspiracy of silence“ in the family • adults never show feelings of grief and fear • illness dominates the whole family life • increased feeling of responsibility

3. Helpful for Children: • Understanding of symptoms • open communication within the family • stress-free areas of child- and youth-adjusted life • precisely defined responsibilities • mental preparation for ongoing process

4. „How can I recognize if my child needs help?“ „… when other children do not come to visit any more“ „… when my child doesn‘t come to me with his problems“ „How to deal with unposed questions?“ Frequent concerns of ill parents

5. Reasons of parents not to talk openly with their children abou their disease • wish to protect their childrén from a sad truth • „children are too young.“ • own strain and exhaustion from their illness • fear of getting too upset with own emotions

6. to keep away own fears and sorrows from their parents consoling the ill parent fear of losing the ill parent powerlessness („can‘t do anything“) Frequent concerns of children