Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)

Goal: To decrease the stress and increase practices of self care, parents of children with disabilities will be better prepared to advocate for their child, implement appropriate interventions for their child so the child will make optimal developmental progress. Additionally, the stress of parenting a child with disabilities often can significantly impact other life areas such as loss of employment because of the time spent navigating confusing services, divorce, siblings’ needs who are not met, etc. By practicing the stress reduction strategies that MBSR teaches it is hoped that families find their complex life more manageable.

Strategy/Target Population: MBSR is provided in a 6-week course that teaches parents to recognize and deal with stress, anxiety and depression as it appears in their bodies and minds. Techniques are taught and practiced to manage stress through breathing and daily meditation to respond thoughtfully to stressful situations these families face on a daily basis.

Accepted to the Portfolio: October 2017

Target Outcomes

Short Term Outcomes

Families understand the impact of stress on their ability to sustain energy and effectively balance child's needs
Families understand how self-care needs to be a priority to effectively care for child's needs
Families value stress reducing strategies and know how to implement them
Families build connections and learn they are not alone in the struggle to raise a child with disabilities

Long Term Outcomes

Families see a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression levels which allows them to accept their children for who they are and utilize internal resources to effectively advocate on behalf of their child and redirect their anxieties into positive action for their families and selves