Parenting Children with High Needs: What are high needs?
I love being a therapist. The knowledge I’ve gained over the years about how to help others heal and grow in their lives has been invaluable to me in many ways. But being a therapist is only a small part of who I am and what I do. I’m also a mother to four beautiful, precious, and unique children who all have varying needs and require different supports from me, their family, and their community to safely grow.
Some of you may also have children and grandchildren and have very likely encountered obstacles in your parenting journey. If you have a child or children with unique needs, then these obstacles can seem like mountains that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to conquer. The term “special needs” has been used in the past to describe children and adults who may require more care and support, but this term is now more often being replaced by “high needs” because it more accurately and respectfully explains the level of support and care that individuals may need to thrive in their lives.
These high needs can vary greatly, but I’ll give you some examples so you can become more familiar with (and compassionate to) these needs and the individuals who may require them. “High needs” is simply an umbrella term for an array of issues or diagnoses that individuals can have that often make life more challenging, such as medical diagnoses, behavioral issues, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays. Physical disabilities, ADHD, autism, dysgraphia, and Down syndrome are just a few of many issues that fit the category of high needs. This is not an exhaustive list, of course, but it gives you an idea of what high needs are and how they might impact a person’s life.
One area that many don’t often consider as high needs is mental health issues. Depression and anxiety are extremely common struggles for children and adults today and can greatly inhibit an individual’s ability to function on a healthy level in their everyday life. Unresolved trauma and attachment issues can also negatively affect someone’s life long-term.
Some of these issues and diagnoses can be resolved quickly, but others can also have life-long challenges. Some are mild and don’t require the child or adult to need a significant amount of support, but others can be so profound that the individual needs a significant amount of daily help. Regardless, most high needs require accommodations of some kind for an individual to function and thrive, and it’s up to parents, caregivers, families, and communities to provide this support and care. That is why it’s so important to pour into parents, caregivers, families, and communities the resources and encouragement they need as they care for those with high needs. If you are a caregiver or family member of someone with high needs, you are not alone. I hope to be a resource for you in the future as you navigate this tough but rewarding task of caring for your loved one.
Brittney Avaritt, MS, LAC, LAMFT, is a licensed associate counselor and licensed associate marriage and family therapist in the state of Arkansas. She can be reached at brittney.avaritt@gmail.com.
