Mothers' perception of counselors; roles in working with families of children with Autism: A qualitative inquiry

This dissertation is a qualitative study of the perceptions of mothers of children with autism (ASD) regarding the role of counselors in their lives. A phenomenological approach utilizing interviews, observations, and content analysis was employed to ascertain mothers’ perceptions of counseling professionals in relation to having a child with autism. The data were analyzed for emergent categories, subcategories, and themes. The main finding of this study is that mothers of children with ASD were not able to consistently access counseling services for themselves and their families despite their belief that these services would be helpful. Implications for theory and practice as well as recommendations for professional counselors working with families of children with ASD are given. Finally, areas for further inquiry are suggested.