Family therapy and intellectual disability

The family lifecycle is a useful framework within which to conceptualize the therapeutic needs of families containing children with intellectual disabilities. At transitional points within the lifecycle marked by events such as the birth of the child, entry into primary school, entry into secondary school, leaving secondary school and so forth, families face multiple stresses associated with having a child with a disability. They may, therefore, require episodes of intensive family therapy to help them manage the transitions between the stages of the lifecycle.