For the entirety of my son Nicholas’ life I have kept two halves of my identity separate. My professional life as a therapist has been isolated from my life as a mother, specifically a special needs mother. The impetus for this came from my training as a psychoanalyst, an approach that teaches that a therapist should keep her personal life private from her clients.

As lonely and isolating as parenting a child with special needs can feel, though, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Here, Christine Grounds, LCSW-R, answers questions about mental health when you’re the parent of a child with special needs.