Promoting mental health of parents with special educational needs through counseling intervention

Most parents today face significant challenges in raising and caring for their children. These challenges are amplified when children are diagnosed with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Neurodevelopmental Disorders, often leading parents to experience elevated levels of stress and emotional distress. For this reason, the development of services that address the needs of both children and their caregivers is of critical importance. Counseling and family-based interventions constitute a vital component in the empowerment and support of families. The aim of the present study is to explore current data regarding the counseling support provided to parents of children with SEN. Using a systematic literature review methodology, 16 international studies were selected based on established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings highlight that parent counseling is primarily delivered through intervention and training programs designed to equip caregivers with stress-reduction strategies, foster positive parent–child interactions, and enhance socio-emotional skills and communication.