No two people with Cerebral Palsy are exactly the same. Each of their brains has been affected in its own way. The challenges they (and their caregivers) face on a day-to-day basis will greatly change based on how much of the body is affected, and how severe the disabilties are. They can range from being a child that has such a mild disabiltiy that one might not be aware of their diffuclty, to an individual with spastic quadriplegia (*link to spastic page) who needs continual care and assistance for even the most basic of needs. At the same time, we must remember that all of these individuals have the same emotions as the rest of us.

It is important that a child with any debilitating condition such as cerebreal palsy forms a healthy attitude towards themselves. For this reason, it is very important that the child has access to a counselor (someone other than a parent or primary care giver) so that they can speak freely about what's bothering them and get the guidance and emotional tools they need to reach and maintain a healthy self-image

A handful of situations and problems that a person with cerebral palsy might face are:

• the sense of being different
• frustrations over having poor control over ones body
• being unable to communicate your thoughts and needs
• having sexual urges just like others your age, but not having the opportunity to act on those desires
• being unable to feed oneself

If a child's disabilities are mild enough that they are going to a regular classroom, the other children in the classroom need to be told of and educated about the child's condition. Every child (and so every adult) knows that school age children can be cruel and can be very quick to tease and exclude someone who they see as different. If a child is the victim of teasing, a counselor can help them to understand such mean-spirited actions, even though it may not totally ease emotional pain, the actions are less likely to cause serious problems, such as depression.

Some of the visibly noticeable physical symptoms of CP, such as incontinence (lack of bladder control) and drooling, can cause embarrassment and feelings of inadequacy, or feelling "not good enough," in any setting. A counselor or therapist can help the individual deal with those feelings in a positive and productive way.

Social Workers are often overlooked, but they are a truly valuable resource for families trying to get the best care for their family member. Social workers can help patients and their families locate community assistance and education programs, and experienced social workers have already been involved with helping families and individuals locate resources. Social workers can ease the sense of isolation you may feel in trying to find the best programs for your child or loved one by using their skills and experience to help make your search for the best programs and treatments faster and easier.

Psychotherapy and Counseling:  Counseling tends to focus on specific current life problems, while psychotherapy usually deals with old "hurts" and personal issues in order to help bring about profound changes in your current situation. Psychotherapy also encourages the development of potential, both practical and creative, that hasn't really surfaced yet. It can expand the ability to appreciate and deal with both the highs and the lows of life.

Behavioral therapy can complement physical therapy, using psychological techniques that encourage the mastery of activities that promote muscular and motor development. Praise, positive reinforcement, and small rewards can encourage a child to learn to use weak limbs, overcome speech problems, and stop negative behaviors like hair pulling and biting.

Choosing a particular kind of counselling or psychotherapy is far less important than choosing the right person - a therapist that the child feels comfortable with. The things that contribute to successful therapy are:

• the skill of the therapist
• the patient's level of comfort with the therapist, and
• the patient's degree of motivation.