Counselors’ Perspectives on Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Children

There is a growing popularity for complementary and alternative therapies available for families of children withintellectual disabilities. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perspectives of counselorstowards the utilization of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for children with intellectual disabilities. Themethods used were focus groups, individual interviews, and critical incident responses. Results of this study revealed sixthemes relating to the perspectives of counselors: confidence in CAT; increased parental involvement in CAT; CAT’sability to be calming and relaxing; building productive relationships; professional development; and creating a safe spacefor children with intellectual disabilities. Recommendations for further research and implications for parents of childrenwith intellectual disabilities, along with implications to the field of counselor education and supervision, are discussed.