Abstract
We aimed to understand the phenomenological experience of parents in the relationship with their child diagnosed with autism. From dialogical encounters with 11 participants, we wrote narrative descriptions considering the main elements of relevance in their experiences. Results show that: (a) diagnosis triggers a new understanding of their child; (b) mothers develop a relationship of exclusiveness with their child; (c) mothers neglect themselves to take good care of their child; (d) playing together makes their relationship more rewarding; (e) school is perceived as a partner in the care of the child. Therefore, we concluded that affectionate parent-child relationships go beyond the limitations imposed by the pathology and can be enhanced by psychological care for the parents.
Keywords:
autism; parents; phenomenological research; comprehensible narratives; humanistic psychology