Counseling of parents of a child with uncontrollable seizures

This review deals with the problem of counseling parents of children with intractable epilepsy. The previous topics address the complexity of the pathophysiology and the treatment options available both mainstream and alternative. However, knowing the reasons for intractability or the reasons for treatment failure may be insufficient to guide the health care professional in trying to help families deal with this problem on a day-to-day basis. There is no greater challenge for the epilepsy professional than caring for this group of patients. How do we help the parents of children we cannot help? Although we may not be able to eliminate seizures, we can be accessible and listen openly. We can try and help families develop strategies, skills, and resources that empower them to manage their situation more effectively.