Lived Experiences of Mental Health Professionals Working with Children with Special Needs in Pakistan: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Mental health professionals (MHPs) working with children with special needs in Pakistan operate within emotionally demanding and structurally constrained environments. This study aimed to explore lived experiences of these professionals using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). A total of 10 MHPs from Islamabad/Rawalpindi were recruited through purposive sampling and participated in semi-structured interviews. The analysis revealed three overarching themes: client-centered collaboration, multifaceted challenges to holistic care, and coping strategies. Participants reported experiencing significant emotional demands, workplace limitations, and reliance on personalized coping strategies, including spirituality, intrinsic motivation and professional support. Cultural-stigma, limited resources, and inadequate institutional support emerged as key barriers, whereas therapeutic success and meaningful connections with children were identified as primary sources of professional fulfillment. These findings provide insights into emotional and systemic realities faced by MHPs in Pakistan and underscore the need for policy-level interventions, enhanced training opportunities, and strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration in services for special needs children.