Parent’s awareness that their child’s development
is not proceeding as they expected can create an unantici-
pated transition from being a parent to becoming the parent
of a child with a developmental diagnosis. While many
transition theories contribute to our understanding of how
parents’ experience change over time, many traditional
transition models are not family-centered and do not pro-
vide a strengths-based perspective of parents’ experiences
during this transition. This paper describes the process of
theory derivation to develop a strengths-based theory of
parental transformation (STPT). We used the theory of well-
being of refugee women experiencing cultural transition to
gain insights into parents’ experiences related to their child’s
diagnosis. We propose that the STPT addresses a gap in the
literature by situating the diagnostic process within a
strengths’ based framework that aligns with contemporary
perspectives regarding disability. The STPT emphasizes
understanding parents’ experiences and needs in ways that
promote personal growth to support the parent and child.

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• Fostering Insights: A Strengths-Based Theory of Parental Transformation