When we talk of spinal cord injury, fact is it is the family which needs counselling more then the person who sustains an injury. People are hardly aware about spinal cord injury except for few who might have already known or met a person with spinal cord injury. During the initial that is acute phase it is the family members who will have to take a decision in the matters such as going for an operation, choosing a hospital for treatment etc. It is a known fact that the complete recovery in spinal injured cases is below 5%. Most of them would have to lead a life on wheel chair.

It is very essential that the family gets to know of the physical and psychological consequences of spinal cord injuries in order to take the correct decision in every matter of treatment and rehabilitation. Person with spinal cord injuries need proper rehabilitation to lead an independent meaningful life. But to achieve this goal  the person would need support from his/ her family in the first place. It is important that family accumulate all relevant information regarding treatment and cure of spinal cord injury, management of the case such as bladder and bowel management, prevention of bed sores, medical emergencies and complications. This would help in the needed physical rehabilitation so as to provide maximum functional independence. It would lead to a comfortable social rehabilitation. Person with spinal cord would not be hesitant of moving out into the society.

This would not only help in the integration into the main stream but also motivate the individual towards the economic rehabilitation through vocational training and education. All the family members need to guided to behave in a very normal manner and practice empathy rather then sympathy.