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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my deep gratitude to all who have contributed to
the development of this dissertation. Wholehearted thanks are given to my
mentors and advisors, Professor Bahr Weiss, and Associate Professor Tran
Van Cong for their fruitful guidance in shaping the conceptual framework,
developing research tools, data analysis, thesis writing, and upholding.
At some point in time, I lost motivation, felt down, and wanted to give up, my
Ph.D. programmate, Ho Thu Ha, gave hands to me with great empathy. She
authentically shared her experiences in doing research. Thus, I step by step regain the
energy and interest in moving the research forward. There are not enough words to
express my appreciation for her support.
It would not be possible for me to complete this work without the
precious collaboration of the Cerebral Palsy Family Association of Vietnam.
My sincere thanks go to the chairperson, Ms. Dinh Thi Lan Anh, her staff, Ms.
Nguyen Thu Hong, and more than 300 of its members who have joined hands
with the research tool development, and data collection process.
I also want to convey thanks to the Vietnam Psychotherapy Association
where I have been working for more than 3 years, its members, volunteers, and
people at the University of Education, Vietnam National University for enabling
and assisting me on my pathway to complete the research.
My family without whom I would never have had the courage and
goodwill to go through many challenges and complete this long process. My
husband Hoang Quoc Dung, my son Hoang Quoc Phong, and my daughter
Hoang Thi Mai Nuong have shown their patience, their love, and their being
on my side to accept any version of myself. I am lucky to have them in my
life.
Although I cannot name all persons to whom I owe a debt of gratitude
for their support, I do hope that they understand my true respect for them.
