All parents have an image of the way they would like their children to be. Often this expectation is contradicted by reality for the parents of a handicapped child. Whether at the time of birth when obvious differences are apparent or later when performance differences are recognized, the discrepancy between expectation and reality causes parents to experience a loss and accompanying feelings of grief. This article suggests that the method of group counseling using a relevant framework on which to base discussion is without equal as a means of assisting parents to deal with their situations. Presented to those who lead parent groups for these persons is an applicable model and guidelines for its implementation.