[humanser] SPMI

[Susan Tabor]

Hi, Mary:

SPMI:  Severe and persistent mental illness.

Reading your post took me back to the days when I applied for my first job.
I was being interviewed for an outpatient position at a community mental
health center. One of the staff, (who was pretty obviously to me trying to
one-up me) asked me how my blindness interfaced with the delusionary systems
of my clients from my internships.

I nearly laughed but thought better of it and bit my tongue instead. I told
her that this had not been an issue, which it hadn't.

I remember later making a decision to change my physical appearance. I had
been wearing dark glasses but decided to stop hiding behind them. My
supervisor suggested that I give an explanation of this change to one of my
clients, a man with severe and persistent mental illness who was very
bright, very psychotic and very medicated. So when I gave the explanation to
him as recommended, he chuckled and said:  "Well, you seem a lot more
worried about it than I am!"

I loved it! And he and I had a great laugh together! Good luck, Mary! Being
confident and using safe practices are important. So is being quiet, calm
and direct in an emergency. I've been amazed at how quickly a situation
de-escalates when I stand up and quietly ask the agitated person to sit
down, or when I simply calmly state that I hear their pain and then state a
need if I have any; e.g.:  "I'm still here, ......, and I hear your pain. So
that we can talk more comfortably, I want you to (sit down, step back, take
deep breaths) so I can best hear and understand you.) Good luck!
Best Regards,
Susan Tabor, LSCSW, MPS
  

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mary Chappell
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:27 AM
To: blind-counselors at topica.com; 'Human Services Mailing List'
Subject: [humanser] SPMI

	Hello All,
I am currently working on my applications to internship. Many of my chosen
sites are medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or VA hospitals. Though
many have discouraged the application due to my blindness--may be to
fast-paced, to dangerous, or whatever else their projected fears and
misperceptions may impose on my pursuits. 
As I apply I have come across the acronym SPMI. Though I am currently
employed at a training hospital--and it is not to fast-paced, dangerous, or
any of those cautionary predictions; however, I am not familiar with this
acronym. Does anyone have any insights on the meaning?
Thanks
Mary


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