[humanser] humanser Digest, Vol 75, Issue 4

Sun Aug 8 18:03:19 UTC 2010

Hi:

It sounds as if you have all in good control.  I trust that all goes 
smoothly.

My worst insult from an angry teen:  "You blind bitch!"  I'm male.
My worst question:  "Who dresses you."  This on a day when I wore one black 
and one white sock.
My introduction of blindness:  To a child, "do you know why I use this white 
cane?"
My  reading questions:  For children, "Here are some braille cards, try to 
figure out the code."

Sometimes with individual children/teens or with families and in tween and 
teen groups I have used a night shade and offered them options of using a 
sighted guide, a guide dog, or a white cane;  A trust exercise that is 
easier for some than others.

Every client is different and each one has different perceptions of you, a 
different transference.  Use it and don't over or under divulge.  Several of 
my clients have enjoyed that I do not see them due to body image issues and 
shame issues.  And I get to ask embarrassing questions about identifying 
information without making assumptions:  weight, height, scars, eye and hair 
color.  Some clients have an interesting time answering these - I do remind 
them that all of my patients are smart and good looking by definition.

I especially enjoy group therapy.  Right now I have only two weekly groups, 
one for parents with mental illnesses and a second for transitional youth - 
they call it the PIE group for Practical Independence Education.  For months 
I've been trying to get permission for a group for older parents - adoptive 
parents and guardian grand and great-grandparents but the agency is 
"concerned" about being paid for my time.
You got an introduction to all the staff.  That's great.  My agency is big 
with over 100 employees and I still don't recognize many of the hellos I get 
in the hallway.  Not too big a deal, but it irritates me and embarrasses me 
when I make an assumption and identify a person incorrectly.

JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JMassay" <jmassay1 at cox.net>
To: <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: [humanser] humanser Digest, Vol 75, Issue 4

> HI Yolanda and all,
>
> First, let me say that I'm sorry I missed seeing you in Dallas. I hope
> everything is going well for you and hope to see you next year.
>
> My practicum is at a family counseling center. I'll be working with a 
> fairly
> broad range of clients; juvenile 1st time offenders and their parents, an
> anger management  group at an alternative high school and some individual
> clients as well. The clinic focuses mostly on children and adolescents.
>
> The staff and therapists at the clinic have been great so far. We've 
> already
> discussed how I am able to use technology for the paperwork and forms. 
> They
> also introduced me to each therapist and staff member when I had my second
> interview. I was impressed that everyone seemed, at least openly, very
> receptive. I have experienced some problems with one professor who did not
> ever really ever get past my blindness. However, all of the other 
> professors
> were awesome and really were very supportive and encouraging. I am at the
> top of my class and the practicum site is one that is somewhat coveted by
> others.
>
> As far as clients, I have not overtly brought up my blindness. I have
> answered any questions that they might have had but it has never really 
> been
> a problem. The most questions I've received have been in a group setting
> though so it might be helpful to prepare for that. Any advice or
> suggestions. Also, I'm curious to know if anyone has had a client that had
> an issue with them being blind.
>
> One more thing for the future....what kind of formats do most of you use 
> in
> having fillable forms that are accessible? The clinic I'm doing my 
> practicum
> at has everything on an internal driver so it shouldn't be too much of an
> issue but the clinic that I work at on campus had word forms that I
> converted into PDF forms that could be filled in as needed.
>
> Whew! Sorry that was a mouthful.  I really do appreciate any insight and 
> or
> information that all of you think is important for me to know and 
> implement
> when on site.
>
> Thanks again and thanks Yolanda,
>
> Jeannie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of humanser-request at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 12:00 PM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Subject: humanser Digest, Vol 75, Issue 4
>
> Send humanser mailing list submissions to
> humanser at nfbnet.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> humanser-request at nfbnet.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> humanser-owner at nfbnet.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of humanser digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. tips for practicum (JMassay)
>   2. Re: tips for practicum (Yolanda Garcia)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 12:18:30 -0500
> From: "JMassay" <jmassay1 at cox.net>
> To: <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [humanser] tips for practicum
> Message-ID: <001501cb358b$64457170$2cd05450$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm getting ready to start my first practicum in a few weeks. Any tips 
> that
> anyone feels I should know before I get started? I would greatly 
> appreciate
> feedback from your insight as a blind mental health professional.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeannie
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 14:02:26 -0500
> From: "Yolanda Garcia" <yvgarcia at gmail.com>
> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [humanser] tips for practicum
> Message-ID: <ADAE592FC6B941D6B4782D7EA02DF290 at texas6db6fceb2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Jeannie,
>
> Where is your practicum going to be?
>
> I'm sure you already know this, but I would prepare yourself to educate 
> your
>
> supervisor and colleagues a little bit about blindness but most important
> your abilities and skills. It's been my experience that when you educate
> your fellow colleagues, the more comfortable they will feel about you and
> your blindness. Thus, trusting you with equal responsibilities and
> expectations such as other previous interns they've had.
>
> Also, begin to think about if you will self-disclose about your blindness
> with your clients. Most of my clients didn't ask, but some did and its
> important to think about how much you will disclose or if you choose not 
> to
> disclose at all and doing so in a tactful manner.
>
> There are plenty of more things, but it depends on the type of setting 
> your
> going to be working in. Here's hoping for an amazing experience for you!
>
> Warmly,
> Yolanda Garcia, LMSW
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "JMassay" <jmassay1 at cox.net>
> To: <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 12:18 PM
> Subject: [humanser] tips for practicum
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm getting ready to start my first practicum in a few weeks. Any tips
>> that
>> anyone feels I should know before I get started? I would greatly
>> appreciate
>> feedback from your insight as a blind mental health professional.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jeannie
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> humanser mailing list
>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> humanser:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/yvgarcia%40gmail.c
> om
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>
>
> End of humanser Digest, Vol 75, Issue 4
> ***************************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> humanser:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/43210%40bellsouth.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3058 - Release Date: 08/08/10 
02:35:00