[humanser] Disclosure about Blindness to Clients

Fri Nov 1 00:05:33 UTC 2013

Terri (Mary T(,
I appreciate your commentary about reasonable requests. As a blind therapist
who is cortically blind, my eyes see everything, my brain does not
accurately interpret, there is very little to indicate blindness beyond my
necessary cane. Consequently, when blindness is first put on the table
patients will disbelieve, think it is a ploy, etc. The truth is anything
that I may believe I am seeing is subject to be grossly distorted so, I do
not rely on any element of my sight. I have had opportunities to work with
patients with their artwork and, for the past 4 years I have supervised art
therapy interns and have had amazing experiences.  I often use my blindness
as an instrument, asking patients if they are comfortable helping me see the
creation. Often this is a space for the collaborative exploration for the
work and patients will develop interpretations and insights as we work
through the session and their creation. In many instances my brain injury, I
had to learn to walk, talk, breathe on my own and most everything else
again, becomes the greater source of curiosity. I walk a little off balance,
speak with a slightly detectable slur, and many other things. It is
interesting how these things become bonding agents as patients feel more
connected to me.
It sounds like you are doing what you want to be doing right now but, if you
return to practice, it appears your clients and patients will be the real
winners.
Take care,
The other Mary t, Mary Tatum Chappell, Psy. D.

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terrie
Terlau
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 7:22 PM
To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [humanser] Disclosure about Blindness to Clients

Hello all,
I stay pretty quiet on this list, but am very glad to read what you all
discuss. I am currently doing product development at the American Printing
House for the Blind. However, I have my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, am
maintaining my Kentucky license, and will probably do some private practice
in the next few years.

I am totally, and therefore obviously, blind. 
When I saw clients at The Ohio State University  Counseling and Consultation
Service, in private practice, at a Rape Crisis Center, and my university
clinic, I went to the waiting room with my Seeing Eye Dog and called my
client's name. When he or she answered, I would walk toward the person,
sometimes they would meet me half way, and I would shake hands. I would then
ask them to follow me back to my office. Because I was obviously blind, I
brought blindness up in my first session along with all the other
confidentiality and procedural paperwork. I mentioned that I would not have
direct eye contact because I couldn't see and that I would jot down some
notes in braille. I used a slate and stylus in a binder in my lap, where I
also kept labeled hole-punched folders for the forms and paperwork that we
had to deal with. I usually said that I paid attention to lots more than
what they said and that I communicated with my face and body to them as
well. I said that my blindness is a part of me just like my brown hair, and
I said that any questions, concerns, or thoughts about my blindness were
always appropriate to bring up.

Usually, people just took my blindness in stride. I had one client ask for a
sighted therapist because she wanted to work with someone who could see her
artwork. I thanked her for asking for what she needed and she was
transferred to someone else. This felt like a totally legitimate request. I
also firmly believe that a blind therapist can work with drawings that
sighted clients make. However, if someone wants to work on creativity and
wants the art to be seen visually by a therapist, I think they should be
able to have that.

I would think that, if I traveled without a cane or a dog, I would bring up
my low vision at some point early in treatment. I would not want to surprise
someone if I had to hold a form very close to my face to read it or if I
took notes in such large, bold print that the client could read it
upside-down eight feet from me. But we all need to find out, sometimes by
trial and error, what works best for each of us.

Best regards,
Terrie (Mary T.) Terlau
terrieter at gmail.com
-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karen Rose
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 6:55 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Cc: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Disclosure about Blindness to Clients

I find them blindness can be a very good Rorschach tool with clients. It is
interesting to see how or if they react to it. If not then I usually bring
it up by end of second session or so just to make it safe. Karen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 31, 2013, at 3:01 AM, "justin williams"
<justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> So you have a job where it might matter?  If not, then I would say 
> that it is up to you.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Dorothea Martin
> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 5:29 AM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Disclosure about Blindness to Clients
> 
> Hello, Elyssa,
> It seems to me that trying to conceal something that is obvious to
everyone
> who can see is pointless. The converse is also true:  We might not 
> need to alert someone to something he can s clearly see. One reason 
> I've found for raising the topic of my blindness at some point early 
> in a relationship is that this takes the subject off the taboo list 
> and allows the other person to ask questions.
> Dotty Martin
> 
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