[humanser] Blind counselors and body language

Fri Sep 1 18:59:58 UTC 2017

Hi, I'm Maureen from Berkeley, social worker. The body language discussion is hard to resolve, because of course to us we discern what we need to and more without it, but any sighted person advancing this argument would say: well, how can you know you're not missing anything important that I/we could pick up much quicker... Hearing that is the frustration.

Maureen Schulz
Alameda County Senior Information
510 577-3530
Aging is All About Living

-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ally Matt via HumanSer
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 6:09 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List
Cc: Ally Matt
Subject: Re: [humanser] Blind counselors and body language

I have been able to discern the important information throughh voice cues and other audible indicators. I have actually had some clients find my visual impairment a benefit. I had asked a client expressed gratitude that I would not be able to judge her body because I couldn't see. I have had a couple of clients expressed concern about being able to work with me because I am blind, but that has often been resolved once we meet for the first time. I actually think that sometimes I have an advantage in that I can't see things that might distract. I have to focus on what the client is saying and at the tone of their voice.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 31, 2017, at 4:02 PM, Ayoub Zurikat via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello family, I hope you are all well.
> I am currently doing my masters degree in clinical mental health counseling. Thing is, I have had this concern ever since I started the program, and I need advice or feedback.
> So a crucial part of therapy is the therapist's ability to read and interpret client's nonverbal body language. However, being blind I cannot do that. Here are my questions.
> 1- has this been an issue for employment? In other words are counseling centers/employers hesitant to work with blind counselors because of this issue?
> 2- for those of you who are practicing therapists, how do you deal with such an issue? Are their skills that can be learned? 
> 3- am I going to have to limit myself to do therapy with blind/disabled clients because of this?
> 4- do any of you know of internship sites in the Chicago area that are friendly towards blind interns?
> 
> I've been very concerned, and quite stressed because of this. Your feedback and help are so greatly appreciated.
> Thank you 
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