[HumanSer] Discussion-What Would You Say?

[Karen Rose]

Hi Jay. D. I am a totally blind therapist in practice for the past 35 years, and I have for the first time come across a situation in practice that is baffling me as a blind person doing therapy. Would you be willing to consider a short phone consultation? I am looking to consult with a very experienced blind therapist. Please let me know your thoughts. Karen Rose MFT 510-486-1188

Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net

> On Sep 13, 2019, at 10:41 AM, JD Townsend via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello James & All:
> 
> 
> -How can you do your job as a counselor when you are blind?
> The most important sense in counseling are the ears, we call it talk therapy.  Many clients are self conscious about their physical presentation and feel more comfortable when they are not being observed.  
> 
> There are so many visual aspects and cues that you get visually from your client. How will you be able to do your job when you cannot see them? 
> Clinical research does not support the common idea of visual cues being important in treatment.  Often these cues are shown in client’s voices, but these, like visual cues, need to be voiced by the client.  Counseling is dependent on what a client says, not on our interpretation of their movements.    
> 
> How can you protect yourself if a client is dangerous?
> The best way to control dangerous behaviors are through verbal desclation and knowing how to set up a space for safety, none of these require vision. I’ve been in the field for almost 40 years, working with all sorts of clients and have never had an issue with physical assult.  Angry folks want to be heard, so I listen.  Some folks have been loud, a couple have thrown chairs, but never at me and I have been able to talk them down.
> 
> How can you protect yourself in order not to be taken advantage of by a client?
> Years ago I had an elementary school kid who liked to move my white cane around in the office, but aside from that there haven’t been problems.  I taught that youth how to use a white cane, using my tie as a blindfold and that ended the “hide the cane” game.
> 
> I have found that giving examples of how I have handeled situations to be most helpful in quieting other’s fears.
> 
> 
> Sent from JD
> 
> 
> From: NFB of TN VP via HumanSer
> Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 5:33 PM
> To: NFB Human Services Services
> Cc: NFB of TN VP
> Subject: [HumanSer] Discussion-What Would You Say?
> 
> Greetings friends.
> I hope all is well  with everyone. One question and one question for feedback.
> First, what have you all used to keep track of your supervision hours for licensure? Did you use an app or create a spreadsheet?
> Now, my question for feedback. I want to start by saying that I have learned so much from this group over the years. It is many of you on this list and in the FederaHello James & All:
> 
> 
> -How can you do your job as a counselor when you are blind?
> The most important sense in counseling are the ears, we call it talk therapy.  Many clients are self conscious about their physical presentation and feel more comfortable when they are not being observed.  
> 
> There are so many visual aspects and cues that you get visually from your client. How will you be able to do your job when you cannot see them? 
> Clinical research does not support the common idea of visual cues being important in treatment.  Often these cues are shown in client’s voices, but these, like visual cues, need to be voiced by the client.  Counseling is dependent on what a client says, not on our interpretation of their movements.    
> 
> How can you protect yourself if a client is dangerous?
> The best way to control dangerous behaviors are through verbal desclation and knowing how to set up a space for safety, none of these require vision. I’ve been in the field for almost 40 years, working with all sorts of clients and have never had an issue with physical assult.  Angry folks want to be heard, so I listen.  Some folks have been loud, a couple have thrown chairs, but never at me and I have been able to talk them down.
> 
> How can you protect yourself in order not to be taken advantage of by a client?
> Years ago I had an elementary school kid who liked to move my white cane around in the office, but aside from that there haven’t been problems.  I taught that youth how to use a white cane, using my tie as a blindfold and that ended the “hide the cane” game.
> 
> I have found that giving examples of how I have handeled situations to be most helpful in quieting other’s fears.
> 
> 
> Sent from JD
> 
> 
> From: NFB of TN VP via HumanSer
> Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 5:33 PM
> To: NFB Human Services Services
> Cc: NFB of TN VP
> Subject: [HumanSer] Discussion-What Would You Say?
> 
> Greetings friends.
> I hope all is well  with everyone. One question and one question for feedback.
> First, what have you all used to keep track of your supervision hours for licensure? Did you use an app or create a spreadsheet?
> Now, my question for feedback. I want to start by saying that I have learned so much from this group over the years. It is many of you on this list and in the Federation that helped me to see that I could begin a new career in life and be successful. I am now working towards licensure and am stating my practice with a temp license in October. I met my new supervisor for my supervision hours. She asked me the following questions and I wonder how you would respond:
> -How can you do your job as a counselor when you are blind?
> There are so many visual aspects and cues that you get visually from your client. How will you be able to do your job when you cannot see them?
> How can you protect yourself if a client is dangerous?
> How can you protect yourself in order not to be taken advantage of by a client?
> 
> I would love to hear what your response would be. I know many of you have had those questions before. What I told her is that I have proven myself by graduating from the top 3 year master’s program in the country. I have excelled in my practicum and internship. I reached clients at my internship that other counselors could not reach. I told her that I have proven to my past supervisors and professors that I actually at times sense things about a client that my sighted peers didn’t. I sense voice pace, pitch, and power. I can tell if they are looking at me or looking away. I can hear a person bouncing up and down their knee or fumbling with their hands. I also told her that it was the fine examples that I have met and learned from from this list and Federation, that demonstrated that we can be social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and be the best in our field.  So, I bragged on you all ;)
> Anyways, the meeting ended well, and I was able to educate her . But I would love to hear how you all have approached such questions. Thank you again for your thoughts and wisdom!
> Warmly,
> 
> 
> James Alan Boehm M.Ed, NCC
> 
> Contact Information
> Phone: 901-483-1515
> Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com
> NFB Email: JBoehm at NFB-TN.org
> Learning Ally: JBoehm at LearningAlly.org
> Kustom Cane: kustomcane at gmail.com
> You Cane Give Initiative: YuCaneGive at gmail.com
> Embrace challenges for personal growth! Remember! Circumstances do not mean sentences!
> 
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