[humanser] Self-disclosure of blindness with a specific population

[Serena Cucco]

Hi Kaiti,

I'm a little confused.  I think you use a cane?  If yes, what exactly
is there to self-disclose?  Even if the residents don't remember much,
they probably know from your cane, or to them, something you walk with
that they don't, that something is different about you.  I don't think
it really matters if they remember later or not.

Serena



On 3/23/15, Janice Toothman via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Kalti,
> I think that you have to evaluate whether you hesitation not to tell
> them is due to you perception that of vulnerablity and that as a
> therapist you need to be the "expert".
>
> The  two things I want you to consider is that when clients identify
> with you in some way or feel that you are "like them" then they are more
> likely to change or to talk about themselves and their experiences.
>
> Also, the judical use of self-disclosure will further the therapeutic
> alliance.  Even in a group setting, it is important for the leader to
> model appropriate behavior.
>
> As to whether everyone will remember what you said, probably not. That
> is the nature of the population you are working with. However,  when you
> respect your clients and treat them with dignity (i.e. self-disclose).
> This clears ups speculation and inaccurate thinking and conversation
> that either you deflect or are vague in answering (my speculation here).
>
> Finally, when I worked with intellectually and developmentally disabled
> adults, I self-disclosed that I am deaf-blind. My clients had to
> use/wear my FM system in order for me to hear them.  I had a guide dog
> (which they loved and wanted to pet and I had to remind them that they
> could not pet a working guide dog.  However, on my last day of my
> internship, I took of my guide dog harness for a period of time to allow
> anyone to come an pet her.
> These individuals quickly became accostomed to wearing my FM System and
> none were fearful of my guide dog.
>
> Janice
>
> On 3/23/2015 11:55 AM, Kaiti Shelton via humanser wrote:
>> Hi, all,
>>
>> I'm wondering if I could get some advice here.  I'm a music therapy
>> student, working in an assisted living facility for one of my
>> practicum courses.  The population I am specifically working with is
>> residents on a memory support unit with mild-moderate Alzheimer's and
>> dementia, although it is a locked unit.  This is the second time I've
>> worked with some of these residents, and I'm very pleased with their
>> progress and their responses to the music therapy.
>>
>> Last year my supervisor advised me not to disclose information about
>> my blindness, but this time the supervisor after talking to a blind
>> music therapist agrees that it is important.  Especially since these
>> residents can feel very vulnerable at times, disclosure can help with
>> the therapeutic relationship-as I'm sure those of you who are
>> practicing other human service fields know.
>>
>> Some of the residents show glimpses of recognition from time to time,
>> though I can't be certain that they really understand that I'm blind
>> because of their confusion.  One resident, who was more mischevious,
>> would move things on me and always told me not to run into stuff, so
>> I'm pretty sure she knew.  Another resident who is a little more high
>> functioning may know because until I greeted her with her name, to
>> which she responded, "You've got it now," she would tell me her name.
>> She recognized that I learned her voice and then stopped telling me
>> her name every session.  One resident noticed my glasses had slid a
>> little down my nose the other day and told me to push them up.  She
>> started saying, "You should get some new glasses so you can see better
>> (my lenses are quite scratched from trying to get close to read print
>> things) and she said, "I'll be happy for you when you get new ones and
>> can see a little better."
>>
>> It's remarkable that some of these things have happened because some
>> residents who have said things are quite confused most of the time.  I
>> haven't felt right in self-disclosing to them yet.  There has always
>> been something that happened in the session that made me hold back
>> when I've thought, "This session might be good for self-disclosure."
>> My partner in the class has also tried to facilitate opportunities for
>> me to self-disclose in sessions she has planned, but it has just never
>> felt right yet.
>>
>> My supervisor agrees that I need to go when the time is right, but I
>> don't know why it has taken this long.  I'm usually not uncomfortable
>> telling complete strangers that I'm blind when I need help or want to
>> ask a question, so why am I struggling here with these clients who may
>> not even remember it later on?
>>
>> Any tips or advice would be appreciated.  I'm using "Hit the Road,
>> Jack" in my session on Tuesday and thought I could use Ray Charles as
>> a gateway into the self-disclosure conversation, but I want to do it
>> soon since we're terminating services at the end of the month.  My
>> partner has already self-disclosed that she was a diver and that was a
>> big part of her life before college, and that has resonated with a
>> resident of our's who also dived as a teenager.  I know some of the
>> residents have eye problems as well, so I'd like to make that
>> connection if possible.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>
>
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