Counselling: would you prefer someone with experience of being a parent/carer of a disabled child?

EmmaB
EmmaB Online Community Member Posts: 263 Empowering
edited February 2019 in Families and carers
Have you tried counselling?  Are you thinking about it?

Hello - my name is Emma West, I am an experienced counsellor who is just launching myself as an Online Counsellor.  

I have a disability myself and my son has the same disability as me - what I'm interested to know is whether I should be marketing this aspect of myself?

So my question for you is:  would you prefer to have a counsellor who has experience of parenting/caring for a disabled child?  Obviously the impact of disability is very individual but would it help if you felt the person 'got' what you were talking about on the disability/parenting/caring front even on a more general level?

I'd be really interested to know your views about this and even your experiences of counselling if you wanted to share what worked/what didn't work for you?

[edited by moderator]

Comments

  • Roddy
    Roddy Online Community Member Posts: 445 Trailblazing
    edited February 2019
    Hi EmmaB, 

    I wish you every success with your endeavours. 

    Of course it is paramount that all counsellors have an understanding of a disabled persons needs, however I personally believe that a person should not have to be disabled to provide this service. 

    We all of us want to live in a world of acceptability and non-discrimination and so the ability/mobility of a counsellor shouldn't be the issue. If I may use an example, should a person of race or of a certain religion be better served by 'one of their own?'  

    There is rightfully a place within the counselling profession or all disabled people such as yourself, however I don't believe it should be the criterion, but of course ANY professional and well-meant counselling should always be encouraged in my own personal view. 

    It is certainly an advantage of sorts to be personally able to relate to disability, and yes I think that it should be play a huge part in your marketing strategy. Experience, is what everybody wants and without blinkered attitudes or simply sympathy from a person that has no understanding...
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,602 Championing
    Hi @EmmaB
    Advertising is not allowed on the online community so I have removed your website address.

    You might be interested in looking into the Scope Navigate service, providing support to parents who have a child going through diagnosis, or have a child who has received a diagnosis within the last 12 months.  You can find out more information about the Navigate service here: http://www.scope.org.uk/navigate
  • Dotty123
    Dotty123 Online Community Member Posts: 491 Empowering
    I don’t mind as long as they are helpful and can help good luck 
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,602 Championing
    In answer to your question though, it would depend on why I was seeking counselling. If it was anything to do with disability or my impairment then I would find it reassuring that my counsellor had some understanding, if it was for more general reasons then it wouldnt matter to me one way or another.
  • Audrey_x
    Audrey_x Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Hi, I love the sound of your plan! My son is now 30 yrs. I have sacrificed, suffered and fought, and continue to do so. I am ill myself now so it is so much harder to keep up the fight. I have been considering counselling (again) recently and if I had the chance to work with a counselor who specialised in this field, I would jump at the chance. I actually have just joined this group today in the hope that I can offer some guidance to other parents like myself because in my experience there is nothing like it out there. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance. Audrey
  • EmmaB
    EmmaB Online Community Member Posts: 263 Empowering
    Hi @Audrey_x
    Thank you for responding to my post, and it's great to hear you like the idea of a counsellor who might have some empathy of your situation. 
    Of course each situation is unique but as I get older I increasingly feel that people who don't have experience of parenting a disabled child never truly get it... the worry, the stress and the fighting for everything - for example, in my own case I've been trying to sort out my son getting some shoes that fit him and he can walk in - for over 18 months!  If you didn't have a disabled child you wouldn't think such a situation is even possible!? 
    As you say it can grind you down and affect your own health which is not great. 
    I hope you find some great support from this message board it certainly seems like a really friendly, supportive and helpful one.
    Best wishes.
    Emma

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