Category: Health and Wellness
Two things. First, I have been accepted into my local Certified Peer Support Training. Has anyone else gone through a similar program? If so, please talk freely.
Second, have you ever felt that because your blind, your counselor doesn't understand you? That's why I got into this. I want to help others who aren't only blind, but with other disabilities than being Mentally Ill. Now, I think there's nothing wrong with being a bit nutty, or sad, or manic. Stuff happens. But, my thought is if we are going to have peer counseling/support, we need people who "get it." And, if your counselor drives to work, doesn't have trouble telling the size of her pill or the strength, they "just don't get it."
Post Your Heart Out!
Sarah/Hot Wheels
I think this is a complex topic.
Some counselors will attribute a person's blindness to their mental health difficulties. So even if you've adjusted reasonably well to being blind, or have been blind all your life, the counselor may try to focus exclusively on that, due to their own misconceptions about blindness.
They probably are thinking, "oh, if I were blind, I would be depressed or anxious too!" The dynamic between the counselor and client then becomes strained, which can lead to feelings of frustration and resentment, which isn't a good starting point for any kind of therapeutic relationship.
The other side of the coin, though, is that professionals who work with the blind are also just as guilty of this. For example, a lot of state-run rehab centers require that a person attend some kind of in-house support group about vision loss. While I think this is good for those who truly need it, it's not so good for people such as myself who were born blind, and who go to these centers for other reasons, like learning how to live independently.
That's why I wish to become a Peer Counselor. I told my counselor that we have something minor in common. And, if I wasn't really getting somewhere, I'd feel a void between us. There's people out there that their blindness does bum them out. But, people that work with me, know I'm quite well-adjusted to my never seeing a thing. The other stuff, like loss of some hearing, and needing a wheelchair most of the time, is more frustrating to me. I even know how to set minds at ease, when people don't know how to be around someone who is blind. This sub caregiver asked: "I know this is sensative, but have you been blind, all your life?"
"Well," I said. "Yes. However, I'm only blind in 1 eye. I just can't see out of the other!"
Corny as it is, she felt nice and comfortable afterwards.
Actually, all but one of my mental health issues is from the thing that causes my blindness. So, the counselors that don't understand have it backwards. The blindness condition can cause Bipolar, or ADHD. The PTSD, did the rest. And, my mom's illtreatment was around my blindness most of the time.
I'm rambling. LOL
Anyway, I'm getting there, and want to be a help, here or anywhere. Sometimes, I need an ear to hear my frustrations, too. But, I'm managing.
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
Hi, Sarah. You know some of this, but here goes. Yes, I have been through a program like this. I went through about 40 hours of training in 2013, and received my state certification as a peer support specialist in January of 2014. They have now adopted an national/international credential for this that will carry across state and national lines, and I'm going to be going through the training to attain that certification in
March. It's been an interesting journey, and one I'm really glad I've gotten to be a part of. Peer support is a relatively new field, so it seems to be constantly growing and changing. That part can be frustrating, but it's also exciting to be in on this somewhat close to the ground floor. Some people in the mental health field have embraced the concept of peer support readily, others continue to feel threatened by it. A former supervisor of mine, for example, just couldn't deal with the fact that people who used to be her clients as a social worker were now her co-workers. I think it's probably akin to when blind people first started being hired as staff at rehab agencies. The perception used to be that the people who lived with blindness couldn't possibly be qualified to teach or counsel someone else who did, and thankfully it's become largely accepted that we are uniquely qualified to do so. I'm glad to see this awareness growing in the mental health field, too. I've worked with a few blind clients in the last year and a half, and that's been an interesting experience. To say that most people at the company I worked for didn't know how to work with someone who was blind, or had a disability in addition to mental illness was an understatement. However, even if the person doesn't have a physical disability, I'd say some of the things I've learned by being blind helped me in this field, too. I hope you enjoy the training, learn a lot, and are able to help in the ways you want to.
Hey! We're gonna get schooling in the same month! Mine starts on March sixteenth.
I know here in Washington, we have loads of blind people suffering with depression or something else. The biggest problem in our state, is lack of sunlight. That has effected me, I know I don't think I would have any trouble finding blind clients. But I think you're right. It's disturbing to me too, to be treated by someone who's been through stuff. But, I'm getting used to it. If I can, then the counselors need to. LOL
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
I'm not involved in peer counseling on an official level, but work with people who are deaf-blind and fall in to this role often. The most important thing I've learned over the years is that you really have to meet people where they are at before you can start to understand them. People love to make assumptions for many reasons and attribute one thing as the cause of their mental health issues. People are complex, and so they have complex feelings, needs, and things to work through. I've witnessed both good and bad counselors with disabilities. The worst are the ones who think they understand people simply because they have a disability, which is an error right there. While a physical disability certainly can play a role in one's mental health, it's only a small part of it. A good counselor, in my view, whether it be someone with or without a disability, is someone who can meet a person where they are mentally and help them move forward. Sure, having a counselor that has some similarities to you as a client can help, but it takes a lot more than that to really work with an individual. It's still necessary, for example, to be a good active listener, someone who is perceptive, etc. Sarah: I wish you all the best with your certification and your work moving forward. I'm happy to see you are out there doing things, and are not letting your situation, not even necessarily the disability part of that situation, keep you down.
Thanks Mister Scott! LOL
All right, enough funnies. Really, I get it, and it's why some actually case managers failed to be able to work with me. Their ability to shut up and listen, is terrible, at best, and I didn't link well with that psychiatric "How did that make you feel?"
Forget that mumbo jumbo, and talk the language of humans. That's why this training is going to kick arse! I've been ther. I know way too much, and truthfully, I want to give back.
I have a case manager who will tell me to get serious, and that I can't let things keep on as they are. Down to earth, I think they call it. She's real, and she gives a crap. That's what matters. Plus, my peer coach is just as cool. And, we all have fun. That's part of it. You have to learn to laugh and not always be serious. Get stuff done, but let go and sometimes sing "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park," just because it's friggin' hilarious! LOL
Sarah/HW
Another thing I'm learning is getting things accessible is really hard. And, I mean hard. But, I'm getting things done. It's all about getting the teach to communicate with people who know how come you can't translate a PDF File straight to word, and get JAWS10 to read it. Not my department, kids.
All to say for now. I'm actually going to let loose, and have some good, red, wine. Why not? Tomorrow's Saturday, and the week sucked big time!
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
Sarah:
I have no doubt you will be good at this, and the accessibility issues are something we all face. Even I, who works for an agency that serves the deaf-blind, have to have discussions over and over again to try and get people to understand that image PDF files aren't going to work for me. You can always try converting the pdf file at
www.robobraille.org
I know it's not something you should have to do, but when the rubber hits the road, and you need something converted without time for red tape and such, give that one a try.
Thank you. I will if I have to. In this case, it's a matter of "Who You Know." That helps. Someone with scanning stuff at their disposal for work, who works where we will be trained, is the cats' "Meow". LOL
I'm glad, because, I have other stuff on my plate that needs attention too. I need all the help I can get, and right now, I'm just accepting it. Between this and looking for a place to live, I have a busy day, every day.
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
hi,
Sorry for the off topic post, actually .pdf files which are in a image format can be converted to the .doc format with fine reader. However this usually results in alot of spelling errors but since there isn't any other format I can get my coursebooks in, I have to make due with that. I even remember when a whole reading text in my writing assignments coursebook didn't come out and I just wrote about the subject without reading the text which fortunatly turned out well.
There is one bonus I've found where it comes to accessibility and peer support. With the exception of the bureaucratic agency I worked for, most people are willing to make accommodations and really do their best to make things accessible for me. For example, the organization that does most of the Peer Support training here in Iowa is also peer-run. I have recently obtained a part-time job working for a different peer-run group here, and they too, have been very accommodating about accessibility. I think peer-run places are better about this because they're used to the idea that accommodations may have to be made for one reason or another, but it doesn't mean that a person has any less to contribute because they need such things.
I think ours is Peer run too. I love it! They are so cool! I'll be looking for the training material soon, because I have to start early, to know what's being talked about. Next, is finding a portable CD player, that I can take with me to read parts of the book.
Love your kitty today!
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
So, I had to read some of the book before class starts, because we are reading it in class. Some of the historical facts both disturb me, and impress me. They used to treat folks with some of the things I suffer, by locking them up. Just like they did the blind. I guess they thought if we were out of the way, we'd be forgotten. But, the determination of stubborn folks, I think I'm one, really put a damper on the plans of "Those In Charge."
One thing I'm having a hard time with, is the poor quality of the cd I'm reading. It's faint, and there's more bleeding, than in an emergency room! LOL The price was right, but I'd love to improve the cd burning process. I will muddle through, but I will also ask for a better copy. I want this information for all time. I think it's important.
Ok, I'm done with my update and all. Just I'm glad I'm given the chance to "recover," and not just given electricity, or antipsychotics, just for having terrible, and strange nightmares! I can see what we take for granted, is what we should be thankful for!
Blessings!
Sarah/HW
So, I completed my classes. I feel like I learned a whole lot. My test will be on the 14th, at 11-00 am.
Now, we do studying, and try to cram. In the meantime, I just got mostly moved to my own apartment. I love it! Just hooked the net, and Sarah's rearin' to go!
I may not be on much, so I can study. Listening to that bored voice try to read the whole thing, is frustrating. But, I can do it.
Now, I shall go enjoy some freedom. I'll keep you posted... Pun intended! LOL
Blessings!
Sarah/HW
Congrats on getting your own apartment Sarah. I know you really had to do some pushing to get that freedom. It's one great freedom to have.
Thank you! I love it! So do my kitties! Now, I have to do some cleaning, but that's not the part I like. LOL
With the good though, you gotta take the things you don't like. Right?
Blessings!
Sarah/HW