Disability, counselling, and psychotherapy : challenges and opportunities

"What is Disability?" and "Why am I disabled?" asked Joe, the seven year old boy, born with cerebral palsy... Although disability is of concern to us all, very little attention has been paid to the felt experience of the disabled person and the ways in which psychotherapy might be constructively utilised. Disability, Counselling and Psychotherapy directly addresses this gap and, taking a life-span perspective and a psychoanalytic approach, actively explores the challenges and opportunities of disability to therapy, the caring professions and society more widely. Shula Wilson introduces a model aimed at achieving autonomy that is based on the significance of the primary mother-baby relationship and the awareness of human mortality. In doing so she offers a new way of relating to disabled people and working through unanswerable questions such as those raised by Joe, above. She also challenges attitudes and reactions to controversial issues such as sex, death and the mystery behind altering body image, and brings to the surface the desires, hopes and frustrations of disabled people living in an environment ridden with fears and prejudices. With its lively case discussion and clear theoretical base, Disability, Counselling and Psychotherapy is a vital resource for all practising professionals and trainees.