Books. Counselling Adults with Learning Disabilities

Citation

(2003), "Books. Counselling Adults with Learning Disabilities", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445hae.001

Books. Counselling Adults with Learning Disabilities

Books

Counselling Adults with Learning Disabilities

Sally HodgesPalgrave2003ISBN: 0333962958

Counselling Adults with Learning Disabilities aims to provide an introduction to psychodynamic and related ideas, both theoretical and practical, about counselling adults with learning difficulties. It is not a training manual for counselling, but rather an introduction to psychodynamic ideas for anyone – including teachers and lecturers – whose work brings them into contact with people who have learning disabilities. Sally Hodges explores, through case studies, the value of helping people with learning disabilities to think about their inner worlds. She also considers the wider systems within which people with learning difficulties function. This means thinking about relationships with families, key workers, residential staff and clients, day-centre workers and the local community, as well as wider contexts.

The first two chapters introduce the current contexts for people with learning disabilities, including the social and political contexts, as well as the physical contexts in which they live and function. Chapter two describes psychodynamic theory – the main theoretical model used throughout the book.

Assessment for counselling is considered, both in a formal setting and in contexts where formal counselling is not possible, but a questioning frame of mind would be of benefit. A framework for appreciating the impacts of stages in an individual’s life span is introduced, and there is a focus on specific “presenting problems” such as challenging behaviour, abuse and dual diagnosis.

The focus then widens to consider the relationships of people with learning disabilities – their families, friendships, sexual relationships and the benefits of working with groups of people. This section has been written by Nancy Sheppard, a principal clinical psychologist who works with Sally Hodges at the Tavistock Clinic Learning Disabilities Service. The last chapter considers research and, in particular, the process of evaluating counselling of people with learning disabilities.

The book highlights throughout the authors’ belief that people with learning disabilities can benefit from thoughtful counselling. The approach does not depend on IQ, but more on the emotional understanding that can be created when both the counsellor and the client have the courage to think about, and face, both painful external realities and the equally painful internal worlds that can exist, colouring how the world may be experienced.