Does disability matter in counselling? Views of counsellors with visual disabilities and their clients

Abstract

In this study we investigated the case of disability from the perspective of counsellors with visual disability (CWVD) and their clients by focusing on the counselling skills of CWVD, the relationships with their clients, and the perspectives of their clients in relation to their counselling experiences. Fifteen CWVDs and 11 clients (N = 26) were interviewed and data were analysed thematically. Findings show that CWVDs used their set of skills to build trustworthy therapeutic relationships through genuineness, established here and now relations in therapeutic encounter effectively, and produced meaningful outcomes. Findings of this research indicate the need to reconsider the field of counselling around pluralist, inclusive and multicultural paradigms.