Emotional support and counselling for people with visual impairment: Quantitative findings from a mixed methods pilot study

Abstract

Aims: This paper reports on mainly quantitative findings from a mixed methods evaluation of a new model of emotional support and counselling for people with moderate visual impairment. Method: The CORE Outcome Measure was completed with service users at baseline and post-intervention to assess the impact of the new service on psychological wellbeing and social functioning. Their perceived needs and expectations of the service were also explored. Results: Of the 35 individuals providing data at each assessment time, mean item scores on the CORE fell significantly (p<.001), taking the sample from within a clinical population before therapy, to a mean score below this following therapy. A more positive outlook accompanied this improvement in functioning. Discussion: Findings from the study augment the growing evidence that emotional support and counselling services can play an important role alongside and within related vision services. Implications for practice: The study indicates that therapeutic input for the visually impaired client group may need to target both wellbeing (feelings about oneself and the future) and problems (depression, anxiety, physical health, and trauma). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a dual model of emotional support and counselling offers considerable benefit for people with visual impairment.

Keywords:

• emotional support
• counselling
• visual impairment
• psychological wellbeing

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank GlaxoSmithKline and RNIB for funding and commissioning the project. We would also like to thank the numerous individuals involved in the project, including the members of the Research Advisory Group and Project Team for overseeing it; Clare Thetford and Eleanor Cain for their involvement in the early stages of the project; and Amanda Hawkins for comments on a draft of the paper. Finally, particular thanks are due to the service users who gave their time to be interviewed.