ABSTRACT
Women who are visually impaired or blind may face specific stressors related to their physical limitations in addition to the stressors that those who are not physically limited face. Several factors may limit this population’s utilization of mental health services including problems with mobility, accessibility of mental health professionals, and attitudes about visual impairment and blindness from both the client and the therapist. Psychotherapists need to acquire knowledge about the various types of visual impairment; the impact these impairments have on daily functioning; and the interactions of these impairments with societal demands to become more effective in working with this population. In addition, therapists need to explore their attitudes about visual impairment and blindness. Historically, blindness has been one of the most feared disabilities. This paper contains practical guidelines for working with women who are visually impaired or blind derived from personal experience as a psychotherapy client, from work as a rehabilitation specialist for the blind and visually impaired, and from work as a student-therapist who is partially sighted.
