ABSTRACT
As Chapter 1 has described, for many years it was believed that people with intellectual disabilities could not make use of psychotherapy. If a client was not able to communicate their experiences well enough using words, and to think about their thoughts, feelings and behaviour, then they were considered unable to benefit from therapy. Even today, it is our experience at Respond that many mental health services still refuse access to therapy for people with intellectual disabilities. And while belief that this group should have access to effective emotional and psychological therapies has perhaps changed over recent times, what has perhaps not changed sufficiently is the therapists’ abilities to make the therapy itself appropriate and accessible.
