ABSTRACT
Psychodynamic work with disabled people requires the therapist to have an understanding of both the individual disability and the way in which the condition affects the person with whom they are working. From time to time a disabled person was referred to the service, and when the disability included speech or hearing problems, care had to be taken to ensure that communication would be possible between client and therapist. Other details that required attention were, in some instances, transport problems, parking facilities, and accommodation for wheelchairs. The chapter examines the case study of Anne, who was in her early forties, was referred to WPF by the Disability Team at her local hospital in May 1988. Anne developed cerebral palsy at birth following a difficult breech delivery. One of the reasons that Anne came into therapy was because she was losing her ability to swallow, something that she had always had difficulty with.
