----- Original Message ----- From: "David" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 12:44 PM Subject: Re: Re[2]: OT practice and sexuality
> > Suzanne, your insights were very thought provoking - the organisation (a > large disability service) for which I work has done a lot of work in the > area of carer education, with mixed success (as cultural attitudes are by > their very nature deeply entrenched). For clients requesting sex toys we > tend to refer on to an inhouse therapist and a private recreation officer > who specializes in this area. Sometimes nescessary to refer, yes. But I would prefer not to - as the client might be comfortable with me - less with a stranger. I can call and discuss the situation with an OT who specializes - haven't tried it yet, though. > It impressed me that some clients have spoken of their frustration that the > focus of therapy interventions always seems to be on the "practicalities" > eg the "mechanics" of positioning with a partner, and limited to a > functional approach to the use of sex toys...and suggested that they'd like > to have some of the subtler qualities of their sexual expression discussed - > like sex in the context of their relationships and so forth. Is this the > realm of Psychology? or does OT's truly wholistic perspective have a place? Yes, I'd like to elaborate more on that, but find it difficult in a foreign language. Lots of active listening usually will take you a long way - so will an open mind, knowledge of the disability in question and it's sexual implications, good reading, also handout pamphlets. Psykologist? - no, not unless psyko-therapy is needed, for grieving issues in combination with depression e.g. We do have special (psycho-)therapists for couples, also about sexual isues - if it's a need/wish for real "couple-therapy" or "sex-therapy" I would refer. but then, I'm also the OT, that sometimes could be refered to, from colleagues - or more likely, provide some supervision, suggestions etc for another OT. A few times we have used a neuro-psykologist, as most "usual" psykologists know much too little about TBI and it's implications, and often can't communicate with our clients, or help their spouses much, as they just don't have a clue. I should say also, that I do get supervised by a psykologist once a month, so we can discuss, what I can do - and can't do yet... > It seems to me that endeavouring to understand the occupational quality of > the sexual expression of our clients is one of the most challenging aspects > to OT....it really takes one to the limits of one's beliefs and > attitudes...well that's what I reckon anyway! Hasn't really been that way for me yet - most of my clients have rather common sexual wishes, which I can easily relate to. Like masturbating successfully in private, getting laid, finding a SO, getting their married life going again (in the last case couple-therapy didn't help - finding a job for the injured part did!). So much for now - I'm sure I forgot a lot! (Oh yes, I have a disabled boyfriend myself, and for that reason is hooked up with lot of interesting people on the internet, disabled and their partners - that helps me A LOT!) Greetings from Denmark! susanne -------------------- New newsgroup formed for people with disabilities on intimacy and relationships issues. Please ask your news provider to carry alt.support.disabled.intimate-relations *********��*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] *********��***********
