How can the pluralistic approach be helpful in counselling people who have learning / intellectual disabilities?

The 2014 report ‘Feeling Down’ published by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities acknowledged that people who have learning disabilities have an increased risk of developing poor mental health due to social, economic, psychological, and emotional, as well as some biomedical factors.

When completing my training in Pluralistic Counselling at Abertay, it became apparent to me that a Pluralistic approach may be well placed in meeting the diverse and individual therapeutic needs of this population of people.

The initial stages of my PhD project, which is looking to co-create a Pluralistic Framework for working with this group, has been informed by discussions with partners at ENABLE Scotland (a national member-led charity advocating for the rights of people who have a Learning Disability) and facilitated by Tayside Centre for Counselling, Abertay’s Counselling Research Centre and Sally Lumsdaine, TCC Manager. This workshop builds on these discussions.

Aims of the workshop
Encourage consideration of the needs and barriers experienced by this client group when accessing therapy Consider how Pluralistic principles and practice have a role in creating a meaningful, effective therapy experience for people who have a Learning/ Intellectual Disability Encourage reflection on inclusivity of your own practice in terms of engaging with this client group.

Learning Outcomes of the workshop
Participants will have an increased understanding of the barriers to therapy experienced by people who have a Learning/Intellectual disability Participants will have the tools to consider and evaluate their own practice in terms of accessibility for this client group. Participants will be able to critically evaluate the role that Pluralistic principles and practice have in creating a meaningful, effective counselling experience for this client group.