This article presents a study of the extent to which group counseling enhanced the self-concept of congenitally visually impaired adolescents. The researchers developed a training method using group procedures to help visually impaired teenagers cultivate a well-rounded self-concept. Group sessions focused on such topics as self-perception, assertiveness, friendship, familial relationships, and independent living skills. Pretreatment posttreatment evaluations revealed that the experimental group members’ self-concept, attitudes toward blindness, and internality improved significantly because of group counseling.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AltmanK. (1981). Psychodrama with blind psychiatric patients.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 75, 153–156.
2.
AppleM. (1972). Kinesic training for the blind: A program.Education of the Visually Handicapped, 3, 55–60.
3.
AveryC. (1968). Para-analytic group therapy with adolescent multi-handicapped blind.New Outlook for the Blind, 62, 65–72.
4.
BaxD., & KalilF. (1981). An interdisciplinary approach to group therapy.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 75, 169–172.
5.
CholdenL. (1953). Group therapy with the blind.Group Psychotherapy, 6, 21–29.
6.
CowenE., UnderbergR., & VerilloR. (1958). The development and testing of an attitude to blindness scale.Journal of Social Psychology, 48, 297–304.
7.
DavidsonI., & McKayD. (1980). Using group procedures to develop social negotiation skills in blind young adults.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 74, 97–101.
8.
EmersonD. (1981). Facing loss of vision: The response of adults to visual impairment.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 75, 41–45.
9.
EverhartG., LuzaderM., & TullosS. (1980). Assertive skills training for the blind.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 74, 62–65.
10.
GavinJ. (1979). Concerning employment of the disabled. In HourihanJ. (Ed.), Disability: Our challenge.Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Education.
11.
GoldmanH. (1970). The use of encounter microlabs with a group of visually handicapped rehabilitation clients.New Outlook for the Blind, 64, 219–226.
12.
GowanA. (1957). The war blind in American social structure.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
13.
GreenbergG. (1968). A refinement of the TSCS to clarify interpretation of extremely favorable self reports.Dissertation Abstracts, 29, (2-B) 770–771.
14.
HarshbargerC. (1980). Group work with elderly visually impaired persons.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 74, 221–224.
15.
HermanS. (1966). Some observations on group therapy with the blind.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 16, 367–372.
16.
HewardW., & OrlanskyM. (1980). Exceptional children.Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
17.
ImamuraS. (1965). Mother and blind child. Research series, No. 14. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
18.
InanaM. (1978). You and your body: A self-help health class for blind women.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 72, 399–403.
19.
JanJ., FreemanR., & ScottE. (1977). Visual impairment in children and adolescents.New York: Grune & Stratton.
20.
JervisF. (1959). A comparison of self-concepts of blind and sighted children. In DavisC. (Ed.), Guidance program for blind children.Watertown, MA: Perkins Institution for the Blind.
21.
JohnsonC. (1983). Using group procedures to improve self-concept, attitudes toward blindness and internality among congenitally blind adolescents. Unpublished master's thesis, North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh.
22.
LandS., & VinebergS. (1965). Locus of control in blind children.Exceptional Children, 31, 257–260.
23.
ManasterA. (1971). The theragnostic group in a rehabilitation center for visually handicapped persons.New Outlook for the Blind, 65, 261–264.
24.
ManasterA., & KucharisS. (1972). Experiential methods in a group counseling program with blind children.New Outlook for the Blind, 66, 15–19.
25.
MeichenbaumD. (1977). Cognitive-behavioral modification: An integrative approach.New York: Plenum Press.
26.
MummahH. (1975). Group work with the aged blind Japanese in the nursing home and in the community.New Outlook for the Blind, 69, 160–167.
27.
RossE., & AndersonJ. (1968). Psychotherapy with the least expected. Modified group therapy with blind clients.Rehabilitation Literature, 24, 73–76.
28.
RubenD. (1983). Methodological adaptations in assertiveness training programs designed for the blind.Psychological Reports, 53, 1281–1282.
29.
SalterM. (1979). Social learning theory predictions of the effects of selected psychoeducational interventions on the internal-external locus of control on achievement in psychoeducational interventions. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh.
30.
SaulS., EismanN., & SaulS. (1964). The use of the small group in the helping process.New Outlook for the Blind, 58, 122–125.
31.
SmithC. (1972). The relationship between self-concept and success in the freshman year of college.New Outlook for the Blind, 66, 84–89.
32.
SnedecorG., & CochranW. (1967). Statistical methods (6th ed.). Ames: Iowa State University Press.
33.
ThomsonS. (1974). Insight for the sightless: A TA group for the blind.Transactional Analysis Journal, 4, 13–17.
34.
Twitchell-AllenD. (1954). Psychodrama in the family.Group Psychotherapy, 7, 167–177.
35.
Van HasseltV., HerseyM., KazdinA., SimonJ., & MastanuonoA. (1983). Training blind adolescents in social skills.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 77, 199–203.
36.
VernonM., & HicksW. (1983). A group counseling and educational program for students with Usher's Syndrome.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 77, 64–66.
37.
WilsonE. (1970). Group therapy in a rehabilitation program.New Outlook for the Blind, 64, 237–239.
38.
ZunichM., & LedwithB. (1965). Self-concepts of visually handicapped and sighted children.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 21, 771–774.
