Therapeutic Effects of Group Counseling with Visually-Impaired Elderly Adults

• Main Author: Schor, Mark Melvin
• Other Authors: Robb, George Paul, 1922-
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: North Texas State University 1987
• Subjects: group counseling; visually-impaired elderly adults; Older people with visual disabilities > Counseling.; Group counseling.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331653/

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of group counseling with visually-impaired elderly adults, and (b) to provide information concerning the effectiveness of group counseling to practitioners in the field. The study reviewed the literature regarding aging and vision, psychosocial reactions to vision loss, and group counseling with the visually-impaired and the elderly. Twenty subjects, who were above age 65 and had recently experienced a severe loss of vision, were selected to participate in the study. Ten subjects were assigned to an experimental counseling group and 10 subjects were assigned to a no-treatment control group. The experimental group participated in 1-1/2 hour group sessions once a week for 10 weeks. Both the experimental group and the control subjects were administered pre- and post-tests. The tests measured depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.