Facing Loss of Vision: The Response of Adults to Visual Impairment

Abstract

Short-term group therapy, using social group work, was utilized to treat the psychosocial problems of two groups of elderly low-vision clients and one group of young adult clients with low vision (N = 24). Group members showed psychosocial movement in three phases: shock, reactive depression, and readjustment. Evaluations measured the change in attitudes before and after group therapy. At the end of therapy, 17 persons, compared to none before the therapy, were at the point of self-acceptance and readjustment. Clinical examples illustrate the interplay of intrapsychic and group-experience factors leading to readjustment.