Psychological attention 02/10/2014

What happens when someone suffers substantial sight loss? What do they feel? What might they need to handle their situation? What role does the family play? What resources are available for the person themselves and for their family?

Substantial or severe loss of sight, resulting in what is called low vision, or the possibility of suffering from this in the near future, involves a certain amount of stress, sometimes intense, given the need to adapt to this new visual condition and to the repercussions for different areas of the person's life. Those suffering from visual impairment may need certain devices, knowledge or skills to adapt effectively to this new situation.

The Psychological Support Service offered by the Barcelona Macula Foundation focuses primarily on the person him or herself and their family. The programme aims to provide those suffering from low vision with the knowledge, strategies and resources required to get on with their daily lives. We believe it's crucial for someone who's suffered substantial loss of sight to adapt, so they can enjoy as normal a life as possible. That's why the BMF offers this service free of charge to patients of the Institut de la Màcula, a centre it collaborates with very closely.

What do we offer?

Low vision need not result in a life that's less independent, more limited or unsatisfactory. Anyone finding themselves in this situation, especially when their condition changes suddenly, can suffer from negative thoughts and moods, intense stress and attitudes such as apathy, resignation and other unwelcome behaviours.

That's why we've set up a psychological support service, led by a psychologist and psychotherapist specialised in adjustment to visual deficiency and low vision. With proper emotional support and psychological care, it's easier for someone to handle their visual pathology and adapt to the possible consequences.This service helps those affected to adopt a resourceful attitude, encouraging learning and skills that help to enhance their independence in all areas of their lives.

The goals we hope to achieve

In the psychological area, our commitment and goal is to contribute to the personal development of our patients when dealing with a visual pathology, as well as low vision and the repercussions this may entail. From a psychological point of view, our goals have been achieved when:

• The patient's thoughts and beliefs regarding low vision are constructive and focused on integration

• Living with deficient sight does not lead to a negative emotional state

• And, as a cause and effect of the first two points, an active attitude is adopted that allows patients to take part in and enjoy the different aspects of their daily lives.

Services offered through this programme

• Personal attention
  Therapeutic support for the person suffering substantial or severe loss of sight, carried out through sessions programmed with the psychologist and based on an initial interview that assesses, together with the patient, how the emotions produced by this situation should be tackled and their adjustment to their visual impairment.
• Family support
  Self-help groups offering mutual support and companionship. At these meetings, those living with someone suffering from substantial sight loss are encouraged to share their experiences, receiving support and guidance to help them reduce negative emotional aspects and adopt beneficial behaviours.
• Advice for professionals
  To enhance their understanding through knowledge and experience and provide resources to help professionals carry out their work with people going through a situation of severe sight loss.

Psychological support may be recommended by one of the professionals at our institute or requested by the patient.

If you think we can help, please get in touch with us. Our team of professionals are there to help and will arrange an initial interview for you.

The BMF collaborates to improve the quality of life of those affected by severe sight loss