Gestalt Psychotherapy for People Who Have Suffered Spinal Cord Injury and Are Moving by Wheelchair

Alvydas Soraka,Jurgita Kuliesiene,Laima Sapezinskiene

doi:10.47459/svuv.2021.6.11

Abstract

The aim of the work was to examine the therapeutic impact of Gestalt individual psychotherapy to the disabled people after spinal cord injury, using experimental structured dance movement and/or life educational program in the community rehabilitation settings. The results. The effectiveness of Gestalt individual psychotherapy and rehabilitation in the local community was essentially described using some major qualitative indices: quality of the involvement into community moment, which is mostly reflected by a person’s subjective perception of how the community accepts him/her; the effectiveness of their involvement into the local community, which depends on the duration and quality of the transitional period from rehabilitation in the hospital to the one at home: people who engaged in community activities (for example, wheelchair dancing) faster and more tended to notice the effectiveness of rehabilitation. Conclusion. It is necessary to apply Gestalt individual psychotherapy in the community rehabilitation for the disabled as the psychotherapeutic model is empowering both - a person and communities to help the disabled move from the expectation of being ‘care cases’ to enabling their ability to fulfil personal and social changes accordingly. Specifying the aims of the work, the main results obtained, and the conclusions are drawn.

Highlights

Many communities are essentially inaccessible to individuals with mobility impairments, rendering the individual a virtual prisoner in his or her home, completely reliant on family and friends (Burns, O’Connell & Rathore, 2012)
The effectiveness of Gestalt individual psychotherapy and rehabilitation in the local community was essentially described using some major qualitative indices: quality of the involvement into community moment, which is mostly reflected by a person’s subjective perception of how the community accepts him/her; the effectiveness of involvement into the local community, which depends on the duration and quality of a transitional period from rehabilitation in the hospital to the one at home: people who engaged in community activities faster and more tended to notice the effectiveness of rehabilitation
People who participated in wheelchair dance education were less likely to emphasize powerlessness and negative image of the community in comparison to those who did not engage in the local community after their rehabilitation in the hospital

Summary

Introduction

Many communities are essentially inaccessible to individuals with mobility impairments, rendering the individual a virtual prisoner in his or her home, completely reliant on family and friends (Burns, O’Connell & Rathore, 2012). The disabled become aware of themselves as marginalized members of society, suffering physical and psychological isolation, experiencing negative emotions both towards themselves and towards society, they face financial hardship in Lithuania. The people who have suffered SCI and are moving by wheelchair become aware of themselves as marginalized members of society, suffering physical and psychological isolation, experiencing negative emotions both towards themselves and towards society, they face financial hardship in Lithuania (Soraka, Sapezinskiene, 2008) The specific challenges are including: coordination and mobilization; identification and procurement of required expertise; initial survey and assessment; health care delivery; community reintegration and health maintenance; and sustainability and capacity building (Burns, & et al, 2012).

Objectives

Results

Conclusion