At Disability Plus, we get that living with cerebral palsy is a unique journey. 

Your experiences, challenges, and goals are unique, so we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to counselling.

We know that cerebral palsy can affect your life in many ways – physically, emotionally, and socially. 

It can impact your independence, relationships, and how you see yourself.  Our counsellors take the time to listen to your story and understand your individual needs. 

We want to know what matters to you, what you struggle with, and what you want to achieve.

We use a range of counselling approaches, but with a crucial difference:

We adapt them to fit your needs and experiences as someone with cerebral palsy.

Standard therapy models often fail to understand your unique challenges, so we tailor those standard approaches for you.

Here are a few examples of how we adapt our counselling to fit your needs:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is about understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected. 

We use CBT to help you challenge unhelpful thoughts, cope with worries and anxieties, and build confidence. 

However, your fears or challenges might differ because of your CP. 

So, we’ll work with you to ensure CBT addresses specific issues, such as inaccessible environments, communication barriers, or people’s assumptions.  

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps you accept the things you can’t change and focus on living a meaningful life. 

We can use ACT to help you identify your values, set goals, and take action to achieve them. 

But we also know that living with CP might mean adjusting your goals or finding new ways to achieve them. 

We’ll help you explore those possibilities and see what truly matters to you.

Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can help you manage stress, cope with difficult emotions, and feel more relaxed and grounded.

However, mindfulness can also be beneficial for managing symptoms specific to CP, like pain, fatigue, or sensory overload.

We’ll help you find mindfulness techniques that work for you and your body.  

We also understand that living with CP can sometimes mean dealing with challenging past experiences, like bullying, discrimination, or complex medical procedures. 

We can help you process those experiences in a safe and supportive space, find ways to heal, and move forward.

And because relationships can be tricky, we can help you with that, too. 

We can help you improve communication with your friends, family, and partners, build stronger connections, and navigate the ups and downs that relationships can bring.

The important thing is that we work together to find the best way to support you. 

There’s no set formula – your journey is what matters most. 

Our counsellors are here to listen, understand, and help you find the tools to thrive. 

We believe in your strength and are here to help you create a life full of joy, connection, and meaning.

Let’s talk about how our specialised counselling service can support you on your journey with cerebral palsy.

Living with cerebral palsy presents unique challenges, and we’re here to help. We offer professional expertise and the understanding that comes from lived experience.

From the moment you reach out, we aim to create a safe and supportive space for you.

We know sharing your experiences and vulnerabilities can be difficult, so our initial sessions focus on building trust and rapport.

Our psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists have cerebral palsy themselves, so they truly understand what you’re going through.

They’ve navigated similar physical, emotional, and social adjustments, and their journeys can offer hope and inspiration.

We’ll work together to understand your specific needs and goals. We’ll also take the time to learn about your background, medical history (specifically related to your cerebral palsy), current emotional well-being, and any challenges you’re facing.

This comprehensive assessment will allow us to create a personalised treatment plan for you.

Our approach to therapy is grounded in evidence-based practices.

We use proven treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to help you develop coping skills, manage your emotions effectively, and build resilience.

We’ll explore the root causes of any challenges you’re experiencing, whether it’s depression, anxiety, PTSD, body image concerns, grief, relationship difficulties, or social isolation.

We’ll also focus on practical strategies for improving your daily life.

This might involve learning pain management techniques, exploring ways to maximise the use of your assistive devices, developing skills to advocate for your accessibility needs, improving your communication and social skills, or supporting you in pursuing vocational or educational goals.

Our cerebral palsy therapists can share practical tips and strategies based on their own experiences, offering valuable insights and support.

One of the most powerful aspects of our service is the peer support we offer.

Working with a therapist who has cerebral palsy can make a profound difference.

They understand the nuances of living with cerebral palsy in a way that others may not.

This shared understanding can be incredibly validating and can reduce feelings of isolation. Our therapists are role models, demonstrating that a fulfilling life is possible despite the challenges.

Our support doesn’t end after a few sessions. We’re here for the long haul. Ongoing therapy sessions provide continued support, allow us to adjust your treatment plan as needed, and help you reinforce your coping skills.

We’ll also help you develop strategies for managing potential setbacks and connect you with other resources within the cerebral palsy community, such as support groups and peer mentors.

Our goal is to empower you to live your best life. We want to help you build confidence, develop self-advocacy skills, and navigate life more resiliently.

We believe in your strength and potential and are here to support you every step of the way.

Specialist mental health counselling can help you navigate the daily life triggers that can impact your well-being when you have CP.

We understand that even with effective coping strategies, daily life can present challenges that stir up difficult emotions. We aim to help you develop the tools and resilience to manage these triggers and live a more fulfilling life.

We’ll work together to identify your specific triggers. Everyone’s experience with cerebral palsy is unique, so it’s essential to understand what specifically affects you.

These triggers might be physical, like pain or fatigue; emotional, like societal attitudes or feelings of difference; or social, like inaccessible environments or communication challenges. Some common examples include:

Physical Triggers: These include changes in physical abilities, pain flare-ups, difficulty with daily tasks (like dressing, eating, or mobility), medical complications, and the ongoing management of one’s health.

These can trigger feelings of frustration, dependence, or vulnerability.

Emotional Triggers: Experiences of ableism, societal misconceptions about CP, feelings of being misunderstood or judged, thoughts about the future, feelings of being a burden, and changes in relationships.

These can bring up feelings of grief, loss, sadness, anxiety, or anger.

Social Triggers: Inaccessible environments, negative attitudes or comments from others about disability, difficulty accessing transportation, communication barriers, and feeling excluded from social events or opportunities.

These can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, or anger.

Counselling provides a safe space to explore these triggers without judgment.

We’ll help you understand how these triggers affect you emotionally and physically.

We’ll also work together to develop specific coping strategies for each trigger type.

This might involve:

Developing Awareness: By becoming more aware of what situations or events will likely trigger complex emotions, you can prepare yourself mentally and emotionally.

Building Coping Skills: Learning practical skills like relaxation techniques (deep breathing, mindfulness), cognitive restructuring (challenging negative thoughts), and problem-solving strategies.

These tools can help you manage your emotional responses in the moment.

Creating a Plan: Develop a plan for effectively responding to triggers. This might involve avoiding certain situations (when possible and appropriate), having a support person you can call, or using a specific coping skill when you feel overwhelmed.

Acceptance and Adaptation: You may need to accept that some triggers are unavoidable.

Cerebral Palsy Counselling can help you navigate this reality and focus on adapting to the ongoing challenges of living with cerebral palsy.

The aim isn’t to eliminate all triggers but to manage their impact on your life.

Our therapists with CP have personal experience with this and can offer valuable insights.

Reframing Thoughts: Learning to reframe negative thoughts associated with triggers. For example, instead of thinking, “I’ll never be able to do that,” you might learn to think, “I can explore different ways to achieve a similar goal”, or “I can focus on what I can do.”

Building Resilience: Developing resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges.

Counselling can help you identify and improve your strengths to handle difficult situations.

Our therapists with cerebral palsy understand these triggers firsthand. Based on their own experiences, they can offer practical advice and emotional support.

This peer support element is invaluable as it provides a sense of validation and reduces feelings of isolation.

Ultimately, cerebral palsy counselling is about empowering you.

We want to help you develop the skills and confidence to navigate the daily challenges of living with cerebral palsy and live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

We’re here to support you every step of the way. 

You know firsthand that living with cerebral palsy comes with its own set of challenges.

You navigate a world that isn’t always built for your needs, which can be frustrating. You might experience things like anxiety, low mood, or feeling isolated – and it’s easy to think these are “mental health problems.”

But here’s the thing: a lot of what you’re feeling might not be a mental health problem at all. It might simply be a natural reaction to the everyday struggles of living with CP.

Think about it – constantly dealing with inaccessible places, people’s assumptions, or communication barriers can be exhausting!

We get it. Our therapists have cerebral palsy, too, so they understand precisely what you’re going through.

They’ve been there and know how those daily challenges can affect you emotionally.

That’s why we give you practical tools and support to deal with those challenges head-on. Instead of just labelling your feelings as a “problem,” we help you:

Build resilience: You can bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward.

Speak up for yourself: You can confidently ask for what you need and get the support you deserve.

Challenge the world: You can break down barriers that make life more complicated than necessary.

Find your people: You can connect with others who understand and build a strong support network.

Love who you are: You can embrace your identity and feel confident in yourself.

We believe in your strength and know you’re capable of amazing things.

We’re here to help you navigate the bumps in the road and live the fulfilling life you deserve.

Building Resilience and Finding Your Strength with CP

It’s normal to feel a whole mix of emotions when you’re living with cerebral palsy. Life can throw some curveballs your way, and it’s not always easy to deal with.

Sometimes, you might feel sad, worried, or frustrated. You might even feel lonely or like you don’t fit in.

But guess what? You’re not alone. We understand, and we’re here to help. Our therapists have cerebral palsy, too, so they get what it’s like to walk in your shoes.

Here are some things you might be feeling and how we can help:

Feeling down or lost? It’s okay to grieve the things you’ve missed out on or the challenges you face because of CP.

We can help you work through those feelings, find new possibilities, and make the most of your life.

Are you stressed or worried? Life with CP can be unpredictable, and that can make you feel anxious.

We can teach you ways to relax, cope with stress, and feel more in control.

Have you experienced tough times? Whether it’s bullying, discrimination, or complex medical issues, we can help you heal from those experiences and find ways to cope.

Are you unhappy with your body? The world can be harsh on people who are different.

We can help you love and accept yourself just as you are.

Are you having trouble with relationships? CP can affect your relationships with friends, family, and partners. We can help you communicate better and build stronger connections.

Feeling lonely? It can be hard to connect with people when you feel different. We can help you find ways to reach out, build friendships, and feel less alone.

Dealing with pain? We know how much chronic pain can affect your life. We can help you find ways to manage it so you can focus on what you enjoy.

Finding yourself? Figuring out who you are can be a journey when you have CP. We can help you explore your identity and embrace everything that makes you unique.

Frustrated or angry? It’s okay to feel those things! We can help you find healthy ways to express your emotions and express yourself.

Are you having trouble communicating? Although it can be tricky, we can help you find ways to express yourself and connect with others.

Feeling overwhelmed by the world? Sometimes, everything feels too much. We can help you manage sensory overload and find ways to feel calmer.

Are you having trouble sleeping? Pain, worries, and other factors can make getting a good night’s sleep difficult.

We can help you find ways to rest and recharge.

Feeling tired all the time? Living with CP can be exhausting. We can help you manage your energy and find ways to feel more rested.

Are you making significant changes? Life involves transitions, which can be especially tough for people with CP.

We can help you navigate those changes and find your way.

Remember, you’re not alone in any of this. We’re here to listen, understand, and help you find the support to live a happy and fulfilling life. Our therapists have been there, and they know how strong you are.

We believe in you and are here to cheer you on every step of the way. I hope you navigate those bumps and live the fulfilling life you deserve.