DisabilityPlus gives every person the opportunity to have Muscular Dystrophy counselling with a therapist who understands the complexity of living with MD. Our therapy helps you with mental health issues to have a brighter future.
Our Muscular Dystrophy Counselling Service supports people with their mental health, whether pre-existing issues have worsened or a new condition that stems from your condition. Our specialist therapists understand the problems a physical problem can have on a person’s mental & emotional health.
Physical and mental health are closely linked; however, your mental health is more vulnerable when physical health is affected by a disease or illness. Most mainstream therapists have not supported a MD person before.
Counselling with a therapist who understands the physical & emotional connection removes the challenges of cultural & cognitive misunderstanding between you and a therapist.
Muscular Dystrophy Counselling is not restricted to a single method of therapy. Each person can bring different presenting issues; one solution does not fit all. As a specialist service, we can support you no matter the problems.
Our therapy can help you set goals to work towards, particularly during the initial stages. We know that goals & aspirations should be meaningful to your life and attainable and realistic.
Our therapists will help develop such plans by setting achievable targets at each counselling stage. Goals often provide a sense of purpose structure (daily routine) and improve confidence and self-esteem.
We will help you learn alternative ways of responding to your experience; this can help provide relief during difficult times and enhance your ability to get more enjoyment, comfort and ease in your journey with or through your illness.
Those who take care of people with MD can also benefit from counselling. Making sacrifices to care for a loved one can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, and isolation. Counselling can provide helpful guidance and support on coping in the best way possible.
Contact us to find out more about our Specialist Muscular Dystrophy Counselling Service
Our Muscular Dystrophy Counselling Team is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) (UKCP). We are bound by the ethical framework for good practice in counselling. We comply with the Data Protection Act
Here are the facts:
• There are eight known types of muscular dystrophy. (Becker/Duchenne, Limb-girdle, Facioscapulohumeral, Distal, Emery-Dreifuss, Fukuyama, Oculopharyngeal and Ophthalmoploegic MD). No-one expects you to remember this.
• Duchenne MD, one of the most common forms of the disease, can be detected by means of genetic studies during pregnancy. Even though the disease may be identified, there is still no way to prevent it. Parents must make the difficult choice of deciding whether or not to abort the pregnancy. One in every 3 000 children are born with this condition.
• Two common forms of MD (Duchenne and Becker) are caused by a genetically inherited deficiency of the muscle protein dystrophin. This condition mostly affects boys. One in every 1 200 people are either born with, or develop late-onset muscular dystrophy.
• Initial symptoms include deformities, scoliosis (crooked spine), decreased muscle tone, intellectual retardation or a waddling action when walking.
• It is diagnosed by means of a physical examination that notes all possible symptoms. Blood tests are also performed on potential carriers and their DNA is examined.
• People diagnosed with MD are usually referred to neurologists, geneticists and physiotherapists for treatment.
• Treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
• MD can be treated using surgical methods such as tendon release, where the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the ankle joint is severed. This is done to reduce the side effects of muscle shortening.
• There is no known cure for MD, but modern treatments can prolong the lifespan of people diagnosed with this condition.
• The average lifespan of a person diagnosed with Duchenne MD is roughly 20 years, however, people diagnosed with Becker MD are said to have a normal life expectancy.
MD, in and of itself, is not a barrier to leading a full and satisfying life. People with MD face many barriers and obstacles that have little to do with their physical or cognitive abilities. These barriers are caused by external forces such as: inaccessible buildings and transportation, societal attitudes, and exclusion from education and employment opportunities.
We all have a role to play in breaking down these barriers and ensuring that the rights of all people are honoured.
Taking on barriers can be as simple as being aware of our own biases and prejudices when we are interacting with others.
Private therapy can allow you to start sessions quickly, you can also start privately & we can make an NHS application for you to maintain your care with the same therapist.
For DisabilityPlus to make an NHS application for you based on your condition, we must satisfy specific criteria before making the NHS Application.
The application for you must include one of the below disabilities or life-changing conditions.
Self-Paid Services are available if you do not qualify for an NHS application with DisabilityPlus.
Standard counselling services generally help couples without additional issues such as physical, sensory & injuries.
Using a specialist service means there will be no lost time trying to explain to the therapist the problems you and your partner have with coping with the specific situation.
We are proud to offer this specialist service.
In its most basic sense, LENS is training in self-regulation, a necessary part of optimal brain performance and function, allowing the nervous system to function more adaptively.
This result in greater relaxation, a sense of ease and improved emotional resilience. LENS neurofeedback is not diagnosis-specific. It is not a treatment for any specific condition. It is a generalised process that optimises brain function.
Each Disability is matched with a counsellor who understands your unique issues.
Our Traumatic Brain Injury Counselling Service supports people with their mental health, whether pre-existing issues have worsened or a new condition stemming from an accident or injury.
Our specialist therapists understand the problems a brain injury can have on a person’s mental & emotional health.
Counselling for Concussions can help you avoid potential mental health issues such as panic attacks, depression, anxieties, substance abuse &, in extreme cases, self-harm & suicidal thoughts.
Your counsellor is trained to support people with mild to moderate brain injuries.
The counsellor who supports you has expert knowledge & lived experiences of Autism.
Our treatment plans focus on how the varying degrees of Autism has affected your mental and emotional health.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has Epilepsy.
Specialist Epilepsy Counselling provides an essential place after taking the step to decide you want to speak with a counsellor; you must find someone that ‘fits’ you and your personality for the best possible outcome.
A counsellor with Dyslexia will support you with expert counselling.
Dyslexia & Auditory Processing may not be a mental illness, but its results can trigger mental illness.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has spinal cord injuries.
Our Spinal Cord Injury Counselling Service supports you with your mental health, whether pre-existing issues have worsened or a new condition stemming from the spinal cord injury.
Your therapist has an amputation or is a specialist which creates cultural understanding from the first session.
Using a specialist service who understand the problems of losing a limb first-hand could be the first step to your mental & emotional health recovery.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has OI or you can choose a counsellor with a similar disability.
Specialist Counselling can help you regain wellbeing and balance in your life.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has Multiple Sclerosis or you can choose a counsellor with a similar disability.
MS Counselling gives you time and space to work through your problems. Therapy helps you gain a different perspective on problems and issues.
Therapy provides a safe, non-judgemental and respectful environment. Counselling can help you regain well-being and balance in your life.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has Cerebral Palsy or you can choose a counsellor with a similar disability.
Counselling gives you time and space to work through your problems.
Therapy helps you gain a different perspective on problems and issues.
You will be supported by a counsellor who is disabled with a similar disability.
Professional therapists who understand the complexity of muscular dystrophy.
Our treatment plans focus on how the varying degrees of Muscular Dystrophy has affected your mental and emotional health.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has years of experience supporting people with Chronic Arthritis or you can choose a counsellor with a similar disability.
You will be supported by a counsellor who lives with chronic pain.
Chronic Pain Counselling & Psychotherapy delivers quality therapy for people who have issues caused by severe pain.
Your therapist will have hearing loss with the lived experience of discrimination and frustration.
Therapy for people with differing levels of Hearing Loss, including Suddenly Acquired Deafness through a Medical Issue, age or Accident.
For Profoundly Deaf BSL Service click below
Your counsellor will be profoundly deaf, which creates cultural understanding from the first session.
Our deaf mental health counselling service addresses the core need for cultural understanding with a counsellor that understands the feelings of discrimination & lack of knowledge.
This service is for BSL & Oral Profoundly Deaf People
You will be supported by a counsellor who has a cochlear implant
Our team use Spoken Word (oral), Lip Reading & Visual Gestures.
We offer a live subtitle service if video sessions are selected.
For DisabilityPlus to make an NHS application for you based on your condition, we must satisfy specific criteria before making the NHS Application.
The application for you must include one of the below disabilities or life-changing conditions.
Self-Paid Services are available if you do not qualify for an NHS application with DisabilityPlus.
SIGNHEALTH the Deaf charity is now delivering all NHS BSL Counselling Sessions.
If you would still like to use our service there are Self-Pay options.
Click the NHS Application button below to be directed to the Self-Referral form of SIGNHEALTH
Your counsellor who will support you has Vestibular Disorders and therefore can help you with expert knowledge and lived experiences.
Our team can help with qualified specialist mental health therapists who specialise in supporting people who have Vestibular Issues.
Your counsellor who will support you has Tinnitus and therefore can help you with expert knowledge and lived experiences.
Our team can help with qualified specialist mental health therapists who specialise in supporting people who have Tinnitus and Balance Issues.
The Personal Injury Team is hand-selected based on their expertise in supporting people post-injury.
We support you with emotional & mental health support following a significant personal injury.
The counsellor who supports you has been through the retirement and bereavement from previous assistance dogs. We can offer you a safe, empathic and authentic service where your emotions can be fully explored and accepted
Our assistance dog counselling service can help you get the support you deserve. Your counsellor will have an assistance dog and has lived through the feelings and emotions of loss and grief.
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You will be supported by a counsellor who is CODA.
Our CODA Counselling Service (children or now adults) supports you with your mental & emotional health.
Our specialist therapists understand the problems a cross-culture can have on your mental & emotional health.
You will be supported by a counsellor who understands the complexity of living with body dysmorphia.
Our therapists specialise in mental & emotional health-supporting your negative body image & perceptions.
You will be supported by a counsellor who has Chronic Fatigue . Our specialist therapists can help you come to terms with living with CFS/ME & work through the mental health issues it creates.
Our therapy service can increase your daily living standards
You will be supported by a counsellor who has Fibromyalgia.
We offer psychological support with one of our specialist qualified counsellors who support people who are affected by FMS symptoms.
Our Specialist Therapy helps you move towards positive emotional responses. The key to our service is to achieve better mood control & health wellbeing.
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Each Disability or Injury is matched with a counsellor who understands your unique situation.
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NHS Free funding is available in most areas of the UK.
