10 Questions to Determine if a Person Could Benefit from Disability Adjustment Counseling

All people who develop a disabling condition struggle with the adjustment process to some degree. It’s common to feel sad, to grieve, to be stressed, and overwhelmed. But for many people, the adjustment process is too much to handle on their own. The sadness progresses to depression, the stress spirals into limiting activities, or the person feels so much shame and hopelessness that they don’t see a way out of their grief. 

Disability adjustment counseling can be beneficial for anyone experiencing a new or degenerating condition. It speeds up their process of acceptance and helps them get back to living their life more fully. 

It is vital for someone to seek help who is struggling with their transition. However, it is not always easy to determine how someone is coping or what is to be expected. Asking the below questions can help you determine if a person could benefit from adjustment counseling. 

1.  How did you feel about people with (insert disability type) before you began experiencing it yourself?

This is important because, with a newly acquired or degenerative condition, a person will internalize the beliefs they had about others prior to their accident/diagnosis. If someone felt that people with disabilities were pitiable and dependent, then that’s how they may feel about themselves. 

2. Have you ever known someone with the same disability? What were your impressions of that person?

This question is telling because of their perceptions and experiences with a person with the same disability will often get over-generalized. If their experiences were positive, then they may be beating themselves up for not functioning or coping as well. If their experiences were negative, then they may put the same limitations and impressions on themselves. If they have never encountered someone with the same condition, then they will often feel alone and isolated. This common symptom leads us to the next question.

3. Do you often feel limited or isolated?

During the adjustment process, it is common to become a bit more isolated, withdraw from people and activities, and limit tasks. However, this can become a problem if a person is doing this frequently or limiting themselves more and more to the point that they only do activities they feel are absolutely necessary. 

4. Do your friends/family support you in ways that are beneficial and respectful? 

It is common for friends and family members to have difficulty with the adjustment. Many will become over-protective or will do the opposite and push their loved ones into trying to act as if the disability does not exist. If friends or family members are struggling and being a barrier to adjustment, then it will make the process of acceptance extremely difficult. 

5. Do you often feel angry or frustrated with your current situation?

Strong emotions such as anger and frustration are a normal part of the process. However, during a healthy adjustment, these feelings begin to lessen after the initial stages. If a person is experiencing negative emotions about their disability on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time, then it is an indicator that counseling is necessary to help process the emotions.

6. What kind of lifestyle do you see yourself having in the near future?

This question is key to determining if the person has hope for their future, and what kind of life they believe themselves capable of having. If they are able to describe realistic goals and dreams, then they are probably not struggling with this aspect of adjustment. However, many people will not be able to imagine anything for their future or will state that they don’t see any chance of improvement in their quality of life. This leads to people refusing rehabilitation training or not participating in their life. They simply get stuck in the initial phase of adjustment and not progress to a healthier mindset.

7. What activities did you use to do that you would like to begin again?

Many people will limit activities or give up things that were once important because they don’t know how to do them with their disability. Asking this question will help determine if the person has given up on activities that they are capable of continuing or if they will need to adapt how they were doing something to reintegrate it into their lives again. This question also helps identify the differences in their day-to-day life prior to their accident/diagnosis. 

8. Do you feel that you are capable of being productive and happy now?

A person’s perspective on their ability to contribute and enjoy life is helpful in determining their mindset and outlook on their abilities. Most people need to feel productive in some way and feel that they can contribute. However, disability can impact how a person does everyday activities, and therefore change their perspective on ability. Helping someone find enjoyment and purpose is an important part of the adjustment and acceptance process.  

9. Have you disclosed your disability to people yet? How has that experience gone?

It is common for people to be embarrassed or ashamed of their disability and want to hide it whenever possible. Learning to move beyond those concerns of how others will perceive them and disclose their disability is vital. This is challenging for most people and is a skill that must be learned. There can also be some initial negative experiences with telling others that reinforce the desire to hide their disability and avoid people and situations that draw attention to their challenges. 

10. Do you feel that you can contribute to your household to the extent that makes you comfortable?

Contributing at home whether the person lives alone, with a spouse, or family is an important part of the adjustment process and is a good indicator of how well they are coping. If others do most tasks for them, or if they feel incapable even though they are expected to do tasks around the house, it indicates a delay in their adjustment. 

These basic questions will give insight into a person’s adjustment to disability. Their perspective on their type of disability, how others perceive them, and their level of hope for their future are key indicators of the adjustment stage, and if there are complicating factors keeping the person stuck. 

If the answers are primarily negative, or it is determined that there is an unhealthy perspective of their reality, then disability adjustment counseling is recommended.

By Sarah Clark, LMFT, LMHC, CVRT