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.

Counselling can help you navigate the triggers in your daily life that can impact your well-being. We understand that even with effective coping strategies, daily life can present challenges that stir up difficult emotions.

Caring for someone with a cerebral palsy is a profound act of love and dedication. Whether you’re a parent, partner, family member, or friend, taking on this role brings significant changes and challenges.

Let’s talk about how our specialised psychology service can support you on your journey with cerebral palsy. Living with cerebral palsy brings unique challenges, and we’re here to walk alongside you, offering 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.

Let’s discuss how cerebral palsy 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.

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. You might feel sad, worried, or frustrated sometimes. 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.

At Disability Plus, we get that living with cerebral palsy is a unique journey.  Your experiences, challenges, and goals are all your own, 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’s important to you, what you’re struggling 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 miss the mark when understanding your unique challenges.  That’s why we take those standard approaches and tailor them specifically 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.  

At Disability Plus, we understand that living with cerebral palsy is different for everyone. It’s not just about the physical challenges but also the emotional and social impact. That’s why our counselling service is specifically designed for people with CP, and here’s what makes us different:

We get it because we’ve lived it: All our counsellors and therapists have cerebral palsy. This means we understand your experiences in ways others simply can’t. We know the frustrations, the barriers, and the triumphs of living with CP because we’ve been there ourselves. This shared experience allows us to connect with you on a deeper level and offer support that genuinely resonates.

We understand your journey: We know that cerebral palsy affects every aspect of your life. We understand the challenges of navigating a world that isn’t always accessible, the emotional impact of dealing with physical limitations, and the social barriers you might face. We support you through everything, from everyday frustrations to more significant life transitions.

Caring for someone with cerebral palsy (CP) is a deeply rewarding but often demanding role. Carers dedicate significant time, energy, and emotional resources to supporting their loved ones, and their well-being can sometimes be overlooked.

Unless a counsellor truly understands the complexities of living with CP, how can they effectively support the unique challenges faced by carers?

General counselling, while valuable, may lack the specific knowledge needed to address the intricate interplay of physical, emotional, and social factors that impact both the individual with CP and their carer.

It’s not enough to understand the concept of CP; it’s essential to understand the lived experience, the daily realities, and the long-term journey. Without this deep understanding, a counsellor may struggle to fully grasp the carer’s experience, potentially missing crucial nuances and offering generic advice that falls short of addressing the core issues.

Specialised counselling from a psychotherapist who understands CP offers significant benefits to carers.

Firstly, it provides a safe and validating space to explore the complex emotions often accompanying caregiving.

At DisabilityPlus, professional qualifications and ethical practice are fundamental to providing exceptional counselling services.

Our counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists are all registered with recognised professional bodies, ensuring our clients receive support that meets the highest standards of care.

This registration is not simply a formality; it’s a testament to our commitment to professionalism, accountability, and ethical conduct.

Registered with Leading Professional Bodies:

Our therapists are registered with the following organisations:

• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
• NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)
• UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy)
• BPS (The British Psychological Society)
• HCPC (Health & Care Professional  Council)

Registration with these bodies provides several crucial assurances:

Qualified Professionals: It verifies that our therapists have met the required training and educational standards to practice counselling or psychotherapy. This ensures that you work with a qualified professional with the necessary knowledge and skills to support your mental well-being.