On this page you will find help if you are a Medical & Allied Support Professional: Doctor/Surgeon, Occupational Therapist/Speech Therapist/Music Therapist/Social worker, etc.
62.6%
when asked if their medical practitioner was aware of the psychosocial issues of living with a facial disfigurement agreed with the statement 'not at all' or rated them poorly.
(Disfigurement in the UK, 2017)
Medical & Allied Support professionals are people before they are their profession. We all have unknown bias and varying levels of exposure to people living with facial disfigurement. Help avoid medical guilt and discomfort by being equipped to understand what it is like living with a facial disfigurement.
Facial disfigurement can be short lived to lifelong:
• Skin conditions: Acne/Eczema/Vitiligo
• Scarring (doesn't need to be visible)
• Port wine stains (nevus flammeus)
• Craniofacial conditions: Treacher Collins/Pfiffer/Crouzon/Craniosynostosis, etc
• Eye issues such as: ptosis, cataract, Duanes/Moebius/Nager syndromes, etc
Recent research demonstrates medical professionals are unaware of the psychological and psychosocial aspects of living with facial disfigurement. Several research studies undertaken have illustrated the need for medical professionals to become aware of the lived experience of people living with facial disfigurement and where to refer them to for relevant support. Here at Karibu Anawim, we understand medical professionals need not know EVERYTHING, but knowing how to approach often awkward situations and who to refer to helps alleviate what could potentially be a very stressful situation for both patient and professional.
We at Karibu Anawim tailor packages to your medical staffing needs. This may include:
• Medical professional consults - awareness of our unknown bias and how this affects our professional perceptions of people living with facial disfigurement
• Consultancy
• Support for patients who live with a facial disfigurement and their families
• Counselling services
- Personalised medical professional awareness counselling & training
- Child or parental counselling face to face or via Skype/Zoom platforms
• Access to rent or purchase an educational intervention.
We at Karibu Anawim tailor packages to your medical staffing needs. This may include:
• Medical professional consults - awareness of our unknown bias and how this affects our professional perceptions of people living with facial disfigurement
• Consultancy
• Support for patients who live with a facial disfigurement and their families
• Counselling services
- Personalised medical professional awareness counselling & training
- Child or parental counselling face to face or wia Skype/Zoom platforms
• Access to rent or purchase an educatonal intervention.
“We risk labelling someone [with a facial disfigurement] as being defined by [their] appearance.”
Professor Thistlethwaite
(Saul & Thistlethwaite, 2011)
“If [as general practitioners] we decide to probe, we need to have some solutions available such as referral [to appropriate support organisations] or the suggestion of a local self-help group. If we don’t know any possible solutions, we need to promise to find out, and follow-up on this promise.”
Professor Thistlethwaite (Saul & Thistlethwaite, 2011)
“We [as general practitioners] must also remember that disfigurement is not always apparent – for example, a mastectomy or severe scarring.”
Professor Thistlethswaite
(Saul & Thistlethwaite, 2011)
42% said their disfigurement had severe or very severe impact on their psychological health. Two fifths said their healthcare professionals had very little understanding and one fifth said their healthcare professional did not know anything about the psychological issues of living with facial disfigurement.
(Disfigurement in the UK, 2017).
Professor Jane Southcott, Monash University
What did you learn from the session:
That it is ok to ask questions of what happened. I already say to my son that they had been in an accident or maybe born with it, I do not say Ssshhh.
DIV1 Clinical teacher
What did you learn from the session:
Confirmed and reassured that I treat patients the same way. No matter appearance.
Nurse
What did you learn from the session:
I learned about what it is like with a facial visible disfigurement (or an insight) and about what people go through. I also learned the best way to feel comfortable in talking about it and reduce stigma.
Medical Student
What did you learn from the session:
The best way to approach the sometimes awkward situation when talking with someone with an obvious deformity or change from the 'norm'.
Registered Nurse
Please feel free to download the relevant Self Help Guide. If you would like further support, please connect with us in the way you feel most comfortable.
Please feel free to download the relevant
Self Help Guide. If you would like further support,
please connect with us in the way you feel
most comfortable.
Autoethnography: The Ayes Have It! (2018)
The Qualitative Report
'My own experience throughout primary, secondary, and, also tertiary education, clearly requires educators to be educated. Teachers' perceptions matter.'
Special Ethical Considerations for Facially Distinctive Counsellors (2015)
Counselling Australia
Raises issues such as:
• Discrimination: obtaining and retaining clients
• Use of self disclosure: to retain and build rapport with clients therefore lessening discrimination
• Face to face counselling
• Skype/Zoom (National & International clients)
• Support groups
• Consultancy
• Support for family members and friends
• Speakers for the workplace, sporting clubs and social groups
• Email support (may be considered after initial consultation)
Phone (International):
+61 481 328 837
Australia wide phone:
0481 328 837
Email: inquiries@karibuanawim.com
Skype name: Karibuanawim
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