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Psychotherapists: Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Life Coaches

Special care is needed when helping people living with facial disfigurement. Our unknown bias will need to be understood before we are able to support people living with facial disfigurement. Sometimes people living with disfigurement may present with a variety of issues such as:

•  Low self esteem

•  Social isolation/withdrawal

•  Lack of friends/loved ones

•  Anxiety

•  Depression

•  PTSD

Sometimes the link between facial disfigurement and co-morbid issues may not be ‘seen’ by us particularly if we do not ‘deem’ the disfigurement as ‘severe’ enough, to make the link. This makes us unable to assist or understand what our client might be saying. This is supported by literature which states ‘one fifth said their healthcare professional did not know anything about the psychological issues of living with facial disfigurement (Disfigurement in the UK, 2017).’

We all have different strengths and different clients we service. If you come across a client who might need some extra assistance, please do not hesitate to either educate yourself further in the lived experiences by reading The Ayes Have It! Special Considerations for Facially Distinctive Counsellors or refer clients to our services at Karibu Anawim.

Relevant academic articles pertaining to living with a facial disfigurement

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

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