Journal Article Details

Citation:
Grover, J. M. (2017). Bonding with your hard of hearing or late-deafened VR client. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 47 (1), 47-64.
Title:
Bonding with your hard of hearing or late-deafened VR client
Authors:
Grover, J. M.
Year:
2017
Journal/Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:
IOS Press
DOI:
Full text:
Peer-reviewed?
No
NIDILRR-funded? 
Yes

Structured abstract:

Background:
The quality of the counselor-client relationship, as defined by the therapeutic or working alliance (WA), has long been known to impact therapeutic outcomes (Horvath, Del Re, Flückiger, & Symonds, 2011; Lambert & Barley, 2001). Within the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) process, a strong working alliance has likewise been shown to result in better vocational and/or independence outcomes (Lustig, Strauser, Rice, & Rucker, 2002) due to more active client collaboration in vocational planning and follow-through with planned services, a strong predictor of outcome in therapy (Gomes-Schwartz, 1978).
Purpose:
As bonding between therapist/counselor and patient/client is one essential element in the construct of the WA (Bordin, 1979), the sub-elements of bonding are considered in this review as they apply to the critical role of communication (Egan, 2013) between the generalist VR counselor (Cook & Bolton, 1997) and client who is hard of hearing or late-deafened.
Conclusions:
Communication challenges peculiar to these populations are explored, and how they impact the development of bonding and a functional relationship in the counseling setting. Finally, ways to reconsider and accommodate these challenges are reviewed.
Disabilities served:
Deafness
Interventions:
Other