Disability rights

[Charliebear322]

My counsellor won’t allow our sessions to be over email and is insisting on video calls or phone calls. I have auditory processing disorder. She is offering shorter sessions so it would be easier for me but that means I don’t get as much time as anyone else. I thought I had the right to reasonable adjustments under a disability law.

I don't want to be condescending but did you understand how the sessions worked ?

The point of art therapy is at least partly the group environment, isn’t it? Or are these 1:1 sessions?

she asked me what I wanted out of the sessions. I said art therapy. I imagined her giving me instructions, maybe asking me a few questions or prompts and me following them, then sending a photo of the artwork

That’s not really how art therapy works.

It really doesn't sound like she can do anymore adjustments you can't get what you want because she doesn't provide it .

Could you have a Teams meeting where they type the question, but you speak the answer with cameras on?

This isn't Art therapy as a pp said.

This isn’t AIBU.
There is no reason that we can’t have the sessions over email. She can give me instructions in writing, and I can do the artwork. What more is there to it? the reasons posters have cited “can’t read my body language or tone” aren’t relevant. I don’t want anyone to read anything from my facial expressions, body language or tone. People get it wrong often. Phone or video calls are going to cause more problems for me.
A processing disorder is a disability. It also affects my ability to get my thoughts from my head out into words. It impacts on other aspects of having a conversation. It doesn’t just impact my ability to understand what the other person said. I’m asking if I have legal standing for the sessions to be in writing and what the next steps are as she’s refusing whilst citing nothing other than a company policy

For that you want an art teacher not a therapist

This. But also the counsellor has offered alternatives / adjustments. Just because they’re not exactly what you want, doesn’t make it discrimination.

If it was an AIBU thread, I would definitely vote that YABU.
However, I hope you are able to find a therapy method elsewhere that is suitable for what you want.

She doesn't work like that you are being demanding and unreasonable. I don't know why you are refusing to accept that your therapist doesn't have to offer what you are asking for.

Also quoting myself as I don’t want to edit to add:

if you just want written communication, might as well talk to AI (this isn’t even sarcasm). You’re not going to find a counsellor who’s willing to just do a text conversation

I forgot to quote this, if you want email based "therapy" you are going to have to seek it elsewhere because this person doesn't offer this. You have no legal standing she has offered reasonable adjustments as much as she can as a compromise, it doesn't suit you she isn't able to offer anything else.

Is your therapist NHS based or private?

You can't force someone to do this stuff the way you want to buy quoting a law. You imagined art therapy to be a certain way, it's not like the way you imagined

This person isn't a good fit for you. They're not going to do it by email. You need to find something else that fits your needs better

There is probably no strong evidence-base to draw upon for email-based therapy. Therefore she doesn't want to waste your time, or her time, trying to treat a disorder that can't be treated by email.

Why not agree to try a short block of sessions and then review your progress and decide if you want to carry on after that?

If there is to be any positive outcome of therapy it needs to be something you are motivated to engage in and a good relationship needs to be formed between the two of you. The very defensive legal angle you are taking isn't probably the best way to begin to build that working relationship, and doesn't bode well for a good outcome.

A different therapist who specialises in your particular disorder may help. Try searching BPS website for one in your area.

The simple answer to your question about if you have legal standing is NO.

the therapist may not feel comfortable doing it in a new format and may just not be a practical way for them to do therapy.
this doesn’t sound like it will be a good fit for either of you. Reasonable adjustments aren’t always a guarantee.

Art therapy is not possible to deliver via email. If you want to create art solo then do so, you don't need instructions. An art therapist would interact with you during the creative process as an intrinsic part of developing the art into something theraputic. There wouldn't be "instructions" - they would be making suggestions based on masses of aspects of what you do and every noise or movement or word they make would be something that evolves from what happens in the session so couldn't possibly be wriiten down. This is as unrealistic as asking for swimming lessons via email.

The point of “reasonable” adjustments is that they have to actually be “reasonable”.

it’s like asking for driving lessons via email.

This is art therapy. As you can see it wouldn’t be possible to do this by email.

https://baat.org/art-therapy/what-to-expect-when-you-start-art-therapy/

What you have suggested - her giving instruction and you producing a piece of art isn’t art therapy and won’t be effective.

No you do not have a legal standing. Reasonable adjustments does not mean you sign up for a specific service then expect them to change it entirely. It is not suitable to do therapy over email. What you are describing you want is an art lesson, you could use chatgpt to give prompts on something to draw

I’m asking if I have legal standing for the sessions to be in writing and what the next steps are as she’s refusing whilst citing nothing other than a company policy

The next step is to find another counsellor who is happy to offer art therapy over email, if you can find such a thing.

ok