What Can Clients Tell Us about Seeking Counselling and Their Experience of It?

Development and validation of the Closure and Resolution Scale (CRS)

This research comprises three studies centered on the development and validation of a self-report measure of psychological closure and resolution, the Closure and Resolution Scale (CRS). Study 1 used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in two samples to probe the factor structure for closure using original (Study 1a N = 284) and revised (Study 1b N = 158) item pools. Study 2 (N = 159) examined model fit using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and revealed a good-fitting simple structural solution. The CRS consists of 34 items assessing six facets of event resolution: (1) finality, (2) understanding, (3) felt distance, (4) emotional relief, (5) mental release, and (6) behavioural deactivation. Study 3 (N = 182) examined convergent and discriminant validity for the CRS and provided evidence of construct validity. Participants resided in North America and primarily identified as White (68.7%-77.5%), male (44.3%-59.3%) or female (40.1%-55.7%), with post-secondary education (69.3%-71.7%). We offer a novel measure of psychological closure and resolution with preliminary evidence of good psychometric properties.

Exploring the role of an emotional support and counselling service for people with visual impairments

There is growing evidence of the need for services to address the emotional support needs of people with visual impairments. This article presents findings from a mixed methods evaluation of an emotional support and counselling (ESaC) service delivered within an integrated low vision service, focusing primarily on the qualitative findings. Data collected using a standardised measure of psychological well-being (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure; CORE-OM) show an improvement in the psychological well-being of clients of the service between baseline and follow-up assessment. Qualitative findings from interviews with service users and service providers help to illustrate and explain the experiences underlying the quantitative findings. The ESaC services are shown to be helpful to service users in two particular ways: helping them to normalise their experiences by talking to an impartial listener and helping them to accept and adapt to the physical, emotional and social changes in their lives resulting from their visual impairment.