Rehabilitation professionals and sexual counseling for spinal cord injured adults

Abstract

The Michigan Rehabilitation Association (M.R.A.) and the Program in Human Sexuality of the University of Minnesota collaborated to produce a 1-day seminar on sexual function in spinal cord injury. Evaluation of the participants and the seminar showed that the program was beneficial for most and harmful for few. Questionnaire responses indicated that few M.R.A. members are currently doing sexual counseling but many see an opportunity to do so. A relationship appeared between those who have received some form of training in sexual counseling and those who are doing counseling with clients. It is postulated that frank and sincere discussion of sexuality may improve rapport between client and counselor. However, before such an interaction can comfortably take place, the counselor may gain from an opportunity to examine his or her own attitudes toward human sexuality and gather more information about the sexuality of physically disabled adults.