What about people with disabilities?
The October article "Left Out," on the research that suggests therapists are less likely to treat African-American and working-class clients, is an important article. However, I believe that it should have pointed to other types of discrimination, namely, against callers who have disabilities. I was told by one client that he had already been "declined" by 14 psychologists, who told him they would not be able to work with him. Why? He had lost his forearm in an industrial accident. Of course I accepted him immediately, but wondered about the other 14. I had another who refused to work with a client with a mild intellectual disability. No good reason, just "wasn't interested."
I would love to see an article on discrimination against potential patients on the basis of disability … along with ADA implications.
Nora Baladerian, PhD
Los Angeles
Social media highlights
In response to our September article "Is That a Pet or a Therapeutic Aid?" on what to do if a client asks you to certify that his or her pet is an emotional support animal, Amy Doering of Olympia, Washington, shared her experience on Facebook: "I attempted to take a middle ground when asked. I wrote a letter to a landlord that did not describe the animal as an emotional support animal, but said that I had seen a positive effect on the client's PTSD since they acquired the animal (which was true). Then hoped that without making any legal claims of it being a support animal, the landlord would simply have a heart. It worked."
According to Facebook, at Monitor press time, the article had reached 95,324 people, with 420 likes and 218 shares.
APA Facebook follower Laura Ramsey of Haslemere, United Kingdom, says of our September article "Treating Yazidi Rape Survivors": "These are the stories of hope and love that we need to hear in the mainstream media!!!!!"
According to Facebook, at Monitor press time, the article had reached 56,286 people, with 444 likes and 104 shares.
Please send your feedback to APA Monitor on Psychology Editor Sara Martin at smartin@apa.org. Letters should be limited to 175 words and may be edited for space and clarity.
