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Leena Hassinen, Raimo Lappalainen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä , Finland

Training Staff Members to Apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Persons Using Sign Language ACBS World Conference IX, July 13-15, Parma , Italy. Leena Hassinen, Raimo Lappalainen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä , Finland Eeva-Marja Loukola

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Leena Hassinen, Raimo Lappalainen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä , Finland

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  1. Training Staff Members to Apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Persons Using Sign LanguageACBS World Conference IX, July 13-15, Parma, Italy Leena Hassinen, Raimo Lappalainen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland Eeva-MarjaLoukola The Service Foundation for the Deaf, Helsinki, Finland

  2. Introduction • In Finland there are approximately 4000 - 5000 people who are deaf and use sign language as their mother tongue. • About 250 of these persons attend the housing and sheltered work services of the Service Foundation for the Deaf.

  3. Introduction • There is some data (Lindfors, 2005) suggesting that deaf persons have slightly increased number of psychological symptoms as compared to Finnish population in general: 25% vs. 19%. • The most common psychological symptoms among the deaf population were loneliness, depression and anxiety symptoms. • Deaf persons reported that they needed help for discussing problems with relationships, work-related and other psychological difficulties.

  4. The aim • The aim of the study was to develop an intervention model to increase wellbeing of deaf or deaf-blind clients. • As there is a lack of psychotherapists who can use sign language we wanted to investigate if training of counsellors using sign language can have positive impact to deaf clients’ wellbeing.

  5. Method: Procedure • The study was conducted in the service centre Sampola, which is owned by the Service Foundation for the Deaf. • It provides supported housing services and workshops, and other work activities in sign language for deaf and deadblind persons. • There are 19 staff members and 43 clients of which 35 live in Sampola.

  6. Method: Subjects • There were 14 clients who attended the trial. • All were deaf sign language users. • Their mean age was 44.3 years (22-60). • All except one were working in the Service centre Sampola (94%), 9 (64%) were living there. • There was an equal amount of men and women. • Ten (71%) of the subjects were single. • Seven (50%) clients had psychiatric diagnoses and medication, only 4 (29%) were receiving treatment. • 9 staff members attended the trial.

  7. Method: Intervention • Two day workshop for staff members: case formulation and ACT. • Supervision every other week. • Study groups: The staff members studied the theory and the methods of ACT and had group discussions five times during the intervention period. The staff members met one client 8 -10 times during a 10-12 week period. On session/week.

  8. Method: Intervention • The staff members were instructed to draw a case formulation of the clients´ situation and then formulate a value analysis based on ACT principles with the client. • According to the clients needs the intervention included experiential exercises and metaphors of ACT. • All intervention was done in sign language. • Following exercises were translated into the Finnish sign language: the Observer exercise, The Putting Emotions In Front of You Exercise. • 7 metaphorsweretranslated: The Quicksand, The Man in the Hole, The Tug-of-Warwith a Monster, the JellyDonuts, Hungry Tiger, The House, The Bird House.

  9. Method: Measurements • The clients´ situation was assessed by The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and AAQ 2 before, during and after the trial. • These measurements were translated into sign language before the trial. • The time between Pre- and Post-measurements was 3 months. • The follow –up was done six months after the intervention ended.

  10. Results: Pre- Post and Follow-upgroupsresults (n =14)

  11. Results: Figure on changes in SCL GSI (n =14) Decrease of symptoms 10 of 14 subjectsreporteddecrease of psychologicalsymptoms

  12. Results: Figure on changes in BDI (n = 14) Decrease of depression symptoms 8 of 14 subjectsreporteddecrease of depression symptoms

  13. Results: Figure on changes in ACT-2 (n = 14) Increase of flexibility 10 of 14 subjectsreportedchange/increase of psychologicalflexibility

  14. Conclusions • It is possible to train counselors working with deaf persons to apply ACT. • It is possible to use ACT with sign language. But the treatment process takes more time. • Short ACT intervention delivered by the counselors seems to have some positive effects to psychological and depression symptoms of deaf persons, and the intervention has some positive effects on the psychological flexibility among the majority of the deaf persons. • This is an example that in some cases the only way to influence the quality of life of the minorities is to train staff members to use psychological methods

  15. Discussion • The ACT sign –intervention was well accepted both by the clients and by the counselors. • There were reports indicating that there were positive changes at the Sampola community during and after the intervention. • The measures were translated into Finnish Sign Language and they were used for the first time in this study. Thus, there is a possibility of misunderstanding of the measurements. We must be careful when we draw conclusions on the basis of the data. • The model of training staff members to use ACT seems to be workable. • leena.hassinen@pp.inet.fi

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