The following script is an illustration of how counselling can be effective in the successful transformation of an individuals, group or even community’s lives. It is a remarkable true-life event that occurred in a young man’s life.a
My name is Panashe Sean Marime, a visually impaired Intern Counselling Psychologist I lost my sight 12 years ago. A short while after sitting for my 3rd year undergrad examinations. It was during this period that I suffered a mind splitting migraine headache. A week later, I found myself in hospital before I knew it I had been transferred to a different hospital in the capital city for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scan. At first, nothing was detected.
Two days after this second admission however, my life took a turn for the worst. The reason for this, is that on the third morning, the nurse woke me up for breakfast. I could hear her, but I simply could not see her. Yes, pitch black darkness at dawn, it was gone As if I had not received my fair share of torture, I began to lament as I also lost my hearing, smell and mobility due to waist down paralysis. Panashe was simply in hell on earth, but only for so long. As you would possibly imagine, his only communication with the world was sensory perception which his mother took advantage of by spelling letters into the palms of his hands to create words. The reinforcement was a tap on the forearm, the punishment was rubbing the palm in a circular notion. Over time this proved easier and less time consuming for cleaning, eating and bathing.
The 3 month hospital stay drew to a close after the vitals stabilized, the right ear opened, the left soon after, the smell and feeling in my legs returned then I relearnt to walk. Now I run skip and jump in familiar spaces. After being discharged I recall being anxious about the exams I had written with double vision like a crooked eyed swaying drunk. To my awe and surprise I had passed all my courses. I was ecstatic, yet this too would be short-lived
A short telephone call to the South African university I was enrolled at ruled out any chances if finishing my studies at that institution because of my sight loss. I was distraught, downcast and I thought my life had come to an end, it was meaningless. I stayed at home for 4 lengthy years. Feeling so depressed. As it were, my family heard about Dorothy Duncan School for the blind and rehabilitation center. It is here where I received sight loss rehabilitation and life skills. My life was fuelled with the resilience that shaped me into the individual I now am. Dorothy Duncan staff counselled and then encouraged me to complete my studies at the University of Zimbabwe, which offers inclusive education to date. I then took up psychology, with the sole purpose to make a difference in someone’s life At this point I was not aware of the fact that I was the first visually impaired student to study psychology in my cohort. I graduated my honor’s as campus celebrity of the year. Thereafter, I pursued a master of science in counselling psychology the following year. This too I managed to accomplish while studying at Great Zimbabwe University.
At present I am now a proud intern supervisor under the Friendship Bench, where we value the availability of sound mental health for all. What I particularly appreciate during my training was the importance of taking care of one another as counsellors, this I believe will ensure our outreach will become more effectively. My journey training with them has been a rewarding one, leading to self-awareness and unconditional positive regard. I was trained to engage clients entirely in vernacular, and also paying particular attention to one’s background including sexual orientation, age and problem by using empathy, active listening, silence, and boundary setting. Informed consent is a vital tool as it enhances rapport with clients. In addition, the cognitive behavioral therapy may be used as a counselling intervention by employing systematic desensitization, flooding or the ABC technique of action behavior and change. Training taught me to keep the client at ease, seek permission to assess the likelihood of a disposition or emergency. Debriefing the client is vital and their right.

The problem solving technique then comes into play by narrating all the problems, then zeroing in on a particular problem with the help of the client. Once recognized, I will then create two batches of questions with the intention to understand, and finally to find a solution.
Lastly, I will use the smart plan involving Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic and Timely goals. This entails the specific questions 5 Ws and how. I learnt that I need to question a client without any personal input in-order for me to arrive at a solution solely I feel I belong, and I got a platform for me to forge new ties.

Panashe Sean Marime

Intern Counseling Psychologist