My name is Harry Clarke.

In the summer of 1988 I had a stroke which initially left me with severe Aphasia.

During my 3 months in hospital slowly recovering I began to realise that what had happened would probably change my life forever.

Naturally I felt the need to express how I felt about this unexpected and unwelcome intrusion into my life.

I received lots of help with the physical problems but it seemed that the emotional impact of my sudden illness was something I had to deal with on my own.

Three more months at a rehab centre and still there seemed to be nowhere to bring all my concerns for the future to.

I began to identify an unmet need in the help that was being offered to me and others recovering from stroke and aphasia and that need was for counselling.

Much later a friend suggested I do an introduction to counselling course after which I enrolled in a two year Advanced Diploma course.

And in 1995 I began work as a trained counsellor!

The counselling process can be difficult for any client, but even more so when the client has Aphasia.

Working together with the client often brings new ways of communicating that doesn't always rely totally on words.

Being flexible and working creatively allows people with Aphasia the opportunity to participate in and benefit from what is often known as the "talking cure".

Anything and everything can be employed when using non-verbal communication, writing, drawing, painting, gesture, body language, stones (to represent people, places or things) photos or maps. If it aids communication then I use it.

Counselling is not a job that would suit everyone. I never considered being a counsellor myself before my stroke and although worried that my disability might put me at a disadvantage I was reassured by the universities disability officer with whom I could discuss any needs that I had.

Perhaps these perceived worries are part of the reason there seems to be so few people with personal experience of stroke and aphasia wanting to train to become specialist counsellors.

My hope for the future is that some people with Aphasia will take those first steps towards becoming counsellors themselves.

At times counselling work can be draining but it is also rewarding and fulfilling.

I offer counselling for individuals and couples at Connect - the communication disability network.

Connect is a national charity working collaboratively to promote effective services, new opportunities and a better quality of life for people living with stroke and aphasia.

Contact
Harry Clarke
Tel 020 7367 0840
harryclarke@ukconnect.org