Enhancing Self-Esteem

Developing and maintaining a healthy sense of self-esteem can be challenging for individuals with disabilities. This is because people with disabilities may be faced with a unique range of challenges associated with having a disability, such as negative messages, low expectations, reduced opportunities and outright discrimination. In an attempt to bridge the knowledge gap and offer an applicable intervention, Drs. Hagiliassis and Gulbenkoglu, have created a group training package to improve self-esteem for adults with disabilities. – Sexuality and Disability

Nick Hagiliassis is a psychologist with eight years’ experience in the disability field. He completed a BSc and an MPsych at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and currently works as the Discipline Specific Advisor (Psychology) with the Statewide Specialist Services team with Scope (Vic.) Ltd., and also provides direct services to children and adults with disabilities and their families. Nick’s clinical and research interests are in the areas of psychological assessment and learning disabilities.

Hrepsime Gulbenkoglu is a psychologist with 22 years’ experience in the physical and multiple disabilities area. She has a B.A and postgraduate qualification in Psychology from the University of Istanbul, Turkey. She has worked with children and adults with disabilities and their families in Australia and overseas providing psychological assessment, behavioural intervention and counselling services. She works as a senior clinician with the Statewide Specialist Services team with Scope (Vic.) Ltd. providing external consultancies, direct services and training.

Scope (Vic) Ltd is a non-profit organisation providing disability services throughout Melbourne and Victoria, Australia, to over thousands of children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities. Many more people make use of Scope’s information, support and assessment services.