Please note this webinar has been postponed as our presenter has just tested positive for COVID-19. We will be re-scheduling this for when Michelle is feeling better and will advise the new date as soon as we can.
Working with people who have had limbs amputated and who use a prosthetic.
Our presenters for this webinar are Dr Michelle Mulvihill, Psychologist, and John Evans, the recipient of a prosthetic leg following a workplace accident. Michelle and John will hold a conversation about the area of amputation, its effects on sense of self, body image, dealing with other people’s perceptions, and overcoming the sense of loss.
John will discuss some of the many issues people wearing prosthetic limbs face and what he has learned in the past two years, both as a consumer and as an observer in the prosthetics lab. Ask John whatever you need to know about this important area.
Michelle will present a couple of take-aways from what she has learned during her time working with people who have had limbs amputated, over a number of years. This includes “one size never fits all”.
Key issues:
- The loss of a limb has a huge psychological impact on one’s mental health, as if the person has lost a loved one. There are different timelines for this.
- It is difficult to cope with loss of sensation and function from the amputated limb.
- Amputation can also change the clients’ perception of body image and this can lead to a wide range of psychological issues. Negative thoughts are very common.
Psychological well- being is vital to a good rehabilitation process. Understanding how this grieving process is the same as and different to loss and grief in general is critical for a therapist.
More about our presenters
Michelle Mulvihill is a Registered Psychologist now living and working in the Southern Highlands of NSW. She has worked as an Academic, Senior Lecturer in Psychology (at ACU and UTS), Associate Director and Lecturer at the Institute of Counselling Sydney, and Psychologist in Private Practice. Michelle began working in the area of Workplace Trauma in the early 1990s and has provided adult learning opportunities in trauma and its management for many different corporations.
Michelle is Co-Founder of the Charity “Dignity Homeless Services” which won the 2020 Telstra Business of the Year Award. With endorsements in both Counselling and Organisational Psychology, Michelle has featured in many TV programs talking about current issues in psychology: these shows include Four Corners, Lateline, Breakfast News, Today Show, Sunrise, along with many radio interviews. Most recently you may have seen Michelle’s participation in the ABC Compass program concerning people who have had amputations, which is still available on ABC iView.
John Evans is the 38-year-old husband of Karen and father of three children and “Jack of all trades”. He was working in a factory in Regional NSW when unfortunately, he was part of a workplace accident, requiring emergency amputation of his leg on the factory floor, prior to being flown to a Sydney hospital. Michelle met John through her work with people who have suffered amputation and who now wear prosthetics.
Note: Webinar start time is 7:00 pm AEST
A recording of this webinar will be available for AAPi Members through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Non-Members who purchase a ticket will be emailed a 30 day access link.