Counseling for Blind and Low-Vision Clients

People who are blind or have low vision seek counseling for the same range of reasons anyone does: stress, anxiety, low mood, grief, relationships, family changes and questions about direction. Vision may be central to what you want to talk about, or it may barely come up. Your therapist will follow what matters to you rather than assuming your vision is the main story.

Brianna Rivera, a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee supervised by Wendy Barillas, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #133716, has experience with the blind and low-vision community. She works with individuals, couples, families, children and older adults, and her areas of support include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship concerns, life transitions, attachment and adjustment to disability.

Some people have been blind or had low vision all their lives, and others experience vision loss gradually or suddenly later on. Each path brings its own feelings. A change in vision can touch independence, work, reading, travel, hobbies and the way other people treat you, and it can bring grief, frustration or fear alongside resilience and hard-won skills.

Adjustment to disability is one of the areas Brianna supports. Counseling can make room for grief over what has changed, anger at barriers or other people's assumptions, and the emotional side of building a life that fits. There is no right timeline for adjusting, and your own idea of moving forward guides the work.

Both of HOPE's formats are open to people who are blind or have low vision: in person at the Roseville office, or by secure video while you are in California for each session. Meeting by secure video can mean no travel and the familiarity of your own space and devices, while the office offers a private room away from home. When you reach out, ask which formats are available with Brianna.

You are welcome to mention any format or access needs when you first get in touch, such as how you would like to receive and complete new client forms, what helps you join a video session, or what would make an office visit easier. Sharing this early lets the conversation about next steps take your needs into account.

Counseling at HOPE is collaborative and shaped around the person, couple, or family in the room. We do not begin with a preset definition of success. Instead, your therapist makes space for what matters to you, helps you identify personal goals, and works with your experiences and strengths. You can talk about what feels difficult, notice patterns, and decide together where to focus.

Our therapists bring different backgrounds and approaches to this work. Some draw from attachment-based, relational, psychodynamic, parts-informed, somatic, emotion-focused, or cognitive behavioral perspectives. Trauma-informed approaches available within the practice include EMDR, Brainspotting, and Trauma-Focused CBT. Work with children and families may also include play therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. The approach used depends on the therapist, the client, and the goals you discuss together.

A first step does not require having everything figured out. You can read our therapist profiles, or call or email us and we will help you find a good starting point. If you have a therapist preference, let us know. If you do not, we can help identify a good starting point based on the concern, who will attend, the way you would like to meet, and any language preference.

HOPE offers counseling in person at our Roseville office and by secure video for clients who are located in California during the session. Wendy offers counseling in English and Spanish. A therapist will contact you within 48 hours, Monday through Friday. Before beginning, you can ask questions and learn what to expect so that the next step feels clear.