Bill and Samantha unpack the stigma around anger and the broader emotional experience for people with low vision or blindness. Samantha shares her unconventional entry into vision-loss counseling through the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind, emphasizes that clients with low vision are “just people,” and highlights grief as a common—but not universal—theme. Together they challenge prejudices (sighted vs. blind therapists), explore the “anger umbrella” of nuanced emotions, and offer concrete techniques for naming, expressing, and managing feelings—especially when visual cues are absent. The conversation closes with practical strategies: emotional granularity (using an “emotion wheel”), clear verbal check‑ins (“What’s happening in the room?”), and personalized coping routines (naming the feeling, walking away, sensory resets).



Key Themes:

Grief and loss in vision change

Bias toward/against blind or sighted therapists

Anger as an umbrella emotion vs. specific labels

Gender and family conditioning around emotion

Teaching children emotional language early

Safety and expressing anger without visual feedback

Coping strategies: name it, take space, regulate

Emotional granularity & the Emotion Wheel

Therapy as education: “You don’t know what you don’t know”



Actionable Tips:

Name precisely: Go beyond “angry” to “hurt,” “threatened,” “frustrated,” etc.

State & step back: “I’m angry; I need 30 minutes. I’ll come back.”

Ask for context: If you can’t see reactions, verbalize: “What’s happening in the room? How are you feeling?”

Build a coping menu: Music, walk, shower, time with guide dog—experiment and codify what works.

Use an Emotion Wheel: Improves emotional regulation and communication.



Guest Contact:

Website: https://tideschangingtherapy.com

Email: samantha@tideschangingtherapy.com

Instagram: @tideschangingtherapy

Aftersight Feedback / Inquiries: feedback@aftersight.org



Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.



2. Chapter Markers (mm:ss – one line each)

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:00 – Samantha’s Path: Tampa Lighthouse & Finding a Calling

02:14 – Serving Clients in Florida and Colorado

04:16 – “Same People, Different Experiences”: Grief & Vision Loss

06:43 – Bias Toward Sighted vs. Blind Therapists

08:35 – Challenging Prejudice and Affirming Capability

10:54 – Setting Up Today’s Focus: Anger

12:34 – Defining Anger & The Umbrella of Emotions

14:44 – Gender, Family Messages, and Suppressed Feelings

16:59 – Teaching Emotional Language to Children

19:27 – Expressing Anger Safely with Limited Visual Cues

21:52 – Coping Strategies: Naming, Walking Away, Reset

24:14 – Anger ≠ Aggression: Normalizing the Feeling

26:13 – Navigating Others’ Reactions Without Sight

28:43 – Communication: “What’s Going On in the Room?”

29:52 – Therapy, Learning, and Transforming Patterns

32:01 – Emotional Granularity & The Emotion Wheel

34:25 – From Core Emotions to Nuanced Expression

36:49 – Reframing Emotions: We Feel Before We Think

39:16 – Practical Tips & Verbal Validation

41:43 – Guest Contact Info, Wrap‑Up & Closing