We believe in Deaf therapists and clients working together as equal partners to address client concerns.
Our approach to therapy is primarily Deaf-centered and existential-humanistic in orientation. As the first psychotherapists to conceptualize a Deaf-centered framework of therapy and the first to establish a practice grounded in a Deaf-centered philosophy, we are conscious of how Deaf people’s lives are shaped by their identities and experiences as members of this cultural and linguistic minority group, as well as the many other intersectionalities in their lives.
We place much emphasis on the relationship between the client and the therapist, encouraging awareness of the internal self and recovering what may have been lost or forgotten. We focus on exploring clients’ understanding of problems or issues and experimenting with alternative ways of behaving or reacting.
As much as possible, we avoid labeling our clients with mental health diagnoses, believing them to be limiting and even disabling. Instead, our therapists take an empathic and holistic approach to therapy.
It’s easy to lose sight of who we are and where we are going. We find ourselves constructing our lives around the expectations of others. Therapy can help individuals become more truthful or authentic, find direction, and broaden their perspective on themselves and the world around them
We place much emphasis on the relationship between the client and the therapist, encouraging awareness of the internal self and recovering what may have been lost or forgotten. We focus on exploring clients’ understanding of problems or issues and experimenting with alternative ways of behaving or reacting.
As much as possible, we avoid labeling our clients with mental health diagnoses, believing them to be limiting and even disabling. Instead, our therapists take an empathic and holistic approach to therapy.
It’s easy to lose sight of who we are and where we are going. We find ourselves constructing our lives around the expectations of others. Therapy can help individuals become more truthful or authentic, find direction, and broaden their perspective on themselves and the world around them
Robert Frost
Pain and suffering are part of life, but they don’t have to define life. Death, the end of a relationship, physical pain, and trauma touch our lives. In the midst of sadness and despair, there is an opportunity for healing. In accepting and moving through our emotional pain, in embracing each experience and moment, we become engaged in our lives and more conscious of our true selves. When we ignore our suffering and emptiness, we lose a chance to heal and become further disengaged from life.
We Are All Unique
People are unique in race and ethnicity, spiritual beliefs and values, sexual orientations, educational backgrounds, socioeconomic status, interests, and personalities. Deaf people are no exception. In addition to the many intersectionalities that define our lives, our Deaf identities are also complex. We may come from a Deaf or hearing family; from a signing or oral environment; from a Deaf school or mainstream program. We may be late-deafened or hard-of-hearing. We may feel good about being Deaf or wish we were hearing. We may use assistive listening devices or not. Each of these factors shapes our individual lives.
Our Lives Unfold as Spirals
Time after time we come back to the same themes and issues in our lives. At Deaf Counseling Center, we believe that everyone possesses the abilities and strengths to withstand the next stages of the journey. While we pay close attention to the here-and-now, we also look to the past when it may provide clarity to present-day and future issues. We also appreciate and make use of techniques from other theoretical orientations, such as dream analysis and desensitization.
The path to a more authentic you is open.
