Category: Uncategorized
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How PTSD Shows Up in Behavior: Beyond the Mind
PTSD doesn’t just live in the mind—it shows up in the body, emotions, and behavior in ways that can be confusing or misunderstood. Many trauma survivors are told they’re “overreacting,” “too sensitive,” or “unmotivated.” In truth, their nervous systems are doing everything possible to stay safe. Understanding these behavioral impacts helps us replace judgment with…
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Cognitive Distortions and Trauma: When Your Brain Lies to Protect You
You’re Not Broken—You’re Wired for Survival If you’ve lived through trauma, you’ve probably found yourself wondering, “Why do I always think the worst?”, “Why can’t I believe good things about myself?”, or “Why do I blame myself for everything?” The answer often lies in something called cognitive distortions—automatic, distorted ways of thinking that helped you…
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Why Written English Isn’t Enough: Language Equity for Deaf ASL Users
By Joy Plote, LPC, CI/CT Imagine being handed a contract in your second language, one that you were never given full access to as a child. Imagine being expected to read it, understand it, and sign it—without ever being offered the chance to have it explained in your native language. For many Deaf individuals who…
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Embracing Growth: Focusing on What You Gained, Not What You Lost
In life, we all face adversity in one form or another—whether it’s a personal loss, a career setback, or a challenging relationship. During tough times, it’s easy to become fixated on what we’ve lost: a job, a loved one, a dream, or even our sense of self. But what if we chose to focus on…
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When Exploding Feels Like the Only Way to Be Heard: Reactive Abuse and Deaf Experiences
By Joy Plote, Coda Counselor | The Space Between Most people think abuse looks like yelling, hitting, or cruel words. But what happens when someone stays quiet for years… until one day, they finally explode? In the Deaf community, that explosion is often misunderstood. What if the person being labeled as “abusive” is actually reacting…
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Taking the Wheel: Understanding Locus of Control in Healing and Growth
What do you believe drives the course of your life? Is it your effort and decisions — or is it luck, fate, or what others do to you? This belief is called locus of control, and it has a powerful impact on how we heal, grow, and show up in the world. So, what is…
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A Seat at the Table: Why Codas Must Speak Out on Deaf Education and Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma does not exist in isolation—it is deeply rooted in the choices, struggles, and dynamics passed down through families. For Codas (Children of Deaf Adults), the legacy of educational and linguistic decisions made by our hearing grandparents has profoundly shaped our lives. Yet, our experiences are often dismissed or undervalued in conversations about Deaf…
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A Therapy for Trauma Healing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and distressing life experiences. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR helps people reprocess painful memories so they no longer cause intense emotional distress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on…
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The Principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help individuals regulate emotions, improve relationships, develop distress tolerance, and practice mindfulness. Originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), DBT has since been widely used for trauma survivors, individuals with emotional dysregulation, and people struggling with impulsivity, self-harm,…
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Cognitive Dissonance: Why We Struggle with Conflicting Thoughts
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes at the same time. This internal conflict creates mental discomfort, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, or unease. To reduce this discomfort, people often attempt to justify, rationalize, or change their beliefs or…
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