Tag: ASL
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What is Executive Dysfunction?
Executive dysfunction refers to difficulties with the cognitive processes that are responsible for goal-directed behaviors, decision-making, problem-solving, and self-regulation. These cognitive processes, known as executive functions, allow individuals to plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and complete tasks in a coherent and efficient manner. When these functions are impaired, individuals may experience challenges in managing…
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The Importance of the Non-Verbal Healing Process: How Body and Mind Work Together to Heal Trauma
Healing from trauma is a complex and deeply personal journey. For many individuals, traditional talk therapies can be a useful tool in understanding and processing their past experiences. However, these approaches often overlook the profound role that the body and non-verbal processes play in trauma recovery. Emerging therapies such as EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and…
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Are Codas Neurodivergent? A Deep Dive into the Coda Brain
Abstract Children of Deaf Adults (Codas) grow up navigating two linguistic and cultural worlds, acquiring both a signed and spoken language. This bimodal bilingualism presents unique cognitive, sensory, and executive function adaptations that align with contemporary understandings of neurodivergence. This article examines the intersection of bimodal bilingualism, high intelligence, and neurodivergence in Codas, arguing that…
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Dysfunctional Family Rules: Coda Edition
Codas may encounter variations of the archetypal dysfunctional family rules, shaped by their dual roles as both children and language brokers or mediators within their families. Coda Roles in Families Codas often take on exaggerated versions of these roles due to their responsibilities within their families. Here’s how these roles might manifest uniquely for Codas:…
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The Silent Scars of Small “t” Traumas: Understanding Their Impact and Path to Healing
When we think of trauma, our minds often go to dramatic, life-altering events—the “big T” traumas like natural disasters, abuse, or violence. Yet, there’s another kind of trauma that often flies under the radar but can leave equally deep emotional scars: the small “t” traumas. These are the subtle, repeated experiences that shape our emotional…
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Understanding Trauma: What It Is, How We Measure It, and Its Impact
Trauma is an experience that can shake the very foundation of a person’s sense of safety, stability, and well-being. It’s not just about what happens to someone but how their body, mind, and emotions respond to it. Trauma can manifest from a single distressing event or unfold over time through prolonged exposure to difficult circumstances.…
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Using DBT to Support Deaf People and Their Families
Emotional dysregulation is a challenge many individuals face, but for members of the Deaf community and their families, unique cultural and linguistic barriers can intensify this struggle. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a highly structured and evidence-based therapeutic approach, offers a powerful tool for addressing these challenges. Using the skills deficit framework, DBT can be adapted…
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The Real Barriers of Deafness: Society’s Role in Creating Exclusion and Inequality
The social model of disability, developed in response to the medical model, argues that disability is not an inherent attribute of an individual but a result of the interaction between individuals and an environment that does not accommodate their needs. For Deaf individuals, this means their suffering often arises not from their deafness but from…
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How Do Codas Know They Need Help?
A Journey of Recognition and Healing Recently, I was asked a question that stayed with me: How do Codas (Children of Deaf Adults) know they need help? , I posed the same question to my brother. His response? He laughed and said: “Are they breathing? They’re Codas; of course, they need help.” While his words…
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Are Deaf Trauma Responses Different? A Closer Look at the Unique Impacts of Trauma on the Deaf Community
Trauma is a deeply personal experience that anyone can experience, but for members of the Deaf community, its effects often are compounded by unique cultural, linguistic, and systemic challenges. These challenges contribute to trauma responses that may differ in expression or origin from those of hearing individuals. This post examines 11 specific trauma responses observed…
the Coda Counselor 