Tag: news
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The Power of Assertive Rights: Learning to Speak Up Without Losing Connection
“You have the right to exist and take up space in the world.”That sentence alone has changed lives. In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), assertiveness isn’t about being loud or demanding—it’s about balance. It’s learning to honor your truth without harming someone else’s. For many of us raised in families or systems where speaking up felt…
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Trauma-Informed Approaches to Engaging with the Deaf Community: A Guide for Hearing Allies
Joy Plote, LPC, CCTS I&F, CI/CT When we talk about trauma-informed care, we often think about how we approach individuals in therapy, education, or crisis settings. But what happens when we enter a community where trauma is not just personal—but collective, cultural, and linguistic? For many Deaf individuals, trauma is not just about one event.…
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Understanding Complex PTSD: What You Need to Know
Trauma leaves deep imprints, but for some, the effects are more layered and enduring than what is typically described in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That’s where Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) comes in—a newer diagnosis that helps us better understand the impact of prolonged or repeated trauma. What is CPTSD? CPTSD was officially included in…
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Internal Family Systems (IFS): Understanding and Healing Your Inner Parts
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformational therapy model developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz that views the mind as a system of different “parts” that interact within us, much like members of a family. Instead of seeing ourselves as a single, unified self, IFS helps us understand that we are made up of multiple parts—each…
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Understanding Dialectics: Embracing Opposing Truths for Growth
Dialectics is a way of thinking that embraces contradictions and acknowledges that two opposing ideas can both be true at the same time. Rather than viewing things in black-and-white terms, dialectical thinking helps us hold multiple perspectives, accept complexity, and find balance in difficult situations. Dialectics is a core concept in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)…
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Emotional Regulation for Parents: How to Break the Cycle and Create a Stable Home
Parenting is one of the most challenging and emotionally demanding roles a person can take on. When a parent struggles with emotional dysregulation, it can lead to inconsistent responses, unpredictable reactions, and difficulty providing a sense of safety for their child. The good news? Emotional regulation is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and…
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Supporting a Deaf Person Through Complex Trauma and PTSD
Supporting a Deaf loved one through Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) requires patience, understanding, and a trauma-informed approach that considers both their unique communication needs and the complexities of their experiences. PTSD and C-PTSD affect not only memory and perception but also emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships. For Deaf individuals, trauma can…
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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 Suicidality in the Deaf Community and Codas: A Call for Research and Action
Suicide is a public health crisis that affects all communities, but Deaf individuals and Children of Deaf Adults (Codas) face unique challenges that elevate their risks. Despite these vulnerabilities, significant gaps exist in our understanding of suicidality within these populations. This blog explores what we know, what remains to be uncovered, and why we urgently…
the Coda Counselor 