Part One

Part Two

Vlog Summary: New research findings related to sports psychology and child development have resulted in more progressive-thinking schools adopting no-cut policies when it comes to their athletic programs. Deaf schools, with their unique responsibility of providing academic and athletic education opportunities to Deaf students, should follow suit and allow all interested students to participate in their athletic programs. Cut policies are outdated and harmful.

In this vlog, Sharon M. Duchesneau reviews 11 myths and facts about no-cut policies for school sports programs, drawing on an article published by college professors and researchers, Dr. Stephen C. Jefferies and Dr. Vincent M. Nethery. For those who may prefer to read the article quickly, it can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

REFERENCE:

Jefferies, S.C. & Nethery, V.M. (2008, June 16). Cutting Kids from Athletics: Truths, Myths, and Misperceptions. Central Washington University. Retrieved (June 16, 2008), from http://www.cwu.edu/%7Ejefferis/framesetck.html.

To cite: Duchesneau, S. (2008, June 16). No Cut Policy for Sports in Deaf Schools. ASC on the Couch. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=344

What Do These Numbers Mean?: Here’s an interesting data table from a research study on Deaf mental health consumers done back in 1998. One author is Deaf, the other two are hearing - it’s great they have one Deaf author/researcher on board! Even though the table is shown below out of context of the original article and without demographic data on the participants, the numbers are revealing.

ASL/English: The first part of the table lists psychology-related English words and the percentages of Deaf people who recognize them. Without going in-depth about this, the main points are that any clinicians working with Deaf people need to know that more Deaf people will recognize these words in ASL. If an assessment involves any written tests or even interpreters, it’s important that the right words are used, otherwise the tests results won’t be valid.

Deaf Friends: Further down the table, 61% of the Deaf respondents identified their Deaf friends as the people from whom they get the most information about psychology-related terms. This makes sense, if you consider that most Deaf people have hearing parents and siblings, and very few of these families provide equal communication access. Today, we might see more Deaf people getting their information from vlogs and blogs, the same way many people relied on their friends at Deaf clubs for information.

Causes of Mental Health Problems: A powerful message here: 39-54% of respondents indicated family problems, upbringing, and poor communication as primary causes of mental health problems. If 90% of Deaf people have hearing parents, we can assume that for the majority of families, communication is not in ASL, something that may be related to later mental health issues. Only 8% cited being Deaf as a cause of mental health problems. This is a clear message that the majority of Deaf people have a positive view of being Deaf when it comes to mental health.

Deaf or Hearing Therapists/Counselors: Not surprisingly, 72% of respondents preferred Deaf therapists over hearing therapists. Even though it isn’t indicated if the respondents were given a choice between Deaf therapists and ASL-fluent hearing therapists, the numbers speak loudly. Our own experience as psychotherapists has been that Deaf clients report feeling relieved to be able to work with psychotherapists who are Deaf and who “get” the Deaf experience. Given this, why aren’t Deaf-oriented gradaute programs in mental health and psychology recruiting and admitting more Deaf students? And why aren’t more community mental health agencies seeking Deaf professionals?

Take a look at the table and let us know what you think of the numbers. What do they mean, particularly in 2008? What, if any, changes would you predict today in Deaf people’s knowledge and views related to mental health?

REFERENCE:

Steinberg, A.G., Sullivan, V.J., & Loew, R.C. (1998). Cultural and Linguistic Barriers to Mental Health Service Access: The Deaf Consumer’s Perspective. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(7),982-984

Vlog Summary: Psychotherapy, also referred to as counseling or therapy, is a special process designed to help Deaf people work through any number of concerns or problems they may be experiencing in life. Some people go to therapy when they are dealing with a particular crisis, such as the end of a relationship or a death. Others seek therapy to help them understand feelings or behavior patterns that may be creating difficulties in their lives. Many people also go to therapy for personal growth and self-understanding. Some people who have unresolved issues from the past use therapy to find ways to make peace with their experiences and move on to healthier and happier lives. Deaf people who experienced communication oppression or abuse while growing up, for example, may use therapy to work through deep feelings related to this. People with medical issues such as chronic pain, high blood pressure, or ulcers, find that therapy can help with physical, as well as emotional, functioning. Couples go to therapy to learn how to communicate more effectively with each other and enjoy their relationship at a deeper level. Families may participate in therapy when they are experiencing ongoing conflicts that seem to have no solution.

In short, people use psychotherapy to deal with many common and uncommon life issues and transitions. When feelings become overwhelming or when you feel stuck, psychotherapy can help. The relationship between psychotherapist and client involves collaboration, trust, and acceptance. When you work together to understand your emotions, you can learn new and alternative ways of making long-term changes in your life.

To cite: Duchesneau, S. (2008, March 12). What is Psychotherapy? ASC on the Couch. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=336

Vlog Summary: Bipolar disorder is a term that is once again receiving a great deal of attention on television, in newspapers, and even in the Deaf community. Britney Spears’ behaviors of late, for example, have spurred rumors that she might have bipolar disorder. Although ASC does not endorse psychiatric labels, we do think it is important to clarify some misconceptions about bipolar disorder. As Sharon Duchesneau explains, bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition characterized by intense, chemically based mood swings. Symptoms of mania can include overly optimistic mood, racing thoughts, bursts of creativity, high energy, excessive activity, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, impulsivity, making decisions quickly without thinking them through, gambling, promiscuity, and overspending. Depressive symptoms can include feelings of sadness or worthlessness, sleeping too much or too little, overeating or not eating at all, difficulty finding pleasure in life, lack of hope for the future, and suicidal ideations or attempts.

Not everyone with bipolar disorder has the same experience with mood swings. Some adults may have manic symptoms for weeks or months, then a period of stability, then weeks or months of depression. Children and teenagers tend to have more fluctuations in moods, sometimes experiencing mania and depression in the same day.

Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose, not only because it looks different in everyone, but also because many people with bipolar disorder use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate. This can worsen or mask the symptoms. Once diagnosed properly, however, bipolar disorder can be controlled with a careful regimen of medication, psychotherapy/counseling, sleeping, eating, and exercising regularly, and a supportive network of family and friends. Although the movies and media often over-dramatize bipolar disorder and perpetuate the myth that people diagnosed with bipolar disorder tend to be violent or stupid, this is far from the truth. People with bipolar disorders can lead happy and fulfilling lives. Actors Robin Williams and Patty Duke, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, and astronaut Buzz Aldrin are just a few renowned Americans who have lived with bipolar disorder.

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REFERENCES

American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C, American Psychiatric Association, 2000.

Duchesneau, S. M. & McCullough, C. A. (2006, June 21). Label Jars, Not People. ASC on the Couch. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=65

Redfield Jamison, Kay (1995). The Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

To cite: Duchesneau, S. (2008, January 21). The Facts about Bipolar Disorder. ASC on the Couch. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=333

Vlog Summary: The holidays often mean families, and the words we use to describe our family relationships say a lot. Some families make a point of distinguishing between their biological children and their adopted children or their foster children. Even sisters and brothers may emphasize that so-and-so is a full sibling, while another family member is a half sibling. Sharon Duchesneau considers the impact of making such distinctions and the potential for creating feelings of not belonging or being second-class. Constantly identifying members of the Deaf community as Deaf-of-Deaf (DOD) or Deaf-of-Hearing (DOH), for example, does little to contribute to the feeling of family within the community, particularly when there is no real reason to make the distinction (i.e., no research-based need). Likewise, in families, simply identifying one’s children as children and siblings as siblings can go a long way in fostering feelings of acceptance and belonging.

To cite: Duchesneau, S. (2007, December 22). In with Family, Out with Steps, Halves, & Adoptees. ASC on the Couch. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=332