Counseling the Deaf

Methods of Communication Appropriate with Deaf Clients

Amy N. Mooney M.S.

Therapist working with this special population should learn as much as they can about deafness and the Deaf community, so they do not rely on their deaf clients to teach them about deafness. (Lyle & Lewis, 1996)

This article seeks to reveal the most appropriate method of communication with a deaf client and on the effectiveness of the counseling process. The deaf have not been treated equally in our society, and continue to seek parity with the hearing majority. Research indicates that counseling is needed for the Deaf community. The deaf are able to communicate with each other and some hearing know sign language but there is a division between the hearing and the Deaf. The question remains, what are the hearing doing to communicate with the deaf?

It is useful to trace current societal attitudes back to their historic origins in order to facilitate understanding. (Carver, 1995). Deaf and hearing people need to know the history of the Deaf culture which has formed our understanding and regretfully contributed to the division between Deaf and hearing people. The history of Deaf people is not well documented. There is little information available of early times. The Israelites were instructed by God through Moses to display a compassionate attitude toward the deaf. "Thou shall not curse the Deaf"- (Leviticus 19:14 Bible). Instead, they created laws that relegated the deaf to an inferior social position. The Talmud clearly places the liability on an owner who entrust the care of their livestock to and idiot or deaf person if livestock caused damage to another's property. (Carver, 1995) The deaf were not allowed to own property or conduct business. Aristotle said, " Those born deaf become senseless and incapable of reason". (Carver, 1995) The hearing majority believed a Deaf individual to be stupid, or castrated them thinking that they were inadequate as humans, they even went so far as to kill children who were deaf. Over the years, the deaf have fought to build their independence and obtain equality with the hearing population and through sign language and deaf schools; they have become educated and established rights.

The following are the most recurring problems according to research the deaf incur. The first and foremost problem with the deaf is isolation. Hearing people do not know how to communicate with the deaf and instead of trying to communicate they ignore the problem and person. The deaf need more access to TTY's (teletypewriter which receive and sends signals- enables deaf to use telephone) and more access for servicing personal needs. The Deaf are isolated from medical and mental health treatment. When a hearing person is feeling ill they call their doctor and ask what they should do according to the symptoms they are experiencing or make an appointment to see their physician. When a deaf person is sick they have limited access to whom they can call, most end up going to the emergency room. The same applies to mental health facilities, which have few TTY's for the deaf to make appointments or help in emergencies.

Peer relation for deaf adolescents creates difficult problems. A hearing child in our society struggles through their adolescent years. The difficultly for an adolescent who is deaf during these years are similar to the hearing community, but avenues for experience are severely limited by the available methods of communications. Deaf adolescents need support groups and counselors available to them to help with peer issues, isolation, sexual awareness, depression, and self-identity issue that are so acute during those years.

Family relations are a difficult problem for the deaf. Parents who have a deaf child may choose not to learn how to communicate with their child. Education of the deaf population is often compromised by parental influence, resulting in isolation by depriving them of education. There are deaf who do not know American Sign Language or how to write. These extremely isolated cases are quite common. They may expect the child to learn how to communicate with them. It is especially difficult for the child who has hearing brother and sisters and is treated differently. Not all parents isolate their children, many parents go to extreme to help their deaf child, regardless it remains difficult for the deaf child to adapt to his hearing family and there remain constant frustrations. The goal of our society should be to achieve equal access to the deaf for counseling services.

The number of deaf counselors and deaf psychologist is very limited. Some deaf have been using an interpreter when seeing a counselor due to the limited number of counselors educated in sign language. Research shows that using an interpreter limits the counseling relationship. " If a client feels comfortable and safe with a therapist, he, or she might be more likely to reveal reactions, secrets, and misunderstandings (Hill, Thompson, Cigar, & Denman, 1993; Rhodes, Hill, Thomson, & Elliott, 1993.)" The therapeutic relationship established between client and counselor is an important element of therapy. Rapport and trust must first be established. This is the same for a deaf client. When language barriers are eliminated the therapeutic relationship can be established, which starts the therapeutic process. The relationship will vary with the various techniques the counselor uses. Research indicates the following as the most productive ways to communicate with a deaf client.

Freeman and Conoley (1986) varied similarity between hearing status and counselor experience and investigated the college students' willingness to see a counselor. They found an interaction between counselor hearing status and years of experience. For inexperienced counselors neither hearing status not use of sign language was a significant variable. Experienced deaf and hearing counselors who used sign language were rated higher on social influence and willingness to see the counselor than were hearing counselors who used and interpreter. Freenand and Conloey concluded that the use of a sign language could enhance hearing counselors credibility with a deaf client. A counselor who uses American Sign Language (ASL) the same communication mode (i.e. lip reading, writing, signed English) can build a better therapeutic relationship.

Michael A. Harvey provided extensive studies of the deaf culture and counseling the deaf. He states that the client and the therapist need to use the same communication mode. Harvey terms it as linguistic matching which can be signing, writing, signed English, spoken English, and so on (Harvey, 1989).

When counseling a deaf client Lytle and Lewis, who are two well know deaf psychologist, state the deaf and hearing therapist are in good position to do effective therapy with deaf clients, assuming that effective two-way communication is occurring and the client feels understood by a competent and caring therapist. (Glickman & Harvey, 1996)

The only time to use an interpreter is when dealing with a deaf client and their family at the same time. " Even though the therapist may be fluent in manual communication and be certified as and interpreter, it is usually neither feasible nor therapeutically prudent to interpret for family members while simultaneously providing treatment."(Harvey, 1989)

In conclusion, there is a real need for more therapists to become aware of their deaf community around them. Having access for them to make appointments and knowledge of their culture and background is a starting place. Furthermore, learning to communicate using ASL, or linguistic matching your client. You will decrease the gap between the deaf and hearing communities and increase the therapeutic process between you and your Deaf client. An excellent resource to refer for further information and questions is Culturally Affirmative Psychotherapy with Deaf Persons edited by Glickman and Harvey (1996).

Carver, Roger J. M.Ed. (September/October 1995). Attitudes Toward the Deaf: A Historical Overview, Eye to Eye.

Freeman, S. T., & Cololey, C. W. (1986). Training, experience, and similarity as factors of influence in preferences of deaf students oar counselors. Journal of Counseling Psychology, Vol. 33, p164-169.

Glickman, Neil S. & Harvey, Michael A. (1996). Culturally affirmative psychotherapy with deaf persons.

Harvey, Michael A. (1989). Psychotherapy With Deaf and Hard -Of -Hearing Persons.

Hill, C.E., Thompson, B.J., Cogar, M., &Denmand, D.W. III (1993). Beneath the surface of long-term therapy: Therapist and client report of their own and each other's covert processes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, Vol. 40 pg 278- 287.