1. Counseling: Needs of the Deaf,Counseling: Needs of the Deaf,
Challenges for CounselorsChallenges for Counselors
Presenter:Presenter:
Joy L. Cristal, M.A.,R.G.C.Joy L. Cristal, M.A.,R.G.C.
joycristal@gmail.comjoycristal@gmail.com
7th
Convention on Deaf Education
May 19-21,2010 Teachers Camp, Baguio city

2. Introduction: A Deaf Child Growing in aIntroduction: A Deaf Child Growing in a
Unique EnvironmentUnique Environment
The Hearing
Family
The Hearing
Community
The Deaf Community
DEAF CHILD

3. Deaf World
The two worlds interact- the smaller world of deaf
minority where visual communication plays a vital
role & the world of speech & sounds of the
dominant & larger hearing community.
Hearing World
A deaf child is caught between two worlds.

4. The Present Scenario in Providing Mental HealthThe Present Scenario in Providing Mental Health
Services to Deaf PeopleServices to Deaf People
More than
20 million
Deaf & Hard of
Hearing
individuals
Needing mental
Health services,
yet
only 2 % of these
Individuals
Receive
appropriate
Treatment.
(Murray,2009)
Deaf children
have higher
rates of sexual
abuse but
treatment services
are inadequate
(National Child
Traumatic Stress
Network (2004).
PHILIPPINES (? )
No solid data on
Mental Health Services
for the Deaf

5. Counseling Services in theCounseling Services in the
PhilippinesPhilippines
How many
skilled
Counselors
(for the Deaf)
do we have?
How many
skilled
Deaf
counselors
Do we have?
How many
schools (public)
Have counselors
Competent to
Help deaf clients?
How many
schools
(private) have
Competent
Counselors
To help
deaf clients
NO SOLID DATA (NO RESEARCH)
BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE VERY FEW
COUNSELORS AND EXISTING GUIDANCE AND
COUNSELING SERVICES FOR THE DEAF.

6. Do deaf people need counselors andDo deaf people need counselors and
guidance and counseling services?guidance and counseling services?
YES
Deaf people are people
first and foremost with
similar problems to
Hearing people
(Napier & Corner, 2004:208)
Deaf children are at risk
of eveloping
mental health difficulties
due to being deaf in a
hearing-oriented society.
(Hindley & Kitson, 2001)

7. Do deaf people need counselors andDo deaf people need counselors and
guidance and counseling services?guidance and counseling services?
YES
Reports, experience
and the felt need to
expand the work of
non-government
Organizations providing
Formation and free counseling
Services to deaf people
ANECDOTES/STORIES
Experience of
deaf people
parents and teachers

8. Do deaf people need counselors andDo deaf people need counselors and
guidance and counseling services?guidance and counseling services?
 PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS (SIGNERS)PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS (SIGNERS)
 Ages:Ages: 18-44 yrs. Old18-44 yrs. Old
(64% 18-23 yrs. old)(64% 18-23 yrs. old)
 Gender:Gender: Female = 64%Female = 64%
 Male = 21%Male = 21%
 Lesbian = 3 %Lesbian = 3 %
 Gay = 11%Gay = 11%
 Status:Status: Studying = 71.43 %Studying = 71.43 %
 Working = 20%Working = 20%
 Both = 7 %Both = 7 %
 Idle = 1.43%Idle = 1.43%
YES
FROM THE
(partial) RESULTS
OF AN ON-GOING
SURVEY ON
GUIDANCE AND
COUNSELING NEEDS
of the
FILIPINO DEAF
(Cristal,2010)

9. Do deaf children in elementary schoolsDo deaf children in elementary schools
need counseling services?need counseling services?
RESPONSES of DEAF ADULTSRESPONSES of DEAF ADULTS
YESYES 73%73%
NONO 23%23%
 No AnswerNo Answer 4%4%

10. Reasons Given by RespondentsReasons Given by Respondents
 1. *1. * Communication problems with parentsCommunication problems with parents
 2. Need to understand Deaf life and2. Need to understand Deaf life and
cultureculture
 3. Need to deal w/ initial problems3. Need to deal w/ initial problems
 4. Development Needs: *4. Development Needs: *socio-emotionalsocio-emotional
adjustmentadjustment, *, * self-confidenceself-confidence behaviorbehavior
changechange
 5. *5. *Abuse-related issuesAbuse-related issues: abuse: abuse
experience, disclosing secrets aboutexperience, disclosing secrets about
abuse; personal safety and self-protectionabuse; personal safety and self-protection
* Issues most frequently encountered by Ms. Cristal in her professional practice

11. Do deaf high school students needDo deaf high school students need
counseling services in school?counseling services in school?
RESPONSES of DEAF ADULTSRESPONSES of DEAF ADULTS
YESYES 94 %94 %
NONO 3 %3 %
 No AnswerNo Answer 3 %3 %

12. Reasons Given by RespondentsReasons Given by Respondents
 1. Development issues:1. Development issues: **identity searchidentity search, self-awareness,, self-awareness,
**self-confidenceself-confidence, right attitudes, sense of responsibility,, right attitudes, sense of responsibility,
self-discipline, *self-discipline, *sexualitysexuality, *, *awareness aboutawareness about Deaf life andDeaf life and
cultureculture, values education., values education.
 2. Dealing with problems:2. Dealing with problems: interpersonal conflicts, *interpersonal conflicts, *familyfamily
problems,problems, **communicationcommunication gap with parents,gap with parents, oppressiveoppressive
situations, teenage pregnancy, fraternitysituations, teenage pregnancy, fraternity
 3. Learning skills:3. Learning skills: problem-solving, decision-making,problem-solving, decision-making,
independence/autonomyindependence/autonomy
 4. Need for Information:4. Need for Information: college life, career opportunitiescollege life, career opportunities
for the Deaf, knowing future challengesfor the Deaf, knowing future challenges
* Issues most frequently encountered by Ms. Cristal in her professional practice.

13. Do deaf college students need counselingDo deaf college students need counseling
services in school?services in school?
RESPONSES of DEAF ADULTSRESPONSES of DEAF ADULTS
YESYES 97 %97 %
NONO 0 %0 %
 No AnswerNo Answer 3 %3 %

14. ReasonsReasons
 1. Development issues:1. Development issues: self-awareness, *self-awareness, * self-esteemself-esteem,,
attitude change;attitude change;
 2. Learning skills:2. Learning skills: **problem-solvingproblem-solving, leadership,, leadership,
**assertivenessassertiveness, stress-management, goal-setting;, stress-management, goal-setting;
 3. Career:3. Career: **opportunities for deaf peopleopportunities for deaf people, life challenges,, life challenges,
learning about work, marriage, family;learning about work, marriage, family;
 4. Academic:4. Academic: **improve motivation and achievementimprove motivation and achievement
* Issues most frequently encountered by Ms. Cristal in her professional practice.

15. Reasons (FROM DEAF RESPONDENTS)Reasons (FROM DEAF RESPONDENTS)
Why Deaf People Need Counselors &Why Deaf People Need Counselors &
Guidance and Counseling ServicesGuidance and Counseling Services
THREE
MAJOR THEMES
DEAF PEOPLE
NEED
T0 DEAL WITH
PROBLEMS
WITH
HEARING
FAMILIES.
DEAF CHILDREN
AND YOUTH
NEED SUPPORT
FOR THEIR
DEVELOPMENT
ISSUES.
DEAF PEOPLE
NEED TO
LEARN CERTAIN
SKILLS AND KNOW
SOME
INFORMATION.
Lack of
COMMUNICATION &
Lack of AWARENESS
about the uniqueness
of the Deaf (culture)
•IDENTITY SEARCH
•POOR SELF-
CONCEPT
•-LACK SELF-
CONFIDENCE
•LOW SELF-ESTEEM
PROBLEM-SOLVING

16. DiscussionDiscussion
Highlights of the ResultsHighlights of the Results

17. Deafness has an impact on the family as wellDeafness has an impact on the family as well
as on the deaf child.as on the deaf child.
(Koester & Meadow-Orlans, 1990)(Koester & Meadow-Orlans, 1990)
COMMUNICATION
BARRIER
90 % of deaf children are born to
hearing parents with no knowledge
about deafness (Moores, 2001a
Poor self-image
Low self-esteem
Isolated

18. Every family with a deafEvery family with a deaf
child goes throughchild goes through
emotional adjustmentemotional adjustment
starting even at thestarting even at the
moment of meremoment of mere
suspicion of having asuspicion of having a
deaf childdeaf child..
Hearing families of deaf
children need support,
information and
awareness to deal with
the
consequences of
deafness.

19. The adjustment process is often described inThe adjustment process is often described in
terms akin to the stages of grief and dying thatterms akin to the stages of grief and dying that
Kubler-Ross first identified in 1969.Kubler-Ross first identified in 1969.
(Schirmer, 2001)(Schirmer, 2001)
WHAT
SHOULD I
DO to HELP
MY
DEAF
CHILD?
Why is my
child deaf?
“Sayang… deaf
sya…”
EXPERIENCES OF HEARING PARENTS

20. The Typical Experience of a DevelopingThe Typical Experience of a Developing
Deaf Child in a Hearing FamilyDeaf Child in a Hearing Family
D
E
A
F
HEARING
PARENTS &
SIBLINGS
PREDOMINANTLY
HEARING-SPEAKING
SOCIETY
DEAF
COMMUNITYMENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES DUE to:
1) POOR SELF-IMAGE and IDENTITY
as deaf;
2) Not being part of Deaf culture
(Hindley & Kitson, 2001)
MARGINALIZED
Isolated &
Misunderstood
A Search for and A
Long Journey
Towards the Deaf
Community

21. The Deaf & the Hearing CommunityThe Deaf & the Hearing Community
DEAF
HEARING
FAMILY
HEARING COMMUNITY
The Hearing Person’s Bias
-Hearing people’s definition
& view of deafness & deaf
people;
-Hearing prescriptions on
deaf people;
-Maintain strong myths &
misconceptions about
deafness & deaf people;
-Incidence of discrimination
& abuse of deaf people;Stressed in a hearing environment;
Handicapped by the environment designed
for hearing people.

22. Establishing goodEstablishing good
self-image, identityself-image, identity
and links with deafand links with deaf
culture are seen toculture are seen to
protect againstprotect against
poor mental health.poor mental health.
(Yetman, 2002)(Yetman, 2002)
HOW IMPORTANT
IS SIGN
LANGUAGE
AND DEAF
CULTURE TO
THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF DEAF
PEOPLE?

23. Deaf culture is very real in the life of deaf people.Deaf culture is very real in the life of deaf people.
Individuals who are Deaf, like members of other cultural minorities, compose a
distinct cultural community that shares “ a common language (i.e. a natural sign
language), history, arts, beliefs, mores, behavior patters, and social institutions.
(Smith & Rush, 2007:232; cited by Whyte & Guifrida,2008)

24. Perspective on Counseling Deaf People asPerspective on Counseling Deaf People as
CROSS-CULTURAL COUNSELINGCROSS-CULTURAL COUNSELING
HEARING COUNSELOR DEAF CLIENT
Interpersonal interaction
& communication
Hearing Culture Deaf Culture
Need: Accurate/appropriate
sending/receiving of verbal/
nonverbal messages …
(Sue,1981)
Understand the life experiences/context
and worldviews of the Deaf and
communicate in the language that deaf clients
understand & most comfortable with

25. Only in learning about Deaf cultureOnly in learning about Deaf culture
and community can mental healthand community can mental health
professional appropriately serve theprofessional appropriately serve the
deaf population. (Radler, 1999)deaf population. (Radler, 1999)

26. DEAF CLIENTCOUNSELOR
1.Consider the diversity of deaf people
(including Deaf Culture;
2. BUT Careful not to generalize the deaf
community as one culture;
3. Utilize techniques/approaches based on the
realities of deaf life;
4. Respond to the communication needs of
deaf clients. (Become a fluent signer .)

27. Look into the dynamics of DEAF-DEAF
and DEAF-HEARING INTERACTIONS.
The Deaf
Community has
had a long with-
standing distrust
Of hearing
people because
the majority
group often
views them as
being sickly and
in need of cure.
(Radler, 1999)
Throughou
t a deaf
person’s
life they are
being
probed by
individuals
who have
no sense
of Deaf
culture.
(Radler,
1999)

28. Recommendations:Recommendations:
1.1.Make Guidance and Counseling aMake Guidance and Counseling a
vital program in all schools.vital program in all schools.
Curriculum
(Instruction)
Administration
Research &
Advocacy
GUIDANCE &
COUNSELING
COUNSELING
(CORE)
Deaf
Parents
Families
PSYCHO-
EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES
-Parents Classes
-Formation
seminars for the
Deaf
ABUSE
PREVENTION
We need to have
COMPETENT,QUALIFIED
COUNSELORS in schools for the
Deaf or in schools where there are
deaf children.

29. Guidance and Counseling…anGuidance and Counseling…an
integral part of the educationalintegral part of the educational
system…system… (Villar,2007:27)(Villar,2007:27)
 Counseling… the heart of the GuidanceCounseling… the heart of the Guidance
Program;Program;
 Guidance Program …all the servicesGuidance Program …all the services
activities intended to realize the goals ofactivities intended to realize the goals of
counseling.counseling.

30. Counseling …major service for helpingCounseling …major service for helping
individuals address the changing demandsindividuals address the changing demands
of the different developmental stages,of the different developmental stages,
understand themselves and theirunderstand themselves and their
environment, resolve issues and problems,environment, resolve issues and problems,
and develop their potentials optimally.and develop their potentials optimally.
(Villar,2007:9)(Villar,2007:9)
Republic Act 9258 (Guidance Act of 2004)
stipulates a Master’s Degree in Guidance and
Counseling as a prerequisite for practice.
(Villar,2007:31)ui

31. To be effective theTo be effective the
frameworks, approachesframeworks, approaches
and strategies ofand strategies of
counselors must becounselors must be
grounded in the realitiesgrounded in the realities
of deaf people.of deaf people.

32. Recommendation:Recommendation:
2. Incorporate DEAF STUDIES into2. Incorporate DEAF STUDIES into
the training of hearing counselors.the training of hearing counselors.
DEAF STUDIES
Deaf Culture
Natural Sign
Language
Deaf
Identity
Deaf
community
Study of the
language & culture
of deaf people
(Lane1989;Kannapell,
1991)
Emerged in
1990’s
(Norman &
Gillespie,1993)

33. RecommendationRecommendation
3. Invest time, money and hope to the3. Invest time, money and hope to the
training of Deaf counselors that they maytraining of Deaf counselors that they may
later on become professional licensedlater on become professional licensed
counselor who can serve their communitycounselor who can serve their community
and effectively respond to the counselingand effectively respond to the counseling
needs of their own flock.needs of their own flock.
Deaf counselors/facilitators/formators are
indispensable (very much needed ) in any
Guidance and Counseling Program for the
Deaf.

34. Conclusion:Conclusion:
 Deaf people need to avail and have a ready access to counselingDeaf people need to avail and have a ready access to counseling
services in and out of the school setting. Generally, they experienceservices in and out of the school setting. Generally, they experience
problems in relating to hearing family members due to communicationproblems in relating to hearing family members due to communication
difficulties and lack of awareness about the uniqueness and culture ofdifficulties and lack of awareness about the uniqueness and culture of
deaf people. The major development and adjustment issues that need todeaf people. The major development and adjustment issues that need to
be addressed by counselors include low self-esteem, identity search,be addressed by counselors include low self-esteem, identity search,
depression, isolation and experience of abuse. On top of the counselordepression, isolation and experience of abuse. On top of the counselor
qualities that the profession require such as keeping confidentiality andqualities that the profession require such as keeping confidentiality and
being trustworthy Deaf people put a premium on the counselor’s fluencybeing trustworthy Deaf people put a premium on the counselor’s fluency
in sign language and depth of knowledge of the culture and life context ofin sign language and depth of knowledge of the culture and life context of
deaf people. Thus, licensed Deaf counselor is more preferred than adeaf people. Thus, licensed Deaf counselor is more preferred than a
licensed hearing counselor. Creation of Guidance and Counselinglicensed hearing counselor. Creation of Guidance and Counseling
Programs in public and private schools for the Deaf is stronglyPrograms in public and private schools for the Deaf is strongly
recommended. Likewise, Deaf Studies must be incorporated into therecommended. Likewise, Deaf Studies must be incorporated into the
training of counselors. To be truly empowering and effective, counselorstraining of counselors. To be truly empowering and effective, counselors
need to become fluent in sign language, specifically in natural signneed to become fluent in sign language, specifically in natural sign
language, and to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of thelanguage, and to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the
uniqueness, needs and experiences of deaf people as a linguistic minority.uniqueness, needs and experiences of deaf people as a linguistic minority.

35. References:References: BooksBooks
 Anderson, G.B. & Watson,D.(1985).eds.Counseling DeafAnderson, G.B. & Watson,D.(1985).eds.Counseling Deaf
People: Research and Practice. University of Arkansas.People: Research and Practice. University of Arkansas.
 Andrews,J.F.,Leigh,I.W.,Weiner,M.T. (2004). DeafAndrews,J.F.,Leigh,I.W.,Weiner,M.T. (2004). Deaf
People:Evolving Perspectives from Psychology, Education, andPeople:Evolving Perspectives from Psychology, Education, and
Sociology.Boston:Pearson Education, Inc.Sociology.Boston:Pearson Education, Inc.
 Austen, S.,Crocker, Susan.(2004).eds.Deafness inAusten, S.,Crocker, Susan.(2004).eds.Deafness in
Mind.London:Whurr Publishers.Mind.London:Whurr Publishers.
 Schirmer,B.R.(2001).Psychological, Social, and EducationalSchirmer,B.R.(2001).Psychological, Social, and Educational
Dimensions of Deafness. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.Dimensions of Deafness. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
 Villar, I.V.G.(2007). Implementing a Comprehensive GuidanceVillar, I.V.G.(2007). Implementing a Comprehensive Guidance
and Counseling Program in the Philippines.Makati: Alignedand Counseling Program in the Philippines.Makati: Aligned
Transformations Publications.Transformations Publications.

36. ReferencesReferences
 Articles/PapersArticles/Papers
 Cristal, J.L., (2009). Breaking the Silence of Deaf Survivors of Abuse: ACristal, J.L., (2009). Breaking the Silence of Deaf Survivors of Abuse: A
Counselor’s Advocacy.Paper presented at the Philippine GuidanceCounselor’s Advocacy.Paper presented at the Philippine Guidance
Counselors Association Convention, May 22,2009.Counselors Association Convention, May 22,2009.
 Radler,C. Ethical Implications of Counseling the Deaf and Hearing-Radler,C. Ethical Implications of Counseling the Deaf and Hearing-
Impaired. May 18, 1999.Impaired. May 18, 1999.
 Whyte, A.K. & Guiffrida,D.A. (2008). Counseling Deaf College Students:Whyte, A.K. & Guiffrida,D.A. (2008). Counseling Deaf College Students:
The Case of Shea.American Counseling Association.The Case of Shea.American Counseling Association.
 LinksLinks
 WWW NCTS Net.org.(2004) Facts on Trauma and Deaf childrenWWW NCTS Net.org.(2004) Facts on Trauma and Deaf children