Cloud Counselling

16/06/2026

Deaf mental health research shows, not being understood and feeling part of the family growing up, causes mental health issues. It’s a shame

No need to imagine this. It IS reality.

We are glad hearing parents want to understand their children by asking for interpreters, but it is a catastrophic failure of our educational and medical systems that created these types of parent-child relationships. ASL is every Deaf child’s birthright – and their hearing parents’ right as well. They should be able to sign and understand each other outside sessions without interpreters.

How heartbreaking is it that in 2024, most Deaf children with hearing parents continue to almost always carry the burden of having to lipread or guess what their parents are saying…because their hearing parents never learned ASL?

Sadly, the parent-child relationship is impacted when there is no common language to nurture it. This doesn’t need to happen.

Communication is THE bedrock of any relationship, none more critical and life-shaping than parent-child relationships.

By nature, even when there is a shared language, parent-child relationships are already complicated enough. They require patience, hard work, commitment to understanding, validating each other, and growing together.

Take away a shared language between parents and children and what is left of the relationship?

Interpreters in therapy sessions can support the healing process between Deaf children and hearing parents. Most of the work, however, needs to happen outside of sessions, in real life. It is NEVER too late for hearing parents to start learning ASL.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES: https://www.deafcounseling.com

Est. 2001. Deaf Women Owned. Over 25 years in business. 35+ years of Experience. Deaf Counseling Center provides both online (videophone, web-based, online, and virtual, e-therapy, telemental health) and in-office therapy to Deaf clients on a national basis.

08/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18qRvTviZy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

16/05/2026

Interview Series: Deaf-Affirming Therapy (Q8/8)

This is the final video in this series where I’m interviewed by Dr Ramas McRae, a Deaf researcher whose work has shaped important insights into mental health in the Deaf community.

This conversation focuses on what needs to change, in training, awareness, and how therapy is approached with Deaf clients.
Therapy should not require Deaf clients to adapt. Therapy needs to adapt to Deaf clients.
This is a key part of the Deaf-Led Therapy Framework™.

In this video, I answer: “If you could change one thing in the mental health field when working with Deaf clients, what would it be?”

eBook available now:
https://www.cloudcounselling.com.au/store//between-two-worlds-deaf-therapy-guide

12/05/2026

Interview Series: Deaf-Affirming Therapy (Q7/8)

Continuing this series where I’m interviewed by Dr Ramas McRae, a Deaf researcher whose work has shaped important insights into mental health in the Deaf community.

This video focuses on something many professionals don’t realise, communication access alone does not mean therapy will work.
Therapy needs to be adapted to the Deaf client, including their language history and lived experience. This is a key part of the Deaf-Led Therapy Framework™.

In this one, I answer: “What is something hearing therapists may not realise they are getting wrong when working with Deaf clients?”

eBook available now:
https://www.cloudcounselling.com.au/store//between-two-worlds-deaf-therapy-guide

10/05/2026

Deaf-Affirming Therapy Series — Complete (8/8)

Over the past series, I’ve shared key insights from my ebook through an interview with Deaf researcher Dr Ramas McRae.

These conversations have explored critical gaps in therapy when working with Deaf clients, from misconceptions about communication, to the impact of language deprivation, and the need for culturally and linguistically responsive approaches.

A consistent message throughout:
Therapy should not require Deaf clients to adapt.
Therapy needs to adapt to Deaf clients.

This is the foundation of the Deaf-Led Therapy Framework™ — developed to support therapists in translating these insights into real world practice.
If you work with Deaf clients, or may in the future, this resource was created to guide and strengthen your practice.

eBook: Between Two Worlds: A cross-cultural therapy guide is available now.

A cross cultural therapy guide supporting clinicians working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients. Practical frameworks for culturally responsive care.

09/05/2026

A quick personal and professional update - Deaf Identity in Counselling Practice

Unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw my presentation for the upcoming ACA Conference.

I was hit by a car while crossing at a pedestrian crossing. My right arm, my dominant signing arm was broken, and my left wrist is also injured, meaning both of my hands and arms are currently impacted.

Over the past weeks, I’ve been reflecting on how much of connection, communication, identity, and professional work is carried through Auslan. Having that suddenly disrupted has been incredibly difficult.

I’m deeply disappointed not to be presenting, particularly because this work around Deaf-affirming therapy and mental health practice means so much to me and to our community.
For now, I’m focusing on recovery and hoping to return to presenting later in the year.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with kindness, patience, and support. I’ve appreciated it more than I can express.

29/04/2026

Interview Series: Deaf-Affirming Therapy (Q6/8)

In this series, I’m interviewed by a highly respected Deaf researcher, Dr Ramas McRae, whose work has shaped key insights into mental health within the Deaf community.

This conversation highlights why preparation matters, even for therapists who may not yet be working with Deaf clients, but may meet a Deaf client or a professional in their practice.

In this video, I respond to: “Why is this book important for therapists, even if they do not currently work with Deaf clients?”

eBook Available now - link below

https://www.cloudcounselling.com.au/resourcescpd

28/04/2026

A quick update - my presentation for the EMDR Conference in Sydney has been postponed.
Due to an unexpected accident, I’m currently on medical leave and focusing on recovery. While I’m disappointed not to be presenting as planned, I’m hopeful to share this work later in the year.

This presentation focuses on Deaf-affirming adaptations in EMDR therapy, an area I care deeply about and I look forward to bringing it to the community when I’m able.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

15/01/2026

I’m very pleased to share that I’ve completed my Clinical Supervision training.

This was an important professional milestone for me.
The training was delivered in an inclusive and supportive way, and I was able to fully participate with the support of Auslan interpreters.
I’m grateful to Suzanne Bocking, the STS Facilitator and the other participants for creating a respectful and collaborative learning environment.

Completing this training strengthens my ability to offer ethical, reflective, and culturally responsive supervision.
I’m looking forward to providing supervision in ways that are accessible, particularly for Deaf professionals and for hearing professionals working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients.

Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way — I’m proud to be taking this next step.