Academics
Areas of Study

Mental Health Awareness (ASL) Videos

ASL video about the topic of human trafficking. This video includes a definition of human trafficking and other related key terms. It discusses risks and protective factors and identifies national and DHH-specific supports available.

ASL video, adapted from a resource developed by the NCTSN, about how to talk to children about mass shootings. It provides information about how to start a conversation, common reactions children may have, and how to seek help.

ASL video, adapted from a resource developed by the NCTSN, about how to talk to children about mass shootings. It provides information about feeling common response to mass violence events like feeling afraid or unsafe and making everyday issues worse and how to take care of yourself.

ASL video, adapted from a resource developed by the NCTSN, about coping after mass violence for teens. It provides information about common emotional responses to mass violence events, specially for teens, and how to empower teenagers themselve.

ASL video, adapted from a resource developed by the NCTSN, about age related reactions to a traumatic event. It provides information about potential physical and emotional reactions categorized by age groups such as young school-age children, school-age children, and adolescents, and offers guidance on how to help children cope.

Infographics

Spread awareness on what Language Deprivation means.

The infographic provides an overview of language deprivation, clarifies misconceptions about sign language, illustrates the challenges faced by individuals with language deprivation, and highlights the importance of early access to language for deaf children to prevent this condition.

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Share what Culturally and Linguistically Affirmative Mental Health Care should look like.

This infographic depicts a mental health provider preparing for a session with a DHH client, highlighting the importance of self-reflection on biases, knowledge about the DHH community, and adapting the environment for effective communication. It also suggests best practices for DHH clients, emphasizing personal and cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills, as well as the significance of feedback in refining care for DHH individuals.

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Share Clinical Decision-Making for Culturally Affirmative Care of DHH Clients

This infographic outlines a framework for clinical decision-making tailored to the needs of DHH clients. It emphasizes the integration of three key elements: clinical factors, available research, and clinical expertises. The infographic highlights how each component contributes to creating a supportive environment for DHH clients, focusing on understanding the unique cultural and communication needs of the DHH community.

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Mental Health Intervention

What is PCIT?

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to improve the parent-child relationship and address behavioral and emotional issues in young children. Developed by Sheila Eyberg in the 1970s, PCIT combines play and behavior therapy elements to create a structured and effective intervention.

Two Phases:

Child-Directed Interaction (CDI): In this phase, parents learn to interact positively with their child through play. They use specific skills such as praises, reflections, and behavioral descriptions to reinforce positive behavior.

Pride Skill
PRIDE skills in PCIT are a set of positive interaction techniques designed to improve the parent-child relationship and encourage positive behaviors in children.

Avoid Skill
“Avoid” skills refer to behaviors that parents should avoid during interactions with their children to prevent reinforcing negative behaviors and create a positive and supportive environment.

Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI): This phase focuses on teaching parents effective discipline strategies. Parents are coached in using developmentally appropriate consistent consequences for inappropriate behaviors.

Effective Commands
Effective commands in PCIT are designed to increase the likelihood of compliance from the child and to enhance positive interactions between the parent and child.

Publication

The DHHCRC has published groundbreaking research on adapting Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Deaf families using ASL, enhancing culturally affirmative mental health services.

View the Publication

PCIT International

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) helps parents manage young children’s behavior through live coaching, improving communication and discipline strategies.

PCIT for Parents

SMART stands for Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment, an innovative mental health therapy for children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma to help them with emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal regulation

What is SMART?

SMART stands for Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment.

SMART utilizes an array of therapeutic equipment, such as weighted blankets, balance beams, fitness balls, and large cushions, in shared play to support children’s natural ways of regulating their bodies and their emotions to facilitate attachment-building, and to allow for embodied processing of traumatic experiences.

The treatment blends movement and relationship to regulate arousal states and powerful affect, thereby engaging the subcortical and cortical neural pathways to increase behavioral and psychological integration.

Foundation of SMART: SMART is a therapeutic modality that incorporates somatic movement to support healing from traumatic experience in youth.

SMART Spiral: SMART Spiral helps the clinician understand the therapeutic processes that occur in SMART therapy.

Summary of SMART Spiral?

SMART Spiral shows the therapeutic processes in SMART therapy, both in sessions and over the course of treatment. This happens naturally in each session. There are three threads: Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attachment-Building.

Publications

Warner, E., Westcott, A., Cook, A., & Finn, H. (2020). Transforming trauma in children and adolescents: An embodied approach to somatic regulation, trauma processing, and Attachment Building. North Atlantic Books.

Contact Us

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center

HMB e150

(202) 370-1315

Monday
9am - 4pm
Tuesday
9am - 4pm
Wednesday
9am - 4pm
Thursday
9am - 4pm
Friday
9am - 4pm

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