Emotional wellbeing in D/deaf and hard of hearing young people

In this presentation, Dr Christina Clarke, Clinical Psychologist, will provide an introduction to deafness and mental health with a focus on adolescence. The presentation will draw on recent data and statistics to highlight the prevalence of mental health challenges among deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) young people.

Dr Clarke will examine deafness as a continuum to highlight the ongoing importance of language, social/interpersonal skills and emotional wellbeing for DHH young people.

The presentation will explore challenges associated with adolescence and hearing world barriers to demonstrate their impact on the emotional wellbeing of DHH young people. Dr Clarke will highlight some of the signs that a young person may be struggling and identify how best to support young DHH people who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

Finally, a range of useful resources will be discussed by Dr Clarke to support participants in accessing additional information.

VDEI recommend the use of Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (Macintosh users only) as the preferred web browsers to seamlessly register and access this learning.

Please note – Victorian Department of Education staff can access this professional learning offering free of charge. Enter your @education.vic.gov.au email address during the registration process to ensure the registration fee is waivered.

This On-Demand presentation is delivered in spoken English with captioning.

Dr Christina Clarke is a UK trained Clinical Psychologist who has worked in clinical, research, teaching and consultancy/supervisory roles since 1998 - gaining her Doctorate qualification in 2005. She provides therapeutic services to D/deaf and hard of hearing children, young people and families and has been working in private practice in Australia (Brisbane’s Northside) since 2016.

She is passionate about supporting clients who are D/deaf or hard of hearing and considers herself very Deaf aware, with a good understanding of how D/deaf and hard of hearing people are affected by society's responses to their deafness and how this in turn can negatively impact developmental and emotional well-being.

Her training and therapeutic approach is diverse across systemic/family therapy (solution-focused, narrative and strength-based), cognitive behavioural therapy, and psychodynamic models and approaches. Such diversity enables therapy to remain flexible and individually tailored to the needs and goals of clients to better understand difficulties and provide the most appropriate intervention.

Participants will:

• Understand the term ‘Deaf Lens’ and be able to recognise the influence of this on a young person
• Understand the social and emotional impact of hearing world barriers and how these are magnified during adolescence
•  Know what positive emotional health is and how to recognise if a young person may be struggling
•  Be able to identify signs that a young person may be struggling, and understand helpful ways to support them.

Download on-demand flyer

Participants who successfully complete this On-Demand Presentation will receive a certificate noting 1.5 hours of professional learning.