New Professional Resource
Between two worlds -
A cross-cultural therapy guide - working with Deaf & hard-of-hearing clients.
Introduction
A cross-cultural therapy guide: is a specialised professional resource designed to address the significant gaps in training, knowledge, and confidence among therapists working with Deaf clients. Despite growing awareness of accessibility needs, many practitioners still receive little to no formal education on Deaf culture, Auslan as a language, language deprivation, or the unique clinical presentations that arise when communication access has been limited across the lifespan.
This ebook bridges those gaps by offering evidence-informed guidance grounded in Deaf-led expertise and clinical experience. It supports professionals in developing culturally safe, accessible, and effective therapeutic practice with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
This resource is suitable for psychologists, counsellors, social workers, psychotherapists, mental health providers, NDIS providers, support coordinators, educators, and any professional seeking to improve their competence in working with Deaf clients. Whether you are new to this area or already have experience, the material will deepen your understanding and strengthen your clinical framework.
Key Inclusions
This ebook provides clear, practical, and clinically relevant content across the following core areas:
1. Deaf Cultural and Linguistic Considerations
Understanding Deaf culture as a linguistic and cultural minority
The significance of Auslan as a primary language
Working effectively with interpreters in therapeutic contexts
Avoiding common clinical misconceptions and hearing-centric assumptions
2. Impacts of Language Deprivation
How early communication barriers influence cognitive, social, and emotional development
Clinical presentations that may mimic or mask mental health symptoms
Distinguishing between language deprivation and neurodevelopmental conditions
Considerations for assessment and case formulation
3. Therapeutic Adaptations
Evidence-informed strategies for adapting therapy modalities for Deaf clients
Approaches to pacing, visual communication, and processing differences
Trauma-informed adaptations, including EMDR considerations
Managing cognitive load, attention, and information processing through interpreters
4. Assessment Complexities in Autism, ADHD, and Trauma
Why Deaf clients are frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed
Red flags and strengths-based clinical indicators
How to adapt assessment tools that are language- or hearing-dependent
Case formulation strategies for complex presentations
5. Practical Tools, Examples, and Clinical Guidance
Composite case vignettes demonstrating real-world application
Reflective prompts for therapists
Guidance for collaboration with NDIS providers, families, and multidisciplinary teams
Practical strategies for building rapport, enhancing safety, and supporting informed consent
About the Author
Modiule Lawson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Counselling, a Diploma in Psychotherapy, and a Diploma of Nutrition. She is a Level 4 Clinical Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and a member of the EMDR Association of Australasia (EMDRAA). Trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Therapy, she specialises in trauma-focused and culturally affirming practice, with clinical expertise in Deaf trauma, Complex PTSD, and the intersections of neurodivergence, language deprivation, and accessibility. She also integrates holistic perspectives, exploring connections between nutrition and psychological wellbeing within therapeutic processes.
Her therapeutic approach combines Person-Centred and Existential Psychotherapy with EMDR, delivered through a trauma-informed, evidence-based, and culturally safe framework in Auslan.
In 2025, Modiule received the Advocacy and Social Justice Award at the Australian Counselling Association’s Inaugural Counselling Excellence Awards. She is co-author of Applications and Adaptations of EMDR Therapy with Deaf Individuals, currently under peer review, contributing to the emerging development of Deaf-led research in mental health.
An active presenter and advocate, she delivers workshops and professional training that centre Deaf cultural and linguistic knowledge in clinical practice. She is the author of Between Two Worlds: A Cross-Cultural Therapy Guide – Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clients, and is currently completing advanced training to provide qualified clinical supervision.