News from the Deaf Wellness Center

Mindful Eating Groups: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Adaptations to Decrease Emotional Eating 
Speakers: Amanda M. O'Hearn & Sharon Haynes
Date: 5/30/24 1:45 – 3:00 pm
Abstract: Mindfulness helps focus our attention on the present moment, while disengaging from habitual, unskillful behaviors. Mindfulness practices have been used to treat depression, anxiety, stress and chronic pain. Mindfulness principles are core in the teaching of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. DBT has been modified for a variety of patient populations. We have modified the DBT protocol used for use with Deaf clients who identify emotional eating as a problem. Groups focus on skills acquisition as well as mindful eating practices on a regular basis to have a more satisfying relationship to food and eating. In mindful eating, one learns what foods satisfy physical hunger and when eating is being driven by something other than physical hunger.

Pilot Testing a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention to Promote Mental Health Treatment Engagement among Deaf Individuals 
Speakers: Aileen Aldalur, Ph.D. & Sean Cosslett
Date:  5/31/24 11:30 – 12:45 p.m.
​Abstract: This workshop will explore Deaf adult’s treatment-seeking beliefs and barriers using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a framework and present data from an open pilot trial of an intervention designed to increase Deaf adult’s mental health treatment-seeking behaviors. Background information about the TPB applied to mental health treatment-seeking and the development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment-Seeking (CBT-TS) will be presented as context. The presenters will discuss the process of adapting CBT-TS to meet the unique needs of Deaf adults following the ADAPT-ITT model, a pragmatic framework for adapting evidence-based interventions (Wingood & DiClemente, 2008). Data will be presented from two qualitative studies, funded by the National on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, that informed the adaptation process. Finally, the presenters will present preliminary results of an ongoing, single-arm, open pilot trial of the adapted intervention, Deaf CBT-TS, funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Participants include 30 Deaf adults with untreated depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, or alcohol use disorder. Participants complete baseline assessments of their symptoms, beliefs about treatment, and intentions to seek treatment prior to receiving the intervention (1-2 sessions). One month later, participants complete a follow-up assessment of their symptoms, beliefs about treatment, intentions to seek treatment, and utilization of treatment services since their intervention session. Participants also complete an exit interview including ratings of their level of satisfaction and feedback about the intervention sessions. We will discuss preliminary results from the trial and next steps for the intervention’s continued development.

Emotion Regulation Skills System: Bridging the DBT Gap for Deaf Individuals with Language Deprivation
Speakers: Donna L. Guardino & Amanda M. O'Hearn
Date: 5/31/24 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
​Abstract: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidence based approach that was designed for hearing people. The Deaf Wellness Center (DWC) modified the DBT protocol for Deaf clients to use; however, deaf language deprived clients has not benefitted much from the materials leading us to finding Dr. Julie Brown’s work. Dr. Brown strayed away from the DBT protocol and made materials more accessible, for individuals who have cognitive challenges, by concretizing information and teaching it in chunks. DWC has modified Dr. Brown’s work and has found the materials to be easily digested by our clients. The focus of this presentation is to have therapists be familiar with this approach and use it as needed with their clients who struggle with the original DBT adaptions.