Founder · Partner · Senior Therapist
Dr. Candace A. McCullough
Deaf clinical psychologist with 30+ years in Deaf mental health. Co-founded the Center so therapy could be native to ASL — direct, never filtered through an interpreter.
Meet Candace →ASL A signed welcome · captions on
Est. 2001 · The first to bring telehealth counseling to the Deaf community.
Counseling in ASL, by Deaf Therapists, for the Deaf Community
Therapy in ASL by Deaf professionals
who understand you
Counseling Done Differently
Deaf-owned and Deaf-run — nationwide therapy in ASL,
from licensed Deaf therapists who understand your life experience.
Tap any card to read more.
Culturally Deaf, Licensed Professionals
Our therapists are Deaf themselves and fluent in ASL, bringing lived experience and cultural insight that hearing therapists cannot replicate.
Deaf Therapist, Here for You Everywhere
Get therapy in ASL or through your preferred communication method, whether that’s videophone (VP), secure video, text-based sessions, or with an interpreter. We make it easy to connect from anywhere, with care that meets your needs.
Confidential & HIPAA-Compliant
Your privacy matters. We follow strict HIPAA standards for all counseling services (whether in person, by videophone, or online) to ensure secure, confidential care at every step.
Insurance & Accessible Fees
We accept many insurance plans, EAPs, and state programs. Sliding scale fees are available to ensure access for all Deaf clients.
Trusted by the Deaf Community
Serving the Deaf community nationwide since 2001, we’re proud to be a trusted name in Deaf mental health care.
Thanks to donor support
Therapy at little-to-no copay
A generous donation lets us cover copays for eligible clients — so cost is one less barrier to Deaf-affirming care in ASL.
For eligible clients, while funds last.
Our team
Meet Our Therapists
Every clinician here is Deaf and signs fluently in ASL. Start with our founders — then meet the rest of the team.
Founder · Partner · Senior Therapist
Sharon Duchesneau, LCPC
Deaf licensed counselor and co-founder. Her work centers Deaf identity, relationships, and the everyday realities of living in a hearing world.
Meet Sharon →More of our team
Carrie Michaels, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Jarom Matheson, LCSW
Therapist
Kimberly Gray, LPC
Therapist
Kimberly Niebler
Licensed Professional Counselor
Laura Dreany-Pyles, LCSW-C
Therapist
Lisa Foster, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Madie Davis-Shelton, LCSW-C
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Robyn Raskin, LCSW
Therapist
Sheli Barber, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Suzanne Dennis, LSCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Tanya Wyatt, LMSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
More therapists available
Beyond our core team, we match you with a wider network of vetted, Deaf-experienced clinicians.
Get Matched →85%prefer a Deaf therapist
The research
Counselor Preference
Out of roughly 1,000 Deaf people polled, 85% prefer a Deaf counselor or therapist over a hearing counselor or therapist.
Deaf people overwhelmingly prefer to work with a Deaf counselor. The McCullough and Duchesneau (2014) finding is similar to that of the Steinberg, A.G., Sullivan, V.J., & Loew, R.C. (1998) study, which found that out of 54 Deaf participants, 72% preferred a Deaf counselor and 15% preferred a hearing counselor.
McCullough, C.A., & Duchesneau, S.M. (2014, October 20).
Counselor preference [Web survey]. Retrieved from Survey Monkey
Serving the Deaf Community Nationwide
Deaf Therapy That Comes to You, Wherever You Are
Accessible. ASL-Based. Nationwide.
View our services in your state.
Deaf Space
Space to figure things out — in ASL
Deaf-affirming therapy for every stage of life. Choose where to start.
- Individual TherapyOne-on-one support in ASL for anxiety, depression, trauma, and life changes.
- Couples TherapyStrengthen communication and connection, together.
- Family TherapySupport for Deaf and mixed hearing families, Codas, and parents.
- Group TherapyHeal alongside others who share your experience.
- Online Text TherapyTherapy by secure text when video signing isn’t right for the moment.
- LGBTQ+ AffirmingIdentity-affirming care for the Deaf LGBTQ+ community.
- Faith-Based TherapyCounseling that honors your faith and values, when you want it.
- AssessmentsCulturally and linguistically appropriate assessments.
The full picture
Who we help — and how
Deaf-affirming care for a wide community, a wide range of concerns, and a full toolkit of approaches.
Who we help
What we help with
How we help
Why us
Why Clients Choose Us
Seasoned, trusted, and unmistakably ours.
Seasoned & fully licensed
Experienced Deaf clinicians — no students, no pre-licensed therapists.
All in-house
No outside answering service, and no case conferences. Your care stays with your therapist.
Private & discreet
Confidential by design — ultra-anonymity, with no exposed waiting room.
Boutique & personal
Personalized care from a close-knit Deaf team who understand your world.
Pioneers since 2001
The first to offer telehealth counseling to the Deaf community.
2001Established — the first telehealth counseling for the Deaf community
25 yrsServing the Deaf community nationwide
50States — care that comes to you, in ASL
10+Deaf therapists, all fluent in ASL
Free & private
Not sure how you’re doing? Take a free check-in.
A short, private screening in plain language — your results stay on your device. Not a diagnosis; a place to start.
Resources
Your guide to books, films and research related to mental health
In their words
“It was a big relief to find a Deaf counselor to work with. Someone who understood me and who I could have an easy conversation with, without worrying about an interpreter.”
Superb counseling center. Do not hold your grudge or it won’t set you free!
Caring, professional, patient, flexible, committed, knowledgeable! A+ 🙂
I live in South Dakota where there are no signing counselors in my town. You are a lifesaver for my marriage! I never dreamed that I would be able to have counseling in this remote area.
Contact Us
Start the conversation
- Email: frontdesk@deafcounseling.com
- Text: 240 701 5155
- Videophone: 240 380 2577
- Fax: 301 493 6044
For a faster response, it is best to EMAIL.