In a message dated 10/10/2012 12:24:41 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, a psychotherapist writes:
Hi Dr. Bill,
I am a psychotherapist who took ASL for several years ... and now find myself in the position of working with a Deaf couple, with no interpreter. Obviously this is not an ideal situation, but lack of finances and such make it the best we can do right now...
One concept I have not been able to find a sign for is the idea of "coping with" or "dealing with" an emotion or problem. We therapists talk a lot about coping skills, but I'm not sure how to sign about them! Any ideas? I'd love to be able to ask something like "You got really angry - and then how did you cope with that?"
Thanks for any thoughts you might have...
- Jessica E____
Dear Jessica,
Hello :)
The ways to interpret "cope" or "deal with" are generally as follows:
1. PATIENCE: Use the sign for "patience." You could sign. YOU PATIENCE THAT HOW?
2. CONTROL: The sign for "control" has many meanings, including: "manage, administer, reign, and handle." The sign for "control" could be used in many situations similar to the English phrase, "How did you handle that?" You could sign, "YOU CONTROL THAT HOW?"3. what-DO: The "what-DO" sign can be combined with the YOU sign to mean, "What did you do?"
- Cordially,
Dr. Bill
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