Therapy in ASL
Individual Therapy
with a licensed therapist fluent in ASL
via telehealth or in person
Accessing mental health services can be overwhelming. In Louisiana, there are very few options for Deaf people who need a therapist. If you found your way to this website, I’m guessing you are searching for a therapist who can communicate in YOUR language. Maybe you’ve tried to get a therapist, but they didn’t understand how to work with an interpreter, or worse, they refused to meet with you at all. Perhaps you tried text or chat counseling, or meeting with a therapist through VRS, but it just didn’t feel the same.
Therapy ASL Direct offers individual therapy to Deaf clients throughout the state of Louisiana as well as South Carolina. No more wondering if the therapist was able to find an interpreter, or adjusting your schedule to fit the availability of an interpreter, ANY interpreter, or feeling like you have to start over each time because the interpreter wasn’t there in previous sessions, so they don’t know the whole story.
Therapy works best when the therapist and client can communicate directly, in the client’s first language. Deaf clients are no different. If you’ve been searching for a qualified therapist who understands the need for Deaf access and can provide it in ASL, you’ve found your answer!
Hi! I’m Lisa LeMaster, and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor in Louisiana and a Telehealth Registered Professional Counselor in South Carolina. For over 30 years, I served Deaf communities in Louisiana, Virginia, and around the United States, working as a nationally certified interpreter (CI) in K-12 and college class rooms, medical and community settings, conference and performance platforms, cruises and VRS services. In the year 2020, I retired from interpreting to support the Deaf community in a new way.
Deaf people often suffer a higher burden of access to mental health services due to a lack of providers who can provide services in ASL and the expense and availability limitations associated with access through interpreting services. In addition, Deaf people express concerns about feeling less connected in therapy when there is a third party in the counselor's office, and there is a higher likelihood of miscommunication working through an interpreter. Working one on one with a therapist directly, in your first language, will always create the deepest therapeutic alliance possible, and ensure that your needs are clearly understood and consistently met.
Therapy ASL Direct offers individual therapy to Deaf and ASL speaking clients throughout the state of Louisiana and South Carolina.