Growing up between two worlds shapes us
As CODAs, any of us learned extraordinary skills early in life - communication, advocacy, independence, awareness, empathy, and resilience.
And we also learned roles.
Maybe you were the interpreter. Maybe you became the fixer, the protector, or the responsible one. Maybe you learned how to read a room before anyone else knew there was something to read. Or maybe you became the child who didn't need very much.
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Every CODA story is different.
No two CODA experiences are the same.
Our journeys are shaped by unique family dynamics, cultures, and communication styles. Each story holds its own challenges, strengths, and victories.
Some experiences were beautiful.
Some may have been complicated.
For many of us, both can be true.
We don't need to label our childhoods as good or bad, or assume everyone's experiences were difficult, to become curious about how growing up between two worlds shaped us.
This is a conversation about understanding, not blaming.
What We'll Explore Together
During our time together, we'll get curious about the roles we learned, such as
"What did you learn to do, carry, notice, or become growing?" plus:
The stength they gave us
Communication, independence, advocacy, awareness, empathy, resilience and more.
Where they show up today
How might those same roles or patterns still appear in our relationships, work, families, and our adult lives,
A different way to understand ourselves
What becomes possible when we meet our stories with curiosity instead of judgment?
Maybe we don't have to choose between loving where we came from and healing from what was hard
You're welcome to participate in the conversation, listen, reflect, or simply be in the room. You don't need to know the right terminology. You don't need to arrive with your story figured out. Just bring your curiosity.
There won't be any pressure to share.
We'd love to have you join us.
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Meet June W.
June Walatkiewicz, LMSW, LMFT, is a licensed clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and families heal, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with themselves and one another.
As an adult CODA herself, June brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about growing up between the hearing and Deaf worlds.
Throughout her career, she has worked extensively with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals and their families, developing a deep understanding of the relationships, roles, communication patterns, and experiences that can shape life across both worlds.
Today, June continues her work as a mental health specialist serving the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community while also supporting a broader community through approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO).
