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Interpreting in the Field of Psychology

Interpreters who work with psychologists are faced with a highly delicate task. In most cases, they render the deeply personal words of a non-English speaking patient into English for a professional psychologist. Done well, the interpreter allows the two to converse naturally, making great strides for the patient’s mental well-being in spite of the language barrier.

Because of the sensitive nature of the work, interpreters who work with psychologists need specialized training before starting to work with patients. With the patient’s mental health at stake, interpreters focus on objectivity and confidentiality. Psychologists and therapists need objective, complete interpretations in order to form an accurate opinion of the patient’s health and treatment. As a result, interpreters must be careful never to offer their own analysis of the patient’s words. While this may appear to be straightforward, the personal nature of the interpretation can often make objectivity far more difficult. Interpreters who identify with the patient’s experiences may unwittingly project their memories or feelings onto the patient’s words. Other interpreters may unconsciously incorporate a personal stigma of certain mental health problems into their interpretations.

As for confidentiality, patients must trust both the interpreter and the therapist for the sessions to be productive. The interpreter needs a thorough understanding of all the information that must remain confidential so that both the psychologist and the interpreter can assure the patients that all parties will respect their right to confidentiality. Confidentiality between the interpreter and the patient can be especially challenging and necessary in small communities of recent immigrants where the interpreter and the patient are likely to run in the same social circles. Because of these challenges, courses on mental health practice and interpretation in a therapeutic context are crucial for interpreters to complete before entering the field.

In addition to specialized training, psychologists and interpreters must work collaboratively to ensure care for the patient. Often, psychologists have specific goals for a session and can benefit from sharing these goals with the interpreter so that the interpreter can communicate with the same ideas in mind as the psychologist. In addition, in many cases, interpreters can help psychologists by acting as cultural ambassadors. By sharing important cultural beliefs and community practices, the interpreter can give the psychologist a better understanding of the patient’s experiences, situation, and outlook.

Interpreters working in the field of psychology need a high level of self-awareness in order to take care of both themselves and their clients. If an interpreter has suffered similar trauma as the patient, both the quality of the interpretation and the mental well-being of the interpreter may be put at risk. In certain refugee communities—exactly the communities with the most demand for this style of treatment—interpreters and patients are highly likely to share similar traumatic experiences due to war, natural disaster, or political oppression.

With immigrant communities growing, making therapy accessible to individuals who would otherwise be unable to access care is vitally important. Training for interpretation in the field of psychology is on the rise, and as more interpreters step into this role, they are making an enormous positive impact in psychologists’ offices and in non-English speaking communities around the country.

Do you have any experience interpreting in the field of psychology? Let us know in the comments!

Nisar_Nikzad

NISAR NIKZAD

Nisar, the dynamic force behind Translation Excellence, stands tall as its founder and CEO. This isn’t just any company—it’s a global heavyweight in boutique language services. Hailing from the vibrant city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Nisar brought his passion and expertise to the U.S. shores in 2001. In the realm of languages, he’s a titan. With 19 years under his belt, he’s worn hats from a linguist and instructor to a cultural bridge-builder and curriculum craftsman.

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