Bilingual Issues in Mental Health Assessment and Treatment

Abstract

Bilingualism profoundly impacts psychiatric diagnosis and psychotherapy because language is the primary tool of both processes. This article reviews the contemporary research literature in the area of mental health assessment and treatment of bilingual individuals in the United States. It was found that bilingualism introduces special concerns to clinicians independent of language of assessment and regardless of whether a translator is used in the interview process. Bilingualism may interfere with clinician and patient knowledge and rapport, leading to qualitative as well as quantitative differences in assessment and treatment. Nevertheless, an understanding of the dynamics of bilingualism provides opportunities for practitioners to enhance the mental health care of bilingual patients.

Counseling Latina Battered Women: A Qualitative Study of the Latina Perspective

“…The women's wish for bilingual/bicultural counselors supported the theory's call for a deeper cultural awareness and reflected the need for both culturally and linguistically sensitive counselors that has often been noted in the literature (Bernal & Castro, 1994;Bradford, 1991;Santiago-Rivera, 1995). The frequent request for help for their families showed a straying from the Western focus on the individual and a need for a more interrelational, connected approach.…”

Bilingual Social Workers: Language and Service Complexities

“…Even communities that traditionally have not had to contend with language issues are now recognizing a growing need for linguistically accessible services (Casey et al, 2004). The need for linguistically appropriate services is well documented (Bamford, 1991;Bender & Harlan, 2005).…”

“…Miscommunication in health and human services is pervasive (Bamford, 1991;Bernstein, 2005;Elderkin-Thompson, Silver, & Waitzkin, 2001). Scholars have noted that language barriers limit access to services and make delivery more difficult (Suarez, 2000).These barriers frequently lead to a breakdown in services, or worse.…”

Treatment of Deaf Clients: Ethical Considerations for Professionals in Psychology

“…Language discrepancy between a therapist and client has been demonstrated to negatively affect various issues related to treatment including client retention (Sue, 1991; Halgin & McEntee, 1986), accuracy of diagnosis (Bamford, 1991), strength of therapeutic alliance (Halgin & McEntee, 1986), and the type and depth of topics covered in treatment (Santiago-Rivera, 1995; Seijo, Gomez, & Freidenberg, 1991). For these reasons it is ideal that Deaf clients be treated by a therapist fluent in ASL (Hoyt, Siegelman, & Schlesinger, 1981; Leigh, 2010).…”