The Interpreter Is Not an Invisible Being: A Thematic Analysis of the Impact of Interpreters in Mental Health Service Provision with Refugee Clients

Abstract

Objective Given that many refugees are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and may have limited English language competency, health professionals must frequently work with interpreters to provide services to clients. This study aims to examine how working with an interpreter affects mental healthcare for refugee clients. In particular, the study aims to consider the perspectives and opinions of mental health practitioners who have worked with refugee clients with the help of an interpreter, along with identifying what factors play a role in enhancing or limiting the therapeutic alliance between mental health professionals and clients where an interpreter is mediating communication. Method Mental health professionals (specifically registered mental health social workers and clinical psychologists) working with refugees in South Australia were interviewed (N = 7). Data were analysed using thematic analysis, as part of a qualitative research paradigm. Results Analysis of the data identified the following key themes: “refugees are unique,” “interpreters are necessary and important,” “interpreters are important to the therapeutic alliance,” “interpreters can present challenges to therapy and therapeutic relationships,” and “training is a problem.” The supportive presence of interpreters, along with the multiple roles interpreters often adopt inside and outside the therapy room, were also highlighted as important in building strong therapeutic alliances. Conclusion This study found that interpreters were considered to be an integral part of providing mental healthcare to refugee clients, and sometimes contributed to the therapeutic alliance themselves. Future research could incorporate the experiences of interpreters and refugee clients to provide a more comprehensive perspective.

Psychological trauma and access to primary healthcare for people from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds: a mixed methods systematic review

“…This has been identified in research with refugee populations more generally [56,57] but the presence of psychological trauma arguably makes partnerships more important given the complex symptom profiles associated with trauma. The use of interpreters was also raised [28,32,37], reflecting previous research in relation to mental health and general health care [10,50], highlighting the need for both access to interpreters and specialised mental health care training for interpreters themselves-including in relation to trauma informed care. Reducing cost [36] and addressing resettlement challenges such as food security, housing issues, and employment which may act as barriers due to their immediate priority status for people were also discussed [30,33,36].…”

(Mis)recognition in the Therapeutic Alliance: The Experience of Mental Health Interpreters Working With Refugees in U.K. Clinical Settings

“…Research examining clinicians’ perspectives on working with interpreters, however, is more equivocal about the benefits. Whereas some clinicians view interpreters as integral to relationship building through bridging cultural differences (Gartley & Due, 2017; Miller et al, 2005; Raval, 2005; Schweitzer et al, 2013; Yakushko, 2010), others do not and go so far as to describe interpreters as an “unfortunate necessity” and an “obstacle” to therapeutic contact with the client (Miller et al, 2005; p. 30). These more negative appraisals focus on two main areas of concern.…”

“…One study examining the phenomenological worlds of nine refugee interpreters (Williams, 2004) identifies the considerable emotional work and the ambiguities and tensions that attend bridging the gap between the world of the client and that of the clinician. For the most part, however, research conducted with interpreters tends to focus on the interpreter’s contribution to the therapeutic relationship: This research highlights the support needed by refugee clients, including practical support, as well as interpreters’ own complex emotional responses to shared client–interpreter trauma history (Dubus, 2016; Gartley & Due, 2017; Johnson et al, 2009; Splevins et al, 2010).…”

On the Interpreter’s Subjectivity in Business Interpreting from the Perspective of Skopos Theory—4.653

“…It seemed that the interpreter was just an "invisible interpreting mediator" (Valero-Garcés, 2007). Though Due (2015) proved that the interpreter is not an invisible being, however, it's from the perspective of its impact. With the rise of cultural turn in the 1970s, the interpreter's subjectivity has gained more and more attention from scholars both at home and abroad.…”