Interactions and mediation between multilingual clients and their psychotherapist (original) (raw)
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Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2020
BackgroundMultilingual clients can benefit from expressing themselves in more than one language in psychotherapy. Yet, research suggests that language switching is typically instigated by clients, although some do not feel empowered to negotiate the language(s).MethodsThis paper addresses how language options, from the main therapy language(s) to language switching, were negotiated between client and therapist, as reported by 109 multilingual clients. All participants completed a web survey and five participated in follow‐on interviews. In addition, we reflect on the advantages of the mixed methods approach—particularly with regard to ethics and the explanatory sequential design. Analyses combine descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to elaborate on the trends identified in this international sample.Key ResultsWhereas some multilingual clients did not feel inhibited about using languages other than the main therapy language, for others the therapist played an important role i...
Multilingual environments and interpreter mediation in psychotherapy
Three psychotherapists attached to the Royal London Hospital and 6 interpreters working with the Medical Foundation for the Care of victims of Torture in London were underwent partially structured interviews for periods of up to an hour. Each was requested to survey their experiences of psychotherapy in the English language through the intermediary of an interpreter or by means of the psychotherapist second language, also English. Interviews from 1 bilingual therapist and 5 interpreters were selected on the basis of audio recording quality for transcription. After transcription, key words and phrases were identified and grouped for similarity of concept. 28 groupings were then identified and classified by theme. The themes are reported, and ranked in order of frequency. The frequency of occurrence of a theme is presumed to signify the relative importance of the theme to the multilingual environment. These are discussed and suggestions for further work provided.
Language Choice in Psychotherapy of Multilingual Clients: Perspectives from Multilingual Therapists
Language and Psychotherapy, 2021
Language is an essential part of psychotherapeutic work. In psychotherapy involving more than one language and/or culture, acknowledging the impact of the therapist's and the client's language(s) can facilitate achieving the most beneficial therapeutic process and outcome. The field has witnessed a surge in interdisciplinary work combining research methods from multilingualism and psychotherapy. This research aims to investigate the role of multilingualism in emotion expression and interpretation in psychotherapy offered by multilingual/multicultural therapists. Ten individual semi-structured interviews with therapists in the Netherlands focused on therapists' experience of working as a multilingual/multicultural therapist with culturally and linguistically diverse clients. Thematic analysis of the results showed that language choice influenced the therapeutic process and its outcome in terms of discussing emotional topics, establishing and maintaining rapport with the client, and managing linguistic and cultural differences. Linguistic awareness of therapists allows them to manage the linguistic and cultural issues that inevitably arise in encounters with multilingual/multicultural clients.
2017
This study investigates bi- and multilingual clients’ self-reported language practices in counselling and psychotherapy. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through an international web survey inviting adults who had experienced one-to-one therapy to describe their experiences. Analysis of responses by 109 multilingual clients revealed that clients did not always have an opportunity to discuss their multilingualism with therapists, and for some this inhibited their language switching. Others were assertive in their language choices, or benefited from working with a therapist who was either bilingual or skilled at creating an inclusive linguistic environment. Very few reported two main therapy languages, while nearly two thirds of participants reported short code-switches. These happened occasionally within sessions and were typically linked to difficulties in translation, expressing emotion, accessing memories or quotation. Over a third of respondents used a second or additional language as their main therapy language, with nearly half of this group reporting that they never switched to their first language in sessions, despite some using it daily for inner speech. The implications for therapy and further research are discussed, including the role of the therapist in inviting the client's multiple languages into the therapeutic frame.
Language and Psychoanalysis, 2012
The present study investigates beliefs, attitudes and practices of 101 monolingual and multilingual therapists in their interactions with multilingual patients. We adopted a mixed-method approach, using an on-line questionnaire with 27 closed questions which were analysed quantitatively and informed questions in interviews with one monolingual and two multilingual therapists. A principal component analysis yielded a four-factor solution accounting for 41% of the variance. The first dimension, which explained 17% of variance, reflects therapists’ attunement towards their bilingual patients (i.e., attunement versus collusion). Further analysis showed that the 18 monolingual therapists differed significantly from their 83 bi- or multilingual peers on this dimension. The follow up interviews confirmed this result. Recommendations based on these findings are made for psychotherapy training and supervision to attend to a range of issues including: the psychological and therapeutic functions of multi/bilingualism; practice in making formulations in different languages; the creative therapeutic potential of the language gap.
Language Choice in Psychotherapy of Multilingual Clients
Language and Psychoanalysis, 2021
Language is an essential part of psychotherapeutic work. In psychotherapy involving more than one language and/or culture, acknowledging the impact of the therapist’s and the client’s language(s) can facilitate achieving the most beneficial therapeutic process and outcome. The field has witnessed a surge in interdisciplinary work combining research methods from multilingualism and psychotherapy. This research aims to investigate the role of multilingualism in emotion expression and interpretation in psychotherapy offered by multilingual/multicultural therapists. Ten individual semi-structured interviews with therapists in the Netherlands focused on therapists’ experience of working as a multilingual/multicultural therapist with culturally and linguistically diverse clients. Thematic analysis of the results showed that language choice influenced the therapeutic process and its outcome in terms of discussing emotional topics, establishing and maintaining rapport with the client, and m...
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research 2018;00:1–10. , 2018
Background Increasing numbers of multilingual people seek counselling and psychotherapy in a system that is rooted in a monolingual ideology. Despite these numbers, there is very little training for therapists and counsellors equipping them to treat multilingual patients. This is strange given that therapeutic treatment is known as the “talking cure”. Research with therapists and counsellors about their beliefs and behaviour with multilingual patients (Stevens & Holland, 2008; Costa & Dewaele, 2012) revealed that therapists were anxious about their ability to work with multilingual patients. Mothertongue multi-ethnic counselling service, a small NGO based in the UK, developed and delivered training for counsellors and therapists and culturally and linguistically sensitive supervision groups for counsellors and therapists working in their local NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service. They also developed and deliver a module on culturally and linguistically sensitive supervision for IAPT supervision courses. Aim An evaluation of these initiatives was conducted, to explore whether they would improve therapists’ core skills in working with multilingual clients. Method A combination of questionnaires, which employed Likert scales and Open Boxes, and face-to face interviews were conducted with trainees and supervisees who had participated in these training and supervision initiatives. Result After the training and supervision, the confidence and multilingual awareness of counsellors and therapists improved, with an average score of improvement of 4 points on a 10-point scale. All 7 of the interviewed counsellors and therapists said they felt more able to use multilingualism as a therapeutic asset in the treatment of trauma and other presenting issues. Conclusions and implications This type of training and supervision has the potential to change thinking and behaviour of counsellors and therapists, enhance their core skills and impact directly on mental health practice and the reduction of health inequalities. As a result of these sessions over the past decade, and the evidence from the evaluations, linguistically and culturally sensitive supervision is now being embedded into the structures of one local NHS service.
Multilingual Clients’ Experience of Psychotherapy
Language and Psychoanalysis, 2 (2), 31-50, 2013
The present study focuses on the experiences of 182 multilingual clients who had been exposed to various therapeutic approaches in various countries. An on-line questionnaire was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The analysis of feedback from clients with multilingual therapists showed that clients use or initiate significantly more code-switching (CS) than their therapists, and that it typically occurs when the emotional tone is raised. Gender was unrelated to CS frequency. CS is used strategically when discussing episodes of trauma and shame, creating proximity or distance. CS allows clients to express themselves more fully to the therapist, adding depth and nuance to the therapy. The therapist’s multilingualism promotes empathy and clients’ own multilingualism constitutes an important aspect of their sense of self. Multilingual clients benefit from a therapeutic environment where multilingualism is appreciated, and where they can use CS."