The psychotherapist and the sign language interpreter

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Linguistics
• Mental Health Care

Background:

• Specialized psychotherapy for the deaf is an emerging field in Western Europe.
• Dutch mental health policy prioritizes treatment in the most accessible language, typically Dutch Sign Language (Nederlandse Gebarentaal or NGT).
• While psychotherapists are trained in sign language, interpreters are often necessary.

Observation:

• Psychotherapists view working with sign language interpreters as a valuable, yet secondary, option due to potential impacts on the therapeutic process.
• This paper details a 17-year collaboration between a therapist and a sign language interpreter.
• The effectiveness of this collaboration hinges on the dynamic interplay between the therapist and interpreter.

Findings:

• An optimal therapist-interpreter collaboration can create significant "therapeutic power."
• Key factors include the interpreter's role conception, situational interpreting, and managing the interpretation setting.
• Recurrent themes involve navigating therapeutic phenomena within the interpreted sessions.

Implications:

• Effective collaboration can improve the quality of mental health services for the deaf community.
• Understanding the nuances of this therapeutic relationship is crucial for training and practice.
• Further research into therapist-interpreter dynamics can refine best practices in sign language interpreting for psychotherapy.