Predictors of cross-lingual competence in Australian mental health professionals

Although spoken language plays a crucial role in psychotherapy with clients whose native language differs from the language of therapy, research on mental health practitioners' language proficiency remains scarce. Our study explored predictors of MHP's self-reported competence in cross-lingual practice.

Four hundred and fourteen MHP's working in Australia, completed an online survey measuring key features of cross-lingual competence (self-perceptions, knowledge of client difficulties, barriers imposed by language), as well as engagement in multicultural training, experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients, and demographic characteristics.

Regression analyses indicated that engagement with CALD clients, being bi-lingual, having had multicultural training, and being fully registered significantly predicted self-perceived competence. However, only engagement with CALD clients predicted perceptions of difficulties faced by clients, and being monolingual and greater engagement with CALD clients predicted perceptions of barriers for MHP's.

Engagement with CALD clients was associated with greater cross-lingual competence regardless of the ethnic status of the clinician. However, specific training in how to work in a cross-lingual context is required to ensure that all clinicians have strategies to manage the barriers they and their client's may face.