For clinicians to get a sense of who their clients are and what has brought them to treatment, here are some initial questions and two assessments that are done early on in the therapeutic relationship. Given the newness of the therapeutic relationship, clinicians are trying to create rapport while embarking on this detailed level of questioning.… Read More Getting to Know You
The first visit with a mental health professional can be unsettling for the LEP. Not knowing what to expect, coupled with a potential language barrier, can create increased discomfort. As service providers, both you and your client (the mental health professional) will play a critical role in the first impression that your LEP will have. Rapport… Read More The First Visit – What To Expect
If you have had an opportunity to review the Diagnositic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), you will have seen, by now, that there are numerous mental disorders that span Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood. As such, there is no cookie cutter treatment plan to address all issues for all people. In our work as… Read More I Need Help – What Are My Options?
Here is a great compilation of statistics from the USC School of Social Work that depicts the prevalence of mental illness, the breakdown by age and most prominent disorders, the repercussions when no treatment is sought and the success rates when it is pursued (pharmacological intervention and psychotherapy).
Accessing mental health treatment can be a daunting task, as we may not know where to go to get the help we need. We know something isn’t quite right and we are willing to take the first step but we may not know what path to put our foot on. Given our recent discussion on… Read More An LEP’s Access to Treatment – Navigating the System of Care
Any change that we make requires a determined mindset and an action plan. For anyone who has ever tried to change an engrained behavior, whatever it may be, you know that it is not easy. Prochaska and DiCelemente framed the process by which we engage in behavioral change: Pre-contemplation: I have no problem Contemplation: I… Read More An LEP’s Path to Treatment – Hurdles to Jump for Change
As an interpreter, what techniques can you use to convey compassion and empathy while still remaining within your role? Think SOLER: Sit or stand squarely in front of your clients Open body posture (avoid crossing your arms over your chest) Listen actively (listen for meaning, take care not to be formulating your interpretation before you are… Read More The Significance of Empathy Within The Mental Health Arena
Going to the doctor is a fairly common experience. For many, it is a practice that starts at a very early age. Whether it is an annual physical, an eye doctor appointment or a trip to the dentist, talking about physical health seems quite ordinary. How many times have you heard someone say “it’s time… Read More The Stigma Surrounding Mental Health – Factors for Interpreters to Consider
Now that we have covered the basics, here is a list of key terms you may encounter. How would you communicate these terms in the other language(s) that you speak? As always, we need to conserve meaning, with no additions and/or omissions. This is where searching for resources on the Internet, in print, through TV… Read More Mini-Glossary of Key Terms for Interpreters: Brain Chemistry & Mental Illness
Here’s a quick and comprehensive overview, in layman’s terms, of how our biology affects our predisposition to mental illness. Nice job by the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Through My Mind's Eye 