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.
(bestmastersinpsychology.com) Click to enlarge infographic
(bodylogic.net.au) Mental health, like physical health, is a delicate interplay of organic and environmental factors. Ultimately, mental health and mental illness are linked to the brain. In other words, the way our brain chemistry interfaces with our life experiences determines the probability of experiencing some type of mental illness in our life. When the brain… Read More The Basics of Mental Health for Interpreters
In the spirit of professional development, my goal is to share what I have learned from my work in the language solutions arena, along with my experience as a clinician within the mental health system of care. Here is what I hope to accomplish: Provide a clinician’s view of what the field of mental health encapsulates… Read More My Vision
Through My Mind's Eye 