It Is Called a Mother Tongue for a Reason: A Qualitative Study of Therapists' Perspectives on Bilingual Psychotherapy—Treatment Implications

Kokaliari, Efrosini; Catanzarite, Gia; Berzoff, Joan

doi:10.1080/00377317.2013.747396

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Clients reported that being able to switch between languages allowed them to express themselves more fully to the therapist, being heard in "stereo" rather than in "mono". The ability to do so added depth and nuance to the therapy, a view defended in previous research (Espin, 2013;Kokaliari et al, 2013;Verdinelli, 2009). Many of the views of the multilingual clients correspond with the views of multilingual therapists.…”

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Practicementioning

confidence: 90%

“…Researchers have focused on the nature and challenges of offering psychological support and therapy across cultures (Eleftheriadou, 2010;Fernando, 2010;Fernando & Keating, 2009;Lago, 2006;Lowe, 2013;Martinovic & Altarriba, 2013). Gradually more attention has been paid to the role of multilingualism in therapy and the exploration of the relationship between language and therapy (Amati-Mehler, Argentieri & Canestri, 1993;Kokaliari, Catanzarite & Berzoff, 2013;Perez Foster, 1998;Santiago-Rivera & Altarriba, 2002;Szekacs-Weisz, 2004). Marcos (1976) is one of the pioneering studies in this domain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multilingual Clients’ Experience of Psychotherapy

Dewaele

Costa²

2013

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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.

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Section: Conclusion and Implications For Practicementioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilingual Clients’ Experience of Psychotherapy

Dewaele

Costa²

2013

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“…This study describes the impact of training and supervision programmes on therapists’ confidence in their skills to work with multilingual patients—with and without an interpreter. Researchers, such as Verdinelli and Biever () and Kokaliari, Catanzarite and Berzoff (), have called for psychotherapy trainings to address the issue of multilingualism. The CPR New Researcher Award (2014) recognised Lorena Georgiadou () for her research on international counselling trainees’ experiences, which included a recommendation that counselling courses pay more attention to languages and difference.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The talking cure—building the core skills and the confidence of counsellors and psychotherapists to work effectively with multilingual patients through training and supervision

Costa

Dewaele

2018

Couns and Psychother Res

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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 revealed that therapists were anxious about their ability to work with multilingual patients. Mothertongue multiethnic 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 delivered 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. Results 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 seven 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 counsellors’ and therapists’ thinking and behaviour, enhance their core skills and impact directly on mental health practice and the reduction in 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.

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“…Language difference between the therapist and client may possibly impact therapy effectiveness (Collins et al, 1984;Fitzgerald & O'Leary, 1990;Hong, 1989). Language is an important factor in building a therapeutic alliance (Kokaliari, Catanzarite & Berzoff, 2013). Santiago-Rivera et al (2009) informed language switching was used to build this alliance and trust.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘No one ever speaks about it’: A qualitative investigation exploring the experiences of multilingual counsellors in practice

Johal¹

2017

Couns and Psychother Res

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Aim To explore and understand the experiences of counsellors who were trained in English, but used another language when counselling clients who did not speak English or had limited English language proficiency. Although multilingual counselling is growing, this had seldom been specifically researched, with the experiences of counsellors being even more neglected. Method This research adopted a qualitative methodology which involved interviewing 11 participants trained in different modalities, using different languages with varied levels of experience of counselling in another language, to obtain a range of narratives. Interviews were audio recorded, followed by verbatim transcriptions and thematic analysis. Findings The study found participants had not previously had an opportunity to discuss their experiences of offering multilingual counselling. A discussion around counselling in a language other than English had not taken place during training, in their workplace, in supervision or with peers. They described many difficulties that influenced client work. Participants reported feeling isolated, tired and bearing full responsibility for their work. They described significant differences between counselling in English and other languages, with the clients of the latter receiving a less useful service than English speaking clients. Discussion An exploration of the research findings alongside contemporary literature highlights the possibility that further training and support may be needed for multilingual counsellors. Recommendations for service providers, future research and training are suggested.

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It Is Called a Mother Tongue for a Reason: A Qualitative Study of Therapists' Perspectives on Bilingual Psychotherapy—Treatment Implications

Cited by 34 publications

References 22 publications

Multilingual Clients’ Experience of Psychotherapy

Multilingual Clients’ Experience of Psychotherapy

The talking cure—building the core skills and the confidence of counsellors and psychotherapists to work effectively with multilingual patients through training and supervision

‘No one ever speaks about it’: A qualitative investigation exploring the experiences of multilingual counsellors in practice

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