Working with Interpreters

‘I felt I was living in darkness and having an interpreter helped bring me light’ (Lola – an expert by experience). The inability to speak fluently in English does not preclude the need to access psychotherapeutic services. It follows that an appreciation of the intertwined relationship between culture, language and experience is crucial if counselling and psychotherapy in Britain are to address issues of inclusion, social justice and provide equality of meaningful access to psychotherapeutic services. The rich multicultural tapestry of contemporary Britain means that there will always be residents who are not fluent in the English language, but who may require access to psychotherapy. Key points include:

In the United Kingdom (UK), recent data estimates that 7.7% of the population are non-native English speakers (Statistica, 2016).
Approximately 100 languages are spoken in almost every London borough (2011 Census; Office for National Statistics, 2011).
A reduced fluency in the use of English may be due to migration, lack of opportunities, gender politics or a range of other reasons (Bhugra and Gupta, 2010). It may also be related to some forms of cognitive decline affecting an individual that may occur in later life; someone who was previously fluent in English may lose this skill (Shah, 2017).
Clinicians’ readiness and skill in working with interpreters in a clinical setting are therefore necessary.