Trauma profoundly impacts neurocognitive processes and communication patterns. These changes, coupled with cultural and language barriers, can present unique challenges when providing care to patients experiencing trauma, particularly for those who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or Deaf/Hard of Hearing. A 2021 study from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on interpreting for trauma patients describes how “the use of interpreters in healthcare settings, particularly those dealing with trauma, requires a nuanced understanding of both linguistic and emotional complexities.” [i]
Understanding Trauma in Interpreting
Trauma affects individuals in diverse and complex ways, influencing how they perceive, communicate, and interact with the world around them. Interpreters frequently encounter patients who have undergone traumatic experiences, which can significantly impact their mental and emotional health. MasterWord CEO, Ludmila Golovine, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the “emotional residue” that trauma leaves behind, which can profoundly affect both the patients and the professionals who work with them. [ii]
A professional interpreter herself, Ludmila is familiar with the toll that interpreting for survivors of trauma such as human trafficking may have on the interpreters and healthcare professionals themselves. For the past 15 years, she has applied her training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care to promote health and wellness for language professionals and raise awareness about the experiences of human trafficking survivors and their language access needs.
According to Ludmila, the following points, which integrate principles from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Guidance on the Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) along with current best practices in cross-cultural care, can help treatment teams and LEP patients experience better outcomes.
MasterWord Becomes a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Organization
MasterWord has long prioritized the mental health and well-being of its interpreters and staff, recognizing the challenges posed by vicarious trauma. In June 2023, having met the. U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) guidelines, MasterWord became the first language services company recognized as a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Organization (VT-ORG).
In Multilingual Magazine’s August issue, Ludmila Golovine discusses MasterWord’s journey to becoming a VT-ORG: As we learned more about trauma, we felt compelled to address it directly. We developed courses on trauma-informed interpreting and vicarious trauma for language professionals, drawing on the work of many experts in the field. There has been a clear impact on those who have taken these courses, many showing deep appreciation for strategies they can use before, during, and after challenging assignments
Best Practices for Healthcare Interpreters
Interpreters working in healthcare settings can significantly impact patient outcomes by adopting trauma-informed practices. Here are a few specific strategies used by trauma-informed interpreters:
- Active Listening and Sensitivity: Understand the signs of trauma and adjust communication styles to meet patients’ needs sensitively. For example, if a patient hesitates or shows signs of distress when recounting a medical history involving trauma, the interpreter can use a softer tone and simpler language to encourage communication without pressure.
- Confidentiality and Trust: Build trust by ensuring confidentiality, crucial for patients discussing sensitive health issues. For instance, an interpreter might reassure the patient at the start of a session that all shared information will remain confidential, reinforcing a safe space for open dialogue.
- Cultural Competence: Recognize and respect cultural differences in expressing and managing trauma, which can vary significantly among individuals. For example, an interpreter aware of cultural stigmas associated with mental health in a patient’s community might carefully and ethically navigate discussions around psychiatric treatment, ensuring that the patient feels understood without judgment.
Tips for Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers can enhance the effectiveness of interpreted sessions by implementing these best practices:
- Pre-session Briefings: Include interpreters in pre-session briefings to provide context about the patient’s condition and potential triggers. For instance, before a session with a patient who has experienced severe anxiety attacks, the provider might brief the interpreter about the patient’s triggers and preferred calming techniques.
- Supportive Environment: Create a supportive environment that allows for pauses and provides space for patients to express themselves at their own pace. For example, during a particularly emotional disclosure, a provider might signal the interpreter to pause the interpretation, giving the patient time to gather their thoughts and regain composure.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Implement feedback mechanisms to learn from each interpreted session, continually improving the approach to trauma-informed care. After sessions, providers could hold a brief meeting with the interpreter to discuss what went well and any areas of potential culturally based sensitivity, using this feedback to refine future interactions.
Partnering with MasterWord for Trauma-Informed Language Services
MasterWord partners with healthcare institutions to create an environment conducive to healing and to avoid re-traumatization of survivors by offering comprehensive training and support to its team of interpreters and extending these services to healthcare providers nationwide.
Supporting patient-centered care across 350+ languages, including American Sign Language and rare and indigenous languages, MasterWord is a trauma-informed organization with three decades of experience. We partner with health care systems, hospitals, and providers for sensitive, confidential, and time-critical language services, compliant with HIPAA, ACA Section 1557, ADA, CLAS, and Title VI.
For more information on how to integrate trauma-informed interpreting into your healthcare services, reach out to Ahmed Abdulmajeed, Strategic Solutions Executive, at [email protected]
[i] Villalobos, B. T., Orengo-Aguayo, R., Castellanos, R., Pastrana, F. A., & Stewart, R. W. (2021). Interpreter perspectives on working with trauma patients: Challenges and recommendations to improve access to care. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 52(5), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000404
[ii] Golovine, L. (2023, October 24). Trauma-informed care across language and culture. Presented at the Institute for Trauma-Informed Care webinar via WebEx. https://uhssa.webex.com/weblink/register/r46fe4eb9bdd3c58a51dc8797fb68f927