Mental Health Interpreting
Wholistic, treatment-focused interpreting services that prioritize each patients’ needs and comfort.
Professionally trained and sensitive to each patients’ needs, our interpreters make emotionally-vulnerable therapy sessions, evaluations, and appointments prime opportunities for mental health professionals to provide empathetic care to their Deaf, Deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing patients.
Never worked with an interpreter before? Don’t sweat it!
We’ve included some helpful tips to ensure your inclusive experience goes smoothly.
Tips for Working with Mental Health Interpreters
- Request mental health interpreting services as soon as the Deaf, Deaf-blind, or hard-of-hearing patient schedules an appointment. Scheduling your services early allows us to secure the most qualified professional available.
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When submitting your interpreter request, please share any information that would assist the interpreter in their work. Relative information includes:
1.) the patient’s name,
2.) mental health diagnosis,
3.) sensitive topics that may be discussed (Ex: abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, etc),
4.) any patient “triggers,”
5.) or any special requests to make the patient feel comfortable, such as an interpreter of the same gender, language, or cultural background. - Anticipate the interpreter arriving 10-20 minutes prior to the appointment. On the interpreter’s first visit, they may request a briefing of the patient’s history to support their interpreting and minimize the frequency of clarification.
- Always speak directly to the patient, never to the interpreter. Address the patient in first person language (ex: “How are you feeling today?” instead of “How is she feeling today?”) and maintain respectable eye contact with your patient, as you normally would.
- Medical personnel do not need to speak slower for the interpreter; however, clear and precise language does help to ensure your patient leaves with a proper understanding of their visit.
- It is not uncommon for there to be occasional lapses of silence as the interpreter communicates or clarifies points with your patient, particularly when discussing medical history or medications. The interpreter may interrupt you to request the spelling of a medication or to clarify an unfamiliar term or condition.
- An interpreter never signs any documentation or makes decisions on behalf of a patient. Please respect the patient’s autonomy by addressing them directly and not handing papers with the patient's PII to the interpreter.
- Respect the interpreters scheduled end-time. Holding an interpreter past your confirmed end-time causes delays in their later schedule and can result in additional service charges.
- If a follow-up or referral appointment is scheduled, please refrain from asking the on-site interpreter if they are available. Instead, submit all follow-up or referral appointment requests to ICS directly so our coordinators can secure an appropriately qualified interpreter.
- Never leave the interpreter in the room alone with a patient. Ensure the interpreter is positioned near an easy exit, especially for high risk patients.
- Still unsure? Reach out to a coordinator to ask a question or discuss how to prepare for your service request.
Sign language, Captioning, and Accessible Media Services
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