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SPRING 2023 The Linguist 13
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How can freelance interpreters get emotional support?
While working as a spoken language
1
interpreter, have
you ever felt isolated, stressed, frustrated, exhausted
or undervalued as a professional? If so, you are not
alone. So what constitutes appropriate support for
interpreters in public service contexts, and how can
interpreters be trained to provide this type of support
from within the profession?
First, let's consider the support needs of interpreters.
This has been a central topic of discussion among
professional interpreters for several years. Although
interpreting is often regarded as a purely technical field,
practitioners frequently encounter emotionally and
ethically stressful situations. Hearing and rendering
distressing messages, or being involved in emotionally
charged assignments, can have a detrimental effect on
our physical and emotional wellbeing if not dealt with
appropriately. Empathic engagement may cause burnout
and vicarious trauma,
2
and the incremental effect of
emotions left unprocessed can have repercussions over
days, weeks and even years.
Other professions that work in ethically and emotionally
demanding contexts, like nursing
3
and social work, have
developed support structures such as reflective supervision
(also referred to as reflective practice/support). This
enables practitioners to recharge their emotional
batteries and maintain the standard of their work.
Reflective supervision is aimed at reducing or
preventing occupational stress and burnout, and supports
practitioners to manage the emotional content of their
work. It also helps with developing skills, understanding
and abilities through reflective practice, and includes an
element of accountability by exploring and maintaining
ethical practice. For interpreters who work in sensitive and
emotionally demanding contexts, reflective support can
be hugely beneficial, but it is seldom provided. Michael
Carroll sums up its purpose as a space for participants to
think about the work, and the impact it has on them, so
they can do the work better and their clients can benefit.
4
It completes the circle of care: the supporter is supported.
Types of support
When reflective supervision and support has been
provided for spoken language interpreters (often in
refugee support organisations), it has principally been
facilitated inter-professionally by psychological therapists.
Some interpreters may appreciate the opportunity to
WORDS BY MARINA BURGESS, BEVERLEY COSTA, ZORA JACKMAN AND IRINA NORTON
The circle of support
TALKING IT OUT
Talking with other
practitioners can
help interpreters to
deal with the
emotional demands
of the work
IMAGES
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SHUTTERSTOCK
