The Linguist

@CIOL_Linguists SPRING 2023 The Linguist 15 FEATURES Pásalo has also supported work in this area by Cardiff University Continuing and Professional Education. The faculty's part-time public service interpreting courses cover the topic of emotional impact and self-care. Trained interpreters are therefore aware of issues such as vicarious trauma and the need to address any emotional experience that might affect them after a difficult session. Students are given an opportunity to discuss ethical dilemmas with their peers and tutor in the class. To build on that, the tutor – a qualified interpreter – had an opportunity to set up a reflective practice group of former students in 2020, with support from Pásalo. The tutor attended training to learn how to facilitate such groups, and received help and support to formally establish one. Since then, it has been meeting regularly every two to three months. Group participants, who are all qualified and experienced interpreters, reflect during the sessions on difficult situations and ethical dilemmas, which they can share in the safe environment. The success of the group demonstrates that interpreters are able to consistently support each other when the session is led by a trained facilitator, with firmly set ground rules that allow them to trust each other under the facilitator's guidance. In the last three years, the team from Cardiff University has also been working closely with the Let's Interpret initiative (www.letsinterpret.org.uk) based at the South Riverside Community Development Centre, where the community members attend accredited interpreting courses. Let's Interpret regularly delivers training sessions on self-care and vicarious trauma, and it is now in the process of introducing a formal reflective practice group. The importance of self-care It is vital that practitioners are able to receive – as well as give – support, so they can maintain their compassionate and highly skilled practice. "Having experienced a time when I knew no other interpreters for years, the small group where I feel able to share experiences, discuss ideas and concerns and enjoy mutual support is extremely valuable, comforting and interesting," explained one participant. Interpreters give voice to those in need and in emotional distress; they deserve and need to be replenished themselves. Reflective support is not an expendable luxury. By training interpreters to provide this support themselves, at the intra-professional level, a self-sustaining circle of support is created. We would like to thank Petra Cookland for her help with this article. Notes 1 Although much of this article could apply to Sign Language interpreters (who, in fact, already have supervision support training structures in place, such as the Diploma in Supervision for Sign Language Interpreters and Allied Professionals), we decided to write from within our own frame of experience, taking into account the employment, political, migration and recognition issues specific to spoken language interpreters. 2 Rothschild, B (2007) Help for the Helper: The psychophysiology of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, Norton Professional Books 3 Li, A et al (2014) 'Group Cohesion and Organizational Commitment: Protective factors for nurse residents' job satisfaction, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout'. In Journal of Professional Nursing, 30,1, 89-99 4 Carroll, M (2007) 'Coaching Psychology Supervision: Luxury or necessity?' In Palmer, S and Whybrow, A, Handbook of Coaching Psychology: A guide for practitioners, Hove: Routledge, 431-448 5 BACP (2021) 'Reflective Practice Supportive Supervision Skills Training'; cutt.ly/bacp EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Sharing experiences, and listening to those of other linguists, helps interpreters to deal with the challenges of the job, and therefore to be more effective in their work

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