title: Conducting psychotherapy with an interpreter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This qualitative study assessed how clinicians prepared and used interpreters during psychotherapeutic sessions and investigated the strategies they used to manage the dynamics of this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten therapists were interviewed at the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture (VFST). A semi-structured interview format was used. Thematic analysis was conducted on transcripts of recorded interviews to identify key themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors affecting the provision of psychotherapy with interpreters agreed with general guidelines for working with interpreters but there were exceptions. The possible roles of the interpreter as a cultural consultant, community advocate and co-therapist were explored. Specific troubleshooting strategies were identified for improving empathy, redefining roles, and adjusting interactions with interpreters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Working with interpreters in psychotherapy is a complex process. These findings may benefit clinicians providing psychotherapy to patients using interpreters.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia justin.kuay@svha.org.au.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuay
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: Manager, Direct Services Program, The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST), Brunswick, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Manager, Research and Policy Program, The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST), Brunswick, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szwarc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology*; D014175:Translating
keywords: interpreters; psychotherapy; refugees