| Vicarious trauma is a phrase heard often in the victim | | | | she may struggle with finding the appropriate words |
| service and medical professions. Crisis responders | | | | to interpret the client's experience. The interpreter |
| bear witness to the trauma that their clients and | | | | may walk out of the appointment saying, "What just |
| patients experience and are routinely provided | | | | happened- I am normally so good at what I do?" |
| opportunities to release some of the emotional | | | | The symptoms of vicarious trauma, including anxiety, |
| burden that their work encompasses. | | | | anger and self doubt, were relayed by interpreters |
| Professional translators and interpreters act as | | | | and translators who were working on projects for |
| language tools and are expected to perform like | | | | the TI Center. Our translators reported feeling |
| machines. Yet the very real nature of the | | | | agitated and sad, reading their completed translations |
| interpreter's assignments has an emotional and | | | | over and over, doubting themselves and their |
| physical impact that, if unaddressed, can significantly | | | | competency. |
| impair an individual's ability to perform their job. | | | | As a result, the TI Center staff, along with staff at |
| Language professionals may find that they are | | | | the Denver Center for Crime Victims, began |
| completing their assignments in a timely manner, but | | | | researching how they could help language |
| that they are unable to leave behind the images of | | | | professionals understand the impact of interpreting |
| their client's experience. Whether transcribing a police | | | | others' stress and trauma and recapture their energy |
| interview, interpreting during a medical crisis, or | | | | for working with the public. |
| translating a victim statement, language professionals | | | | In response, the TI Center has launched a 6-hour |
| are rarely given the opportunity to debrief after a | | | | workshop, entitled Health Enabling for Language |
| stressful event. | | | | Professionals (HELP). Participants will learn how to |
| Studies show that when our brains are triggered by a | | | | cope with the physical and emotional challenges that |
| dangerous event or trauma (either physical or | | | | you face as a language professional. You will learn |
| emotional), the limbic system "hijacks" the brain | | | | how the brain and body react to trauma and then |
| temporarily. The left side of the brain shuts down | | | | practice some proven stress management |
| and the right side of the brain takes over. | | | | techniques. By the end of the workshop you will be a |
| Unfortunately for an interpreter, language is controlled | | | | stronger more positive person, both professionally |
| by the left brain. If an interpreter has experienced a | | | | and personally. |
| similar event or feels empathy for the client, he or | | | | |