Multilingual clients’ experience of psychotherapy

The present study focuses on the experiences of 182 multilingual clients who had been exposed to various therapeutic approaches in various countries. An on-line questionnaire was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The analysis of feedback from clients with multilingual therapists showed that clients use or initiate significantly more code-switching (CS) than their therapists, and that it typically occurs when the emotional tone is raised. Gender was unrelated to CS frequency. CS is used strategically when discussing episodes of trauma and shame, creating proximity or distance. CS allows clients to express themselves more fully to the therapist, adding depth and nuance to the therapy. The therapist’s multilingualism promotes empathy and clients’ own multilingualism constitutes an important aspect of their sense of self. Multilingual clients benefit from a therapeutic environment where multilingualism is appreciated, and where they can use CS

Psychotherapy across languages: beliefs, attitudes and practices of monolingual and multilingual therapists with their multilingual patients

The present study investigates beliefs, attitudes and practices of 101 monolingual and multilingual therapists in their interactions with multilingual patients. We adopted a mixed-method approach, using an on-line questionnaire with 27 closed questions which were analysed quantitatively and informed questions in interviews with one monolingual and two multilingual therapists. A principal component analysis yielded a four-factor solution accounting for 41% of the variance. The first dimension, which explained 17% of variance, reflects therapists’ attunement towards their bilingual patients (i.e., attunement versus collusion). Further analysis showed that the 18 monolingual therapists differed significantly from their 83 bi- or multilingual peers on this dimension. The follow up interviews confirmed this result. Recommendations based on these findings are made for psychotherapy training and supervision to attend to a range of issues including: the psychological and therapeutic functions of multi/bilingualism; practice in making formulations in different languages; the creative therapeutic potential of the language gap

A cross-disciplinary and multi-method approach of multilingualism in psychotherapy

In this chapter Jean-Marc and Beverley will share their experiences of working with mixed methods in an under-researched area. As we shall see, her interest in larger sampling groups introduced her to some of the advantages of quantitative research. Together with Jean-Marc, who expands on the methods in detail in this chapter, Beverley was able to research multilingual therapy from several angles

The phase transition in the anisotropic Heisenberg model with long range dipolar interactions

In this work we have used extensive Monte Carlo calculations to study the planar to paramagnetic phase transition in the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model with dipolar interactions (AHd) considering the true long-range character of the dipolar interactions by means of the Ewald summation. Our results are consistent with an order-disorder phase transition with unusual critical exponents in agreement with our previous results for the Planar Rotator model with dipolar interactions. Nevertheless, our results disagrees with the Renormalization Group results of Maier and Schwabl [PRB, 70, 134430 (2004)] and the results of Rapini et. al. [PRB, 75, 014425 (2007)], where the AHd was studied using a cut-off in the evaluation of the dipolar interactions. We argue that besides the long-range character of dipolar interactions their anisotropic character may have a deeper effect in the system than previously believed. Besides, our results shows that the use of a cut-off radius in the evaluation of dipolar interactions must be avoided when analyzing the critical behavior of magnetic systems, since it may lead to erroneous results.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1109.184

An audit of the organisation Mothertongue multi-ethnic counselling service

An examination of the effects, impact and political relevance of a culturally and linguistically sensitive therapy service rooted in the community is the central purpose of this statement. The service considered is Mothertongue multi-ethnic counselling service. The paper discusses Mothertongue's formation, development and journey so far. It also gives examples of the impact it has had and the future it envisages. The development of the service is tracked alongside an environment and local needs, which are constantly changing. Consideration is given to the way in which it has developed its own therapeutic model which draws on theories of attachment, acculturation, multilingualism, psychoanalytic concepts of splitting and integration, and methodologies of community development, research methods of action research and experiential learning. It explores the constraints of the real world (such as finance) and reconfigures them as enabling boundaries. It considers the barriers faced by people from black and minority communities in accessing mental health services. It uses examples of specific projects (the Volunteering and the Mental Heath Interpreting Service, the Cross Cultural Parent Groups and Relationship Counselling, for example) to illustrate the methods used to negotiate these barriers. It examines and evaluates epistemologies with particular reference to postmodernist critiques of social constructionism and examinations of power dynamics and hierarchies inherent in theories of knowledge. These are contextualized within a reflective inquiry framework, which, as well as exploring societal influences, draws upon the personal motives and influence of the writer and founder of the organization. This framework - with special reference to the Professional and Personal Shadow - is used to reflect upon the different stages of the journey of the organization, the motivations for setting up the organization and the way in which it has contributed to the challenges, resolutions and outcomes experienced within the structure and on the external environment