1. Strategies to Assist with Vicarious Trauma
Ksenia Boitsova
Court Interpreter Program Administrator,
Access to Justice Department,
Administrative Office of the Courts,
Maryland
Kelly Mills
Program Manager,
Court Language Access Services
Office of the State Court Administrator,
Oregon

2. Agenda Test Your Knowledge About Vicarious Trauma
Learn About Vicarious Trauma
Ideas and Resources for Training Interpreters
on Vicarious Trauma

3. Once upon a time there was an interpreter…
interpreting between an attorney and a child victim on a molestation case for over an hour… the interpreter notices herself becoming more restless, emotional, and begins having difficulty holding back her tears.

4. Is it Compassion Fatigue?
Is it Burn-Out?
Is it Secondary
Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Is it “just” a difficult topic?
Is the interpreter “just” having a bad day?

5. We don’t know!
Do you?!

6. Although slightly related, these are different conditions
True of False?
Vicarious Trauma is also known as Compassion Fatigue, Burn-out, or Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder
FALSE:
Although slightly related, these are different conditions

7. 2. True or False? Nearly all language interpreters experience some symptoms of vicarious trauma (True/False)
True:
Experienced interpreters also experience symptoms that may go unnoticed for years 7

8. 3. True or False? Vicarious trauma is caused by directly witnessing traumatic events
It is caused by indirectly experiencing trauma through stories and experience of another person 8

9. 4. True or False? Vicarious Trauma can cause a multiple personality disorder
Multiple Personality Disorder is caused by Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 9

10. 5. True or False? One of the symptoms of VT is that the interpreter my feel actual physical pain when interpreting physical abuse
True:
Physical and emotional pain are activated by the same area of the brain 10

11. They may need additional support, training, and encouragement
6. True or False? Novice interpreters are more susceptible to vicarious trauma
True:
They may need additional support, training, and encouragement 11

12. 7. True or False? Memory lapses can be some of the symptoms of vicarious trauma12

13. 8. True or False? One of the best coping strategies to reduce VT is to unwind in a local bar with friends
False:
While alcohol often causes a “good mood” at first, it is a central nervous system depressant. Its depressant effects can carry over into one’s mind, being a contributing factor to a person’s continuing depression. 13

14. They can relate to these events and may be affected
9. True or False? Interpreters who experienced their own trauma in the past may consider declining cases which involve similar traumatic events (True/False)
True:
They can relate to these events and may be affected 14

15. 10. True or False? Interpreters who appear calm and relaxed are least susceptible to vicarious trauma
False: 15

16. Vicarious Trauma Webinar Bromberg and Associates

17. Conduct a CE event Combining Interpreter Self Care and Personal Safety
RESOURCES
Conduct a CE event Combining
Interpreter Self Care and Personal Safety
Have you ever wondered how to respond if a potentially dangerous situation occurred while you were interpreting in court?
Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed, or as if you can never do enough?
Security for Court Interpreters by Lorena Parada-Valdes,
Federally Certified Court Interpreter, (presented at the 27th annual NAJIT Conference.)

18. Interpreting for Victim Services”
RESOURCES
Access Training Manuals Available Online
“Breaking Silence:
Interpreting for Victim Services”
Cross-Cultural Communications, LLC
Techniques, strategies and self- care practices
Ethical principles for interpreting assault cases
Best practices for interpreting assault cases

19. Conduct a CE event Focusing on the Interpreter’s Brain
RESOURCES
Conduct a CE event Focusing on the Interpreter’s Brain
Describe the impact of trauma on the brain;
Identify strategies to interpret appropriately when trauma is a factor;
Implement actions that promote wellbeing and self-care.

20. Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Gender Based Violence
RESOURCES
Access FREE training
Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Gender Based Violence
& DV Programs
Methods
Lecture, mock interviews, mock trials

21. Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
RESOURCES
Access FREE training & consulting
Interdisciplinary
Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice, Northeastern University

22. RESOURCES
See List of Resources on
CLAC Meeting Webpages
40%-80% of “helping” professionals have experienced compassion fatigue and/or high rates of secondary trauma.
(Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice, Northeastern University)