Mother Tongue, Trauma and Cultural Sensitivity Rajwinder Da Costa (Clinical Manager)

Case Study Case Study: A young woman entered my therapy room, she was 23 year old, Pakistani and had just left her abusive husband and in-laws. What was evident was that she was so physically thin and mute. She wanted her sister to stay in the therapy room for that first initial assessment and it was quite clear how scared she was to be alone with me. After much coaxing and talking through the client

Empowerment Commitment Engagement Reassurance Validation Stabilising Generic therapy Empowerment Commitment Engagement Reassurance Validation Stabilising

Importance of cultural sensitivity within the therapy room Stronger working alliance Trust Autonomy Cultural understanding Positive clinical outcomes Breaking down stereotypes Psycho-education Stronger working alliance Trust – in-depth disclosures around abuse and content in regards to abuse. Autonomy – in what and how they express themselves rather then using english as a language that is not personal to them. (i.e. certain expressions or sayings that wouldn’t make sense in english) Cultural understanding Positive clinical outcomes – core 34 and evaluation outcomes. Breaking down stereotypes – role modelling : the strong Asian woman (i.e. they may have come from background where all women have been through FGM) Psychoeducation – lost in translation about concepts, completely misunderstand they may be trying to say

The importance of trauma therapy and mother tongue Barriers of processing and expressing emotion when English is not your first language Sense of isolation Feeling trapped within trauma symptoms Greater degree of misdiagnosis Negative labelling Trauma vs. mental health Barriers of processing and expressing emotion when English is not your first language Sense of isolation Feeling trapped within trauma symptoms Greater degree of misdiagnosis Negative labelling Trauma vs. mental health

We can all be multi-cultural therapists Mother tongue is important It’s very important to know your client: What does culture mean to your client? What has happened to them? How does abuse and culture impact their road to recovery and healing?

Do’s Be curious Do your research Don’t be afraid to ask questions Stay within your competency Conduct a thorough clinical assessment Ask for phrases in client’s mother tongue Find creative ways for expression i.e art Work with a clinical supervisor who has experience of this client group

Don’t Don’t assume/make judgements Ignore her beliefs Interpreters – ensure they are specially trained Don’t use culture as a barrier

Ashiana Network Ashiana Network offers: Specialist refuge Advice and Advocacy Counselling services Psycho-educational support groups Prevention work Immigration to Women and Girls (16+) affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, forced marriage, honour based violence and female genital mutilation The difference we have made in the last year includes: 500 women and girls supported across our refuge, advice and counselling services. 138 left their abusive family home. Forced marriage prevented in 18 cases. 109 reported the abuse to police. Contact information e: info@ashiana.org.uk t: 02085390427