Season 1 Episode 16 - Dr Miranda Lai, Senior Lecturer, RMIT University - Vicarious Trauma Among Interpreters

When we interpret, we often immerse ourselves in the client’s emotional world in order to convey what is meant by them. It may not occur to us this empathic engagement may create unexpected consequences. Many professions such us counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers listen to graphic descriptions of horrific events as part of their job. Research shows that, over time, these professionals may experience similar symptoms as their trauma clients, and further feel changes within themselves, and about the way they see the world. If this may happen to these professionals, there is no reason to assume that interpreters would be immune, given we work in the exact same setting as them. In this week’s episode Fatih chats with Dr Miranda Lai, Senior Lecturer, Translation and Interpreting department at RMIT University, who has conducted research on Vicarious Trauma, about what it is and how practitioners can look for its signs as well as some self-care strategies.Guest Bio:Dr Miranda Lai is senior lecturer in Translating and Interpreting Studies at RMIT University. She has published widely in public service interpreting and its training. Her research interests include police interpreting, public service interpreting, and ethics for translators and interpreters. She has conducted research on Vicarious Trauma and is the co-author of “Professional Interpreters and Vicarious Trauma: An Australian Perspective (2020)” and “Vicarious Trauma Among Interpreters (2015)”. Webinar:You can find a webinar on Vicarious Trauma for Interpreters, presented by Dr Miranda Lai, on the "Conversations" Training and PD website:https://allgraduates.arlo.co/w/events/36-vicarious-trauma-for-interpretersYour interest and support is greatly appreciated and we hope you will join us for our events throughout 2020 and onwards.Don’t forget to visit our new training website for more information and PD opportunitieshttps://allgraduates.arlo.co/w/

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