Multilingual Therapist

Given that it has been estimated that more than half of the world’s population is bilingual, language has become an attractive subject for researchers. From the counselling delivery perspective, the issue of a diverse client base and therapists working relationship is particularly relevant, not least since the language ability of therapists and clients is fundamental in forming an open understanding as a foundation for all talking therapies. When bilingual therapists provide therapy to linguistically diverse clients in their native language this kind of counselling is referred to as ‘bilingual counselling’ When bilingual trainees have been asked to provide therapy in their native language to BME clients they are perceived as experts in imparting knowledge and therapy but being devoid of any additional training or preparation, and without their social and political viewpoint being identified or their immigrant experiences explored beforehand, neither having had their native language assessed. The purpose of this book is to explore the lived experiences of bilingual ethnic minority therapists providing therapy in their native language in the UK.