Latinos’ Experience in Psychotherapy Through an Interpreter

Population changes in the United States, particularly the increase of limited English proficient (LEP) speakers from the Latino community, challenge the provision of mental health services in their traditional form by creating a triadic relationship consisting of therapist, client, and interpreter. Psychotherapy with the assistance of interpreters continues to be the best resource available for both mental health providers and LEP clients, but this scenario has received little attention in the literature. The purpose of this qualitative study was to capture the experiences of LEP Latino/a clients who accessed mental health services (i.e., psychotherapy) with assistance from an interpreter. A phenomenological approach allowed for analysis of the experiences and descriptions of six adult LEP Latino/a clients who met with a mental health provider through an interpreter. Four themes emerged from the individual interviews: (a) concerns about the process; (b) helpful process; (c) professional relationships; and (d) need for interpreters. These and a total of 12 categories are presented as well as a discussion on clinical implications, future research considerations, and limitations of the study