Assessing the South African Sign Language Interpreter’s Impact on the Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance

Abstract

This research study assesses the impact of South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters on the mental health therapeutic alliance. According to Rogers (1957, p. 96), the mental health professional and the client form a dyad; however, in therapy for Deaf people, with the addition of SASL interpreters, the relationship becomes a triad. Wadensjo (1998, p. 11) described this communication as a “communicative pas de trois” — a triadic communication model. The theoretical framework for this study is the Relational Skills Model, focusing on its core components: empathy and trust-building. Cultural competence, as emphasised by Moleko (2012, p. 163), is also central to this research. The study aimed to achieve an in-depth, interpretative understanding of all participants through an interpretative paradigm and a qualitative research methodology. Purposive sampling targeted three specific groups: mental health professionals who have used SASL interpreters during mental health therapy sessions with Deaf clients; Deaf participants who are profoundly Deaf, use SASL and have used SASL interpreting services during therapy; and SASL interpreters who have provided SASL interpreting services in mental health therapy sessions. Data collection involved open-ended questionnaires and virtual interviews conducted with Deaf participants, analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The findings indicate that mental health professionals in South Africa are not adequately equipped to deal with Deaf clients, and that the interpreting process does impact the establishment and maintenance of rapport and trust between the mental health professionals and Deaf clients when SASL interpreters are used during therapy. The study highlights the need for a specialised training programme in mental healthcare for SASL interpreters.