2025 Summit for Mental Health Interpreting: Agenda
A1 | Matching Thought Worlds: Introspection, Influence, and the Myth of Neutrality
In the field of interpreting, we often speak of being trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and neutral—but what does that really mean when our own internal landscapes remain unexamined? This immersive and challenging workshop invites interpreters and allied professionals to explore the often-ignored intersection between personal introspection, mental health awareness, and the complex human dynamics that shape our work.
We’ll disrupt the false hierarchy of “having mental health expertise” by reframing the conversation: general knowledge of mental health is not the key—deep, honest understanding of your own mental health is. Through guided introspection, discussion of common factors research, and an acknowledgment that if we like someone, we tend to perceive their work product more favorably, we will examine how our experiences shape how we show up in the work.
Participants will confront how interpreter influence and Deaf influence are reciprocal and unavoidable. If being an ally and matching thought worlds are truly our goals, then we must do the hard work of clearing out our internal “junk”—our biases, our distress-avoidance strategies, our assumptions. Neutrality is a myth, working toward social justice while denying our part as oppressors is a mistake, and acknowledging that opens the door to more authentic, ethical practice.
Drawing from frameworks like Trauma Stewardship, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, and Somatic Experiencing, we will explore what it means to sit with discomfort instead of dissociating from it. Together, we’ll explore questions like:
- What am I bringing into the room that I haven’t named?
- How does my dislike of my team, the setting, or even the Deaf person influence the process?
- What narratives have I shaped to make my experience more tolerable?
This is not a “fix-it” session. This is a journey into ourselves—into the layered, sometimes painful, always human aspects of being in service to others while also being in service to our own growth.
Come prepared to feel, reflect, and maybe even unlearn. This is a journey, not an arrival point.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify and articulate at least two ways their own unexamined internal experiences (biases, assumptions, distress-avoidance strategies) can influence their interpreting practice and interactions within the interpreted event.
- Describe the interconnectedness of interpreter influence and Deaf influence, and recognize the limitations of striving for absolute neutrality without engaging in personal introspection and addressing internal biases.
- Identify at least two strategies, drawing from the frameworks discussed, for engaging with discomfort and fostering greater self-awareness in their interpreting work.
A2 | Session Title Coming Soon
This interactive session is designed to help participants explore the role of semantics in legal interpreting, with an emphasis on how meaning is shaped and conveyed through ASL. Participants will examine how word choice, phrasing, and context influence interpretation accuracy and clarity in legal settings. The goal is to support interpreters in making more deliberate and effective language decisions when working in complex legal discourse.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify and explain the impact of semantics on legal interpretation in ASL
- Apply strategies for analyzing and rendering legally nuanced language more accurately
B1 | Session Title Coming Soon
Part II of this seminar will continue to provide an overview of the legal system for practicing and potential court interpreters, including discussion of the roles of court interpreters, positioning of court interpreters, courtroom personnel, pre‑requisite knowledge and skills for a legal interpreter, court code of conduct, roles and protocol for court interpreters.
Participants will be able to:
- Articulate the differences between community interpreting and legal interpreting, and the differences between legal interpreting and court interpreting.
- State the three major functions used in court interpreting
- Explain how evidentiary principles such as hearsay and the contemporary objection rule affect interpreters.
- Define the three accepted modes of interpreting in court and state the principles involved in note taking while consecutive interpreting.
B2 | Session Title Coming Soon
This session offers a focused review of commonly encountered legal terms and their accurate representation in ASL. Participants will engage with vocabulary spanning various legal contexts, while discussing strategies to maintain clarity, precision, and neutrality. The session aims to reinforce interpreter confidence and consistency when interpreting legal terminology.
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize and define at least ten frequently used legal terms
- Demonstrate accurate and contextually appropriate ASL representations of legal vocabulary.
B2 | Session Title Coming Soon
C1 | Session Title Coming Soon
This course is designed to provide participants with a theoretical overview of a commonly interpreted civil legal setting – the deposition. The presenter will provide a description of the goals and purposes of the deposition and its role in the civil legal process. The roles of the deposition interpreter and the table interpreter will be examined. The presenter will lead a discussion and practical application of consecutive interpretation and notetaking. Participants will discuss various ethical issues that commonly arise in depositions. Participants will practice interpreting a deposition transcript. Finally, participants will engage in peer review and discussion of their interpreting work.
Participants will be able to:
- State the 3 purposes for taking a civil deposition and the 2 primary uses for the transcript
- Staff a civil deposition given two different configurations of deaf participants in order to ensure the 3 legal interpreting functions are covered.
- Shall consecutively interpret a transcript while using note taking techniques and analyze their work and the work of their peers.
C2 | Session Title Coming Soon
D1 | Session Title Coming Soon
D2 | Session Title Coming Soon
This session centers on the dynamics and best practices of co-interpreting between hearing and Deaf interpreters in legal contexts. Participants will explore the unique roles, responsibilities, and ethical considerations involved in these partnerships, with attention to preparation, real-time decision-making, and post-assignment debriefing. The goal is to enhance team cohesion and improve outcomes in high-stakes legal environments through intentional collaboration.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the roles and contributions of both hearing and Deaf interpreters in legal interpreting teams
- Apply at least three strategies for effective co-interpreting preparation, coordination, and ethical decision-making in legal settings.
E1 | Session Title Coming Soon
E2 | Session Title Coming Soon
Conference Registration
Registration for the 2025 Summit for Mental Health Interpreting is now open.