According to various studies, therapy is twice as effective in a patient's native language. But for patients that don't speak English, it can be hard to know where to turn for help if there's a mental health need. Therapy in English could prove frustrating and end up souring the entire process, which doesn't bode well for those that are likely already struggling with how and where they fit in.
Here at Quick Results Counseling, we believe that all people should have access to affordable mental health services, and that includes therapy options available in different languages, such as a Russian speaking psychologist. Even for those that are fluent in English, certain cultural and ethnic considerations and concerns may not be easily conveyed, and that means extra time spent on understanding -- time that could be better spent on actual therapy.
Enhance Communication With common cultural stigmas surrounding mental health, it's hard enough to admit that therapy may be a way forward. But if you add in a language barrier, that could jeopardize the success of therapy before it's even given a real chance. Nuance and phrasing matters, and it could mean all the difference between getting the help you or a loved one needs and deciding once and for all that therapy isn't for you.
Increase Understanding In therapy, patients use more than just their words to communicate. Tone, expression and emotion are important, and a therapist that doesn't speak the language may miss half the story or more if they're focused only on the words being said. Sometimes, a patient may even be trying to express one idea but the words may be suggesting another. In Russian speaking therapy, you can be sure that your therapist understands the words you're saying as well as your intent, which means less chance of a misunderstanding and a greater chance of success in therapy.
Better and More Meaningful Care Along with a reduction in misunderstandings and better communication in therapy, a Russian speaking therapist can inspire a level of comfort that may not be possible in English. In their native tongue, patients are able to more freely and easily express themselves, which leads to more powerful and authentic conversations -- and better, more effective care. That can help create more of a commitment to future therapy sessions, inspiring a patient to invest more and get more out of their time in therapy.
For the patient and therapist relationship, which can commonly mean the difference between success and failure, a Russian speaking psychologist can help strengthen the bond and lead to even more sharing and insights than would be possible with an English-speaking therapist. That means more fruitful therapy sessions and a shared belief that both sides are working towards the same goal.
The Quick Results Counseling Way Here at Quick Results Counseling, we believe that diversity in mental health should be celebrated and valued as a crucial component of any mental health program. Regardless of your cultural, religious, racial, ethnic or sexual background, we're here to prove that empathy and compassion is an important component of therapy. Instead of judging or struggling to understand you, it's our goal to understand the norms and conventions that govern your life while getting to the "dead rat" of your issue.