Assignment:

PLACE

PARTICIPANTS

PERSPECTIVE

POINT

PURPOSE

PERSONAL

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

This event will be a group therapy session with prisoners done through
Video Relay Interpreting (VRI). It will take place a Department of
Correction office in Colorado Springs, however, the inmates are about
an hour away in a different city. The prisoners involved have all been
convicted of a crime of the sexual nature. I have attempted this event
twice, but each time, equipment and connection problems occurred and
the interpretation didnt happen. The inmates could be very vulgar in
their language. The interpreter dresses casually since the inmates can
only see a very limited area.
Participants involved would probably include the mentor interpreter, the
student interpreter (myself), the Deaf prisoner, the hearing prisoners,
the mental health counselor, prison guards at the site, and Department
of Corrections personnel at the Colorado Springs office. Based on the
demographics of Colorado Springs, most participants will probably be
Caucasian. The prisoners are all men. Most office personnel and guards
are probably male. The counselor will likely be female and Caucasian.
The mentor interpreter is a middle-aged white female as am I. All
participants are adults, most probably over 35.The mentor interpreter
and I have worked together for the semester and know each other
pretty well. I do not know any of the other participants. My mentor,
however, knows the Deaf prisoner well she has interpreted for him for
a long time. She also knows office personnel. I have a little knowledge
of the topic since I have interpreted the same type of meeting only it
was live. The mentor should have a good grasp of the topic. I know she
has done a lot of AA meetings and other mental health settings as well
as this particular event. The guards have the most power and in great
abundance.
The counselor, guards and other staff probably do not know anything
about Deaf culture, but the Deaf person knows hearing culture he/she
has had to learn hearing culture to adapt and be successful in the
hearing world. The interpreter is at an advantage because she has to
know both cultures to interpret nuances and hidden meanings to ensure
meaning accuracy.
I am assuming the point of this interaction would be for inmates to
begin to understand their behaviors and to learn self-control over them.
Also, one point could be that the counselor is trying to establish a
relationship of trust.
The purpose in to educate about sexual crimes and reasons for their
behaviors as well as techniques to manage their feelings and avoid
inappropriate contact in the future.
I am concerned about being uncomfortable when and if the men speak
very graphically about situations in the past. I am concerned about
how long the assignment is since my daughter is babysitting the
younger one. I am mainly concerned that this event will be cancelled as
the other two have been.

Pre-Assignment 6 Ps of Contextual Analysis

Pre-Assignment DC-S

Environmental

Environmental

Environmental

Environmental

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

The lighting
could be off at
the remote site.
It might make it
hard to see the
Deaf consumer
if he wants to
add to the
interaction.

Arrive early and

work with the
remote site to
adjust lighting
as needed.

The lighting
issue is fixed.

The lighting
could be off at
the site where
we are. It might
make it hard for
the Deaf
consumer to
see the
interpreter.

Arrive early and

adjust the
lighting as
needed.

+ The lighting
issue is fixed.

RESULTING
DEMAND
Later into the
assignment, the
lighting is bad
again.

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL
The interpreter
can speak into
the microphone
and ask the
remote site
facilitator to
adjust the
lighting at his or
her end.

It is not bright
enough in the
room for the
Deaf consumer
to clearly see
the interpreter.

The interpreter
can contact
technical
support for our
site or the site
coordinator in
the office where
we are.

The connection
is still down.

The interpreter
can contact
technical
support for our
site or the site
coordinator in
the office where
we are.

- The interpreter
is unable to fix
the lighting
problem.
There could be
a connectivity
problem like
there was the
last time I tried
to observe.

If the camera is
on the Deaf
consumer, the
interpreter will
not be able to
see the other
participants in
the room, even
the counselor,
except for those
sitting near the
Deaf consumer.

Arrive early to
connect to the
remote site and
get everything
ready to go
before the
group therapy
session begins.

+ The
connection is
made and the
site is ready for
the session to
begin.

Listen intently
and be sure to
try to
communicate
who is talking if
possible.
Interject politely
if need to
manage the
communication.

The Deaf
consumer will
be able to
better
understand the
flow of
communication
and know when
to interject
comments when
he wants to.

- There is a
problem and the
system is not
connecting.

Interpersonal

Interpersonal

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

+ The
interpreter
voices correctly
without having
to do any
repairs.

RESULTING
DEMAND
The interpreter
is not
understanding
what the Deaf
consumer is
signing.

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL
The interpreter
should ask the
Deaf consumer
for clarification
before
proceeding.

- The interpreter
may be
confused as to
what the
consumer us
saying because
she has it in her
mind what she
anticipates he
+ This lessens
the possibility of
the prisoner
making
inappropriate
comments or
gestures to the
interpreter.

The prisoner
could still make
inappropriate
comments or
gestures
making the
interpreter
uncomfortable.

The interpreter
should ignore it
and not make
any facial
expressions to
acknowledge
what he is
doing. She
should also call
the agency and
let them know
and request that
they contact the
prison and have
them tell the
prisoner to stop.

The facilitator
and/or prisoners
could be angry
that the
interpreter
interrupted the
session.

The interpreter
should stay
professional and
respectful and
only interject
when absolutely
necessary.

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

My mentor
interpreter
knows the Deaf
prisoner well.
This could cause
her to anticipate
what he will say
and voice it
before he says
it and
sometimes she
could be wrong.

The interpreter
could increase
processing time
and make sure
the message is
understood
before
beginning to
voice.

The interpreter
has to be
careful of
boundaries with
prisoners
especially of the
opposite sex.
The prisoner
could perceive it
as flirting.

Be courteous
but curt. Do not
ask questions or
engage in any
form of
communicationjust say hello
and goodbye.

Interpersonal

- Trying to be
courteous but
curt doesnt
work.
Since this is a
video relay
interpreting
situation, it
could be difficult
to control turntaking.

Interject as
need to request
participants to
talk one-at-atime, slow
down, etc.

+ All
participants will
be able to listen
and share
appropriately.
- Could cause
anger.

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

The Deaf person

may have a
signing style
that
incorporates
extraneous
movements that
distract from
the message.

The interpreter
should increase
processing time
and not voice
the extra
gestures and
movements that
are not part of
the intended
message.

This will make

the Deaf person
sound literate
and the
message will be
conveyed
without
distraction.

It could be hard
to hear through
the VRI
equipment.

The interpreter
should arrive
early and work
with the remote
site to adjust
volume as
needed.

+ The volume is
now set and
stays good
throughout the
assignment.

Intrapersonal

Intrapersonal

Paralinguistic

Paralinguistic

Assignment:

- Later in the
assignment,
some prisoners
that are father
away could
speak and be
hard to hear.

I am nervous
that the
assignment
wont happen
and I will still
have to search
for a mental
health
assignment.

I should prepare
for and present
myself like it is
going to
happen. Be
positive.

Then, no matter
what, I will be in
a better mood
making it easier
for me to
handle the
situation if it
doesnt happen.

I am worried
that the
prisoners will
talk about their
sexual
aggression and
be very graphic.
Making the
interpreter very
uncomfortable.

The interpreter
needs to
remember that
this is
therapeutic and
listen and learn
new signs by
watching and
listening to
these men.

The men feel

comfortable as
the interpreter
shows respect
for them.

RESULTING
DEMAND

- The interpreter
might not be
able to hear the
prisoners that
are farther
away.
- The interpreter
should sign that
she cant hear
and then stop
interpreting
long enough to
turn up the
volume on the
equipment.

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL

The interpreter
is now able to
hear and
provide an
equivalent
message.

I could go ahead
and be
searching for a
back-up mental
health
assignment.

The interpreter
could switch out
with the team
interpreter if
there is one.

Intrapersonal

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

I am hoping my
interpreter
mentor wont
ask me to take
a turn
interpreting I
might have to
sign or voice
things I dont
feel comfortable
with.

Tell the mentor

at the beginning
of the
assignment that
you dont feel
comfortable
voicing in this
situation.

Then I wont
have to worry
about it and can
focus on
observing and
learning from
my mentor.

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL
I could take a
turn using the
mentor
interpreter as a
safety net and
an anchor to
focus on instead
of the
uncomfortable
content.

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

During Assignment DC-S

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

He interpreter
was late for the
assignment.

I waited
patiently and
made sure I
had
everything I
needed
already in my
hands and my
phone on
silent in order
to be ready to
go in
immediately
upon
her
The mentor

I was able to
walk in with her
and remain
professional and
not cause the
interpreter to be
later than she
already was.

Environmental

Environmental

Environmental

Environmental

DEMAND

The VRI
equipment was
set-up and
running but the
screen was
black.

interpreter
alerted the
employee
responsible for
scheduling the
VRI sessions.

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL

After much
effort and being
transferred on
the phone
repeatedly, the
camera in the
correct room
was activated
and the
assignment
began.

The interpreter
could have
tried to call the
remote site
and fix the
problem that
way.

The Deaf
consumer was
sitting a little
bit too far away
to see his signs
clearly.

The people at
the remote
site observed
the interpreter
leaning
forward and
squinting and
had the Deaf
consumer
move his chair
closer to the
camera.

The interpreter
was able to
voice more
effectively and
without so much
added stress.

The people at
the remote site
could have not
noticed the
problem and
the interpreter
would probably
have had to
say something
herself.

Some of the
terminology
was related to
prison culture.

The interpreter
has been
interpreting in
this setting
and with this
consumer for a
long time so
she was
familiar with
the terms and
their
meanings.

The meaning of
the message
was portrayed
smoothly and
accurately
throughout the
interpretation.

The interpreter
could interrupt
the session and
ask for
clarification
when needed.

Intrapersonal

Paralinguistic

Paralinguistic

Interpersonal

Interpersonal

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

The Deaf
consumer
interjected
comments from
time to time.

The interpreter
kept the
microphone
open and
controlled
turn-taking
procedures
when
necessary.

The Deaf
consumer was
able to be
involved in the
conversation
smoothly.

The interpreter
was unable to
hear anything
from the
remote site.

The interpreter
signed to the
Deaf
consumer to
have the
remote site
turn on their
microphone.

The microphone
was turned on
and the
interpreter
could hear for
the session to
begin.

The interpreter
was not able to
clearly hear the
prisoners that
were farther
away.

The interpreter
signed that
she couldnt
hear and then
turned up the
volume on the
equipment.

The interpreter
is now able to
hear and
provide an
equivalent
message.

The discussion
was facedpaced and
difficult to
follow since we
could only see
3 people.

The interpreter
looked to me a
few times to
feed her what
she had
missed.

Usually we
figured it out
but sometimes
neither one of
us got the
information.

It made me a
little
uncomfortable
when she
looked to me as
a team. I didnt
mind helping at
all, but I was an
observer for
this
assignment.

I helped when
I could but
only when
looked to for
help.

I remained
professional and
helpful and was
also able to hide
my feelings in
order to do so.

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL
The interpreter
could have
inappropriately
waited too long
to interject the
consumers
comments and
then it would
seem awkward
when she did.
The interpreter
could have
asked the
equipment
scheduler to
call the site
and ask them
to turn on the
microphone.

We still missed
some of the
information.

The interpreter
skipped over it
and continued
interpreting.

Intrapersonal

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

CONSEQUENCE

I was
concerned
about
remaining very
professional
since this
interpreter has
agreed to be
my mentor
through
internship.

I focused on
posture,
attentiveness,
and
professional
conversation.

I think she has a

respect for me
and my work
ethic.

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

Interpersonal

Environmental

Environmental

Environmental

Post Assignment DC-S

CONSEQUENC
E
I was able to
learn and take
something
from this
assignment to
use in my
future work.

RESULTING
DEMAND

I kept my
coat on and
just suffered
with the
heat. I was
afraid there
would be
sweat visible
on my shirt if
I took off my
coat.
I waited
patiently for
her to leave.
I was polite
and
professional.

I was
uncomfortable
and very
distracted.

I was getting
warmer and
warmer.

My debriefing
time was cut
short but I
stayed
professional
and courteous.

I was not
able to ask
the questions
I wanted to.

I tried to be
professional
and make a
good
impression,
but also
friendly by
adding to the
conversation.

I think it may
have seemed I
was trying too
hard and
maybe butting
in where I
shouldnt
have.

DEMAND

CONTROL

There were
some signs
and concepts
that were new
to me.

During
debriefing we
discussed
these and
more.

The room had

become quite
warm.

The lady who

runs the
equipment
interrupted
our debriefing
time.

I just met the

lady at the
DOC that runs
the
equipment,
but my
mentor knows
her well.

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL
I could have
not discussed
these during
debriefing
and not
learned
valuable
information.
I could have
taken off my
coat and
maybe sweat
was not
visible.

I could have
continued to
ask the
questions I
had while
butting in to
the
conversation
the
equipment
lady was
trying to have
with my
mentor
interpreter.
I could have
just smiled
and listened
but only
contributed to
the
conversation
if asked a
question.

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

There was
tension in the
room at
least for me.

I was
uncomfortable with the
two of them
talking the
whole time
and kind of
excluding
me.

Upon leaving,
we had to get
our IDs back
from the
guards at the
front desk.
They were
speaking to us
from behind a
thick glass
window and it
was hard to
hear.

I leaned
toward the
small
opening in
the glass in
order to hear
well.

I was able to
hear the
guards and
respond to
them
appropriately.

Upon walking
to our cars,
my mentor
reiterated
when we
would meet
again. I
couldnt
understand
what she said.

I asked her to
repeat what
she had said.

She moved out

from behind
her car to face
me and
repeated what
she had said
and we
understood
each other.

I was very
uncomfortable
when there
was what I
deemed to be
a breech in
the Code of
Professional
Conduct.

I looked away
so my face
wouldnt
reveal my
emotions. I
didnt say
anything
during or
after the
statements
were made.

I didnt appear
to be bossy or
to cross my
mentor. It still
really bothered
me about what
had happened.

Intrapersonal

Interpersonal

CONTROL

Paralinguistic

CONSEQUENC
E
I tried to act
and look like I
was fine. I
looked at my
notes and
added a few
more notes for
my DCS
documentation
.

DEMAND

Paralinguistic

Assignment:

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL

I could have
just assumed
it was just a
friendly
comment and
ignored it
without
asking for
clarification.

Intrapersonal

Intrapersonal

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEMAND

CONTROL

I was
concerned
about getting
back home
quickly since
my older
daughter was
babysitting
my younger
daughter.

I texted to let
them know I
was on the
way. I
=drove
carefully, but
quickly
home.

I was
preoccupied
about the CPC
issue.

I tried to
think of how
it was not
against the
CPC.

CONSEQUENC
E
My kids were
left alone for
the shortest
amount of
time possible.
I got home
safely and
quickly.

This helped me
to not lose
respect for my
mentor.

RESULTING
DEMAND

ALTERNATIVE
CONTROL

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

10 Events Evaluation Form (Observation only)

Student Name: Laurel Dunlap

Mentor Name: Chris Witczak
Name of Interpreted Event: MENTAL HEALTH Sex Offender Group Therapy - VRI

PROFESSIONALISM
In what ways was the event evident of
professional behavior?
Were all participants respectful of the
event? Other individuals and their needs?
What negotiations were made? How were
they discussed? Put in place? Carried
out?
Did any issues occur that may have
violated the CPC?

PREPAREDNESS
What steps were taken to prepare for the
event?

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Duration: 45 minutes

The Video Relay

system seemed to be
running, but no one
was in the room at
the remote site.

The interpreter
continued working
with the on-site
facilitator on this end
and the one on the
other end as well
until the problem
was resolved the
equipment was on in
the wrong room.

The session was

interpreted and the
interpreters
professionalism
remained intact.

A negative
control would
have been for
the interpreter
just to
document that
the no one was
in the room at
the other end
and then just
left the
assignment.

At the completion of
the assignment and
after the equipment
was turned off, the
site facilitator (a
Department of
Correction (DOC)
employee) came into
the room and asked
questions about the
Deaf inmate, his
court proceedings,
and his parole status.

The interpreter
explained that she
had interpreted his
parole board and told
the DOC employee
what the results
were as well as
specific information
and comments made
during this particular
session.

Confidentiality was
breeched and the
Deaf consumer
personal information
was given to an
outside party.

Interpreting in a
mental health setting
a group therapy
session with sex
offenders in prison.
(VRI)

I talked with the

mentor interpreter
prior to the
assignment and got
information about
how the meeting was
run and some

I had a better feel

about how the
assignment would go
and what to expect.

The interpreter
could have
maintained
confidentiality
by not
revealing the
fact that she
was the court
interpreter,
and by saying
that she is not
at liberty to
say due to
confidentiality.
I could have
done no
preparation
and gone into
the assignment
unable to
anticipate and

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

concept and
vocabulary that
might come up.

There will probably

be some graphic
discussion relating to
sexual activities that
could be very
uncomfortable for
the interpreters.

PROCESS MANAGEMENT/
INTERPRETED MESSAGE
Did the interpretation demonstrate an
ability to manage information and flow of
discourse?
Was processing time a factor in the
effectiveness of the interpretation? If
not, why?
Was the interpretation dynamically
equivalent? Why or why not?
Was the interpretation effective? Why or
why not?

Some of the farther

away participants
were very hard to
hear.

The consumers were

expressing their
thoughts and
feelings using
different dynamics.

I thought about my
previous experience
in this area to come
up with ideas and
concepts and how to
portray them
conceptually.
I planned to focus on
relaying the message
accurately and
staying professional.
Also, the interpreter
need to show no
reactions in facial
expressions of body
language.
Debriefing afterward
is also important.
The interpreter
signed to the Deaf
consumer at she was
having a hard time
hearing. The Deaf
consumer let those
at the remote site
know.

The interpreter
changed her facial
expression s,
demeanor, and sign
choices to match
that of the speakers
intent.

I felt less anxious

knowing that I had
done this before and
was able to be
successful at it.

help the
interpretation
flow smoothly.

Luckily, this session

was very generic and
basically just
checking in with
each inmate. There
was no
uncomfortable
discussion.

Negatively, if
the
interpreters do
not realize this
possibility and
mentally
prepare for it,
then facial
expression and
body language
can give the
wrong
impression to
the inmates.

The speakers started

to speak more loudly.

The interpreter
could have
informed the
hearing
consumers
herself that
she could not
hear, and ask
them to speak
up.

The intended
message was
conveyed accurately
as evidenced by the
associated
comments that
followed.

The interpreter
could have
signed only the
explicit
meaning
without adding
appropriate
affect.

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Did the interpretation reflect an ability to
convey information appropriately in the
designated language?
What specific language skills were
needed to carry out this assignment?
Did the message seem natural? Why or
why not?

Some of the
consumers used
jargon associated
with those that are
incarcerated.

The interpreter used

the correct English
words and ASL sings
to con vey the
intended meaning.
To convey the
intended meaning,
the interpreter
needed specific
language skills she
had the necessary
ASL and English
vocabulary to be
able to recognize
and portray
situational jargon as
needed.

All participants
understood each
other since shared
vocabulary was
being used.

The interpreter
could have
been
unfamiliar with
the terms used
and she would
have either
conveyed the
wrong
message or
had to
interrupt the
proceeding to
ask the
meaning.

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

DEBRIEF
What specifically took place in terms of
debriefing?
Were all participants willing and able to
discuss the interpretation as a product in
terms of effectiveness for the overall
message/goal of the event?

I was unfamiliar with

some of the terms
used during the
assignment.

The mentor
interpreter explained
them to me as well
as others that could
have come up but
didnt.

I better understood
some of the cultural
information and
terminology related
to assignments
within the
Department of
Corrections.

The prisoners that

must leave the
location immediately
after the session.

Due to the fact that

this was a VRI
assignment and that
it involved prisoners
that must leave the
location immediately
after the session, I
was unable to get
any feedback or
debriefing time with
either the Deaf
consumer or the
hearing consumers.

The debriefing I
participated in was
one-sided in that I
was only able to
discuss the
assignment with the
mentor interpreter.

There could
have been no
debriefing
which would
have resulted
in me not to
have learned
information
that could
come up in the
future for me
as a
community
interpreter.
If the prisoners
were able to
linger in the
room, I might
could have
talked to them
and the
hearing
consumers
about the
assignment.

Assignment:
Student Name:
Date:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

Laurel Dunlap

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Mentor:

Duration: 45 minutes

Chris Witczak

Name of Interpreted Event: MENTAL HEALTH Sex Offender Group Therapy VRI

This assignment took place at a local Department of Corrections (DOC) office. It was a
video relay interpreting (VRI) assignment. The Deaf consumer is a prisoner in a facility about an
hour southwest of the DOC building where the interpreting would take place. Since I have
previous experience with mental health interpreting and I have had training in Alabama with the
Mental Health Interpreter Training project (www.mhit.org), I used this experience and training to
try to anticipate possible demands and what controls I could use in response to them.
One thing I thought that could happen was that there could be a connectivity problem like
there was the last time I tried to observe. The interpreter could arrive early to connect to the
remote site and get everything ready to go before the group therapy session begins. I also had a
concern that is essentially and intrapersonal demand. I was nervous that the assignment
wouldnt happen and I would still have to search for a mental health assignment to satisfy course
requirements. One control could be to prepare for and present myself like it is going to happen.
Be positive. Then, no matter what, I would be in a better mood - making it easier to handle the
situation if it didnt happen.
I arrived to the assignment first and became uncomfortable as the time of the assignment
neared, but the mentor interpreter had not yet arrived. She then texted me to let me know she
was on the way. Upon her arrival, she explained that she had accidentally left her badge at
home and had to return to get it. Her badge was required to enter the building. The fact that she
was late was a demand. I waited patiently and made sure I had everything I needed already in
my hands and my phone on silent in order to be ready to go in immediately upon her arrival. I
was able to walk in with her and remain professional and not cause the interpreter to be later
than she already was. Another demand was that the Deaf consumer was sitting a little bit too far
away for us to see his signs clearly. The people at the remote site observed the interpreter

Assignment:

MENTAL HEALTH Group Therapy

leaning forward and squinting and had the Deaf consumer move his chair closer to the camera.
The interpreter was able to voice more effectively and without so much added stress. Another
demand was that some of the terminology was related to prison culture. The interpreter has
been interpreting in this setting and with this consumer for a long time so she was familiar with
the terms and their meanings. The meaning of the message was portrayed smoothly and
accurately throughout the interpretation.
For post-assignment demands, the lady who runs the equipment interrupted our debriefing
time. I waited patiently for her to leave. I was polite and professional, however my questioning
time was cut short. I later emailed a few last question to my mentor. The biggest demand came
when the interpreter, in my opinion, violated the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code
of Professional Conduct (CPC). She began discussion specific court information about the Deaf
prisoner with the equipment technician. They even discussed another Deaf prisoner that had
recently been released. As a control, I looked away so my face wouldnt reveal my emotions. I
didnt say anything during or after the statements were made. It still really bothers me about
what had happened and I am unsure if I handled it correctly or not.
Even with my previous knowledge in the field of mental health, I had no experience with
VRI or with the DOC environment. My predictions now seem trivial and almost unrelated to the
actual interpreted event. I learned about prison culture and I am not as apprehensive about
working with this population as I was previously.