Practical Skills for Resilience and Mental Health (Series)

Resilient Practice: Mental Health & Wellbeing Skills for Sign Language Interpreters and Communication Professionals

A Four-Part CPD Series

Interpreting is as much about you as it is about the message. This four-part interactive CPD series invites BSL interpreters to explore the meeting point between mental health, professional resilience, and personal growth.

Across four half-day workshops, you’ll engage in practical skill-building, reflective exercises, and open discussion — all designed to help you navigate emotionally complex content with confidence and care.

Whether you regularly encounter mental health themes in your work, or you want to develop healthier habits to sustain your wellbeing, this series offers a safe, supportive, and skills-focused space to grow.

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Workshop 1 – Mental Health Where? Mental Health Concepts in Everyday Interpreting

Date & Time: Sunday 14th September, 14:00–17:00

Mental health themes can arise anywhere — in schools, job centres, social services, housing appointments, or crisis calls. But how ready are you to interpret psychological content when it appears outside a mental health setting?

In this workshop, you’ll explore common mental health concepts you may encounter in everyday work, viewed through a trauma-informed lens. With time for reflection and practical skill-building, you’ll develop greater confidence in navigating these conversations and awareness of the layers of meaning they may carry.

Learning Objectives:

* Recognise mental health themes in non-clinical interpreting contexts

* Reflect on your own readiness and identify areas where you may need support (e.g., team interpreting, supervision, CPD)

* Discuss and analyse mental health topics through varied interpreting scenarios

Takeaways:

* Increased confidence when encountering mental health content

* Clarity on what support or training you may need

* Greater awareness of how mental health presents in community settings

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Workshop 2 – Interpreting Under Pressure

Date & Time: Sunday 5th October, 14:00–17:00

High cognitive load. Emotional intensity. Physical demands. Sound familiar? This session brings together the Demand–Control Schema and the science of stress to help you understand what’s happening in the moment — and how to manage it.

You’ll learn evidence-based self-regulation techniques and create a personalised plan to stay clear-headed, avoid burnout, and remain grounded when the pressure’s on.

Learning Objectives:

* Identify interpreter-specific stressors using the Demand–Control Schema

* Explore techniques for stress reduction and emotional regulation

* Develop a personalised toolkit for managing pressure during assignments

Takeaways:

* Practical tools for before, during, and after high-pressure work

* Improved ability to recognise and respond to early signs of overwhelm

* A proactive approach to sustaining performance under pressure

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Workshop 3 – Self-Compassion: Embracing the Interpreter You Are

Date & Time: Sunday 19th October, 14:00–17:00

Interpreting can be demanding, high-stakes work — and we can be our own harshest critics. Drawing on Dr Kristin Neff’s research, this workshop explores how self-compassion can reduce burnout, counteract compassion fatigue, and strengthen resilience.

You’ll learn how to shift your inner dialogue, create healthier self-expectations, and sustain your career without sacrificing your wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:

* Understand the components of self-compassion in the context of interpreting

* Explore compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction

* Practise tools for cultivating a supportive inner dialogue

Takeaways:

* A sustainable approach to professional resilience

* Strategies to reduce inner criticism and emotional depletion

* Permission to care for yourself as much as you care for others

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Workshop 4 – Journaling as Professional Practice

Date & Time: Sunday 16th November, 14:00–17:00

Journaling isn’t just for writers — it can be a powerful professional tool for reflection, self-regulation, and growth. This hands-on workshop introduces structured and creative journaling techniques to help you process challenging assignments, identify learning points, and develop your professional self-awareness.

You’ll leave with a set of practical exercises you can use before or after assignments to improve focus, manage stress, and reflect on your practice.

Learning Objectives:

* Understand the benefits of journaling for interpreters

* Practise different journaling techniques to suit your style

* Create a personal plan for integrating journaling into your professional routine

Takeaways:

* A set of ready-to-use journaling prompts

* Increased clarity and self-awareness

* A personalised strategy to support mental wellness and reflective practice

Total CPD: 12 Structured Points

Trainer: Monique Champagne, MA, LPC, NIC Master, BEI-IV

Language of Instruction: English

Participation: Active (cameras preferably on)

Recording: No