Trauma-Informed Interpreting Certificate Program

Trauma-informed interpreting is an approach that recognizes the profound impact of trauma on individuals and ensures that interpretation services are delivered with sensitivity, respect, and awareness of trauma-related triggers. It involves understanding how trauma affects communication, being mindful of the interpreter’s role in fostering a safe and supportive environment and avoiding actions that could unintentionally retraumatize a person.

It is equally important to recognize that interpreting in high-stress, trauma-laden encounters can also take a toll on interpreters themselves. Constant exposure to emotionally charged situations—such as those in healthcare, legal, and social service settings—can lead to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. In this program, interpreters will learn about the psychological and emotional impact of their work and explore strategies to safeguard their well-being while remaining effective communicators.

For interpreters, learning about trauma-informed practices before encountering such situations is essential, as it prepares them to handle interactions with empathy, professionalism, and cultural awareness. Proper training helps interpreters recognize signs of distress, adapt their approach to maintain trust, and collaborate effectively with professionals in fields like healthcare, legal services, and social work. By adopting a trauma-informed mindset, interpreters enhance the quality of communication for trauma survivors while also ensuring their own emotional and mental resilience. This dual awareness—of both the client’s trauma and the interpreter’s well-being—contributes to a more sustainable, compassionate, and effective support system for all involved.

Program Goals:

• Develop Trauma Awareness – Understand the impact of trauma on individuals and how it influences communication.
• Enhance Sensitivity in Interpretation – Learn how to provide interpretation services with respect, empathy, and cultural awareness.
• Foster a Safe Communicative Environment – Avoid re-traumatization and support clients in high-stress encounters.
• Strengthen Interpreter Well-Being – Recognize the effects of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
• Implement Self-Care Strategies – Develop techniques to maintain emotional and mental resilience.
• Improve Professional Collaboration – Work effectively with professionals in trauma-related fields such as healthcare, legal services, and social work.
• Encourage a Trauma-Informed Mindset – Apply knowledge to real-world interpreting situations, ensuring sustainable and ethical practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Define trauma and its psychological and physiological effects on individuals.
• Identify common trauma-related triggers and stress responses in communication settings.
• Explain the role of interpreters in maintaining a trauma-sensitive environment.
• Describe strategies for avoiding actions that may retraumatize clients.
• Recognize signs of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout in interpreters.
• Develop self-care techniques to mitigate the emotional toll of trauma-related interpreting.
• Apply trauma-informed strategies in professional settings.
• Collaborate effectively with professionals to support trauma survivors.
• Adapt communication approaches to build trust and maintain professional boundaries.
• Assess and reflect on personal experiences with trauma exposure to enhance resilience and effectiveness in interpreting work.

Course content:

Mandatory Lessons:

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	Trauma-informed Interpreting: A 90-minute webinar which focuses on the core concepts around trauma-informed interpreting.
	Trauma-Informed Language Access & Cultural Mediation for Survivors of Human Trafficking: A 90-minute course which delves into the critical role interpreters play in supporting human trafficking survivors and provide tools for trauma-informed work.
	Vicarious Trauma and Language Professionals: A 90-minute course which focuses on how interpreters are affected by vicarious trauma, as well as what are some strategies for preventing or mitigating its effects.
	Interpreting in Mental Health: A 1-hour course that focuses on skills in navigating linguistic disfluency and managing the difficult intricacies of mental health encounters.
	Empowerment Through Connection: The Role of External Regulators in Trauma Integration: A 6-hour course which equips participants with an understanding of the essential components of becoming an external regulator for trauma integration.

Bonus Lessons:

	Serving People at the Moment of Death: A 90-minute course which focuses on the moment of death, how powerful and impactful it is, not just for those experiencing it, but also for their loved ones and the many people who serve them.
	On the Frontline: Recognizing and Responding to the Signs of Human Trafficking: A 1-hour course which covers what is necessary for frontline professionals to effectively identify and respond to suspected trafficking.

Requirements and additional information:

Educational Background: Open to certified interpreters or professionals with substantial interpreting experience.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Experience: Applicants must have proven experience as an interpreter or have successfully completed MasterWord’s 40-hour training (or an equivalent program).

Program Duration: The core training consists of 11 hours and 30 minutes. With the inclusion of bonus lessons, the total duration extends to 14 hours.

Attendance & Format: This is a fully online, self-paced training, allowing participants to learn at their own convenience.

Exams & Assessments: A knowledge assessment quiz is required at the end of the program. A minimum score of 85% is needed to receive the certificate.

Completion Requirements: To successfully complete the program, participants must finish all mandatory sections and pass the knowledge assessment quiz. Bonus lessons are optional.

CEUs: Accreditation by CCHI, 14 CE hours, and IMIA/NBCMI 1.4 CEUs, RID: 14 hours.

Instructors:

Ludmila Golovine, President & CEO of MasterWord

Ludmila Golovine, President & CEO of MasterWord, a top-ranked language services company. Ludmila supports various projects to develop solutions to end sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence against children. Golovine actively participates as a member of the United Against Human Trafficking Coalition and is part of the Coalition survivor services committee. She helps survivors through her support of the UAHT, the World Childhood Foundation, Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking, TBAT (Texas Business Against Trafficking), Nomi Network and redM.  In 2023 MasterWord became the first Vicarious Trauma-Informed language services company in accordance with the guidelines of the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.

As a professional interpreter with over 30 years of experience, Golovine is familiar with the toll interpreting for survivors of trauma may have on the interpreters themselves. For the past 16 years, She has applied her experience in Trust-Based Relational Intervention therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy and Trauma Informed Care, and skills as Master Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, and Certified Demartini Method Facilitator to develop training and tools for language professionals as well as trauma-informed providers who work with language professionals to foster a partnership that creates an environment conducive to healing and avoiding re-traumatization. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards.

Whitney Gissell, BEI Advanced level certified ASL interpreter

Whitney Gissell is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter holding a BEI Advanced level certification. She serves as the Director of Business Development at Crabtree Interpreting Services.  Additionally, Whitney is a member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certification Committee.

Lisa Dion, Founder & President of Synergetic Play Therapy Institute

Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, co-founder of the Synergetic Education Institute, creator of the Business of Therapy and host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast. She is the author of Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity and is the 2015 recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Professional Education and Training Award of Excellence.

Eduardo Bruera, MD, Chair, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, & Integrative Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Trained in Medical Oncology, Dr. Eduardo Bruera holds the F. T. McGraw Chair in the Treatment of Cancer and is Chair of the Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Bruera has been interested in the development of palliative care programs internationally, particularly in the developing world where he helped in the establishment of numerous palliative care programs in the Latin American region, India, and different areas of Europe. A prolific author, editor, and lecturer, Dr. Bruera’s work has been honored with many awards, including the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), and the establishment of the “Eduardo Bruera Award” by the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians as a career award for palliative care specialists.

Alejandro Chaoul, PhD, Director, Mind Body Spirit Institute

Alejandro Chaoul, PhD, is the founder and director of The Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute. He is a senior teacher at The 3 Doors and has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism since 1989, studying with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. He is an assistant professor and director of education at MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Program, where he teaches Tibetan meditation to cancer patients, their families, and caregivers, and researches the effects of Tibetan mind-body practices with cancer patients. Alejandro was recently named a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute.

Tim VanDuivendyk, DMin, MDiv, BS, ACPE, LMFT, LPC, Retired Vice President & Chaplain for Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care

Tim P. VanDuivendyk, Board Certified Chaplain credentialed as a Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, authored The Unwanted Gift of Grief. A frequent lecturer on the subject, Dr. VanDuivendyk knows firsthand what struggles are evoked when professionals serve people at the moment of death and has developed strategies and tools to help mitigate their residual effects. Now retired, his previous roles include Vice President and Chaplain for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care at Memorial Hermann Health System and adjunct faculty at Houston Baptist University School of Nursing and University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing.

Kimberly Williams, Director of the Houston Area Human Trafficking Healthcare Consortium and the PATH Collaborative

Kimberly R. Williams is a prominent figure in combating human trafficking, particularly within healthcare settings. She is the CEO of Faith Collaborative, a network dedicated to providing emotional and spiritual support to human trafficking victims and those at risk of exploitation. In this role, she oversees strategic planning, administration, and operations.

Kathy Givens, prominent advocate and Co-Founder of Twelve 11 Partners

Kathy Givens is a dedicated advocate, author, and speaker committed to supporting survivors of human trafficking. As the co-founder of Twelve 11 Partners, she focuses on mentoring individuals who have exited trafficking situations, providing them with resources and support to thrive in their newfound freedom.

Sara Breuer, Collaboration Manager at United Against Human Trafficking

Sara Breuer serves as the Education Coordinator at United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT), a Houston-based organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through prevention, education, and community empowerment. In her role, Sara develops and facilitates educational programs aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking and equipping individuals with the knowledge to prevent exploitation. She has moderated panels and led workshops focusing on topics such as online safety and the tactics traffickers use to prey on vulnerabilities. Sara’s efforts are instrumental in fostering informed communities and preventing human trafficking.

Note: You will be contacted through your registered email within two business days of purchase to provide proof that you meet the prerequisite requirement and be granted access to the program.