Lastly we hear from Sanchari who is sadly leaving the service in the New Year. She writes about her experiences of working at WCC and the importance of mother-tongue counselling for the refugee and asylum-seeking clients we support.
I started my journey at MECS as a trainee counsellor as part of my degree course that laid the foundation for my career as an integrative therapist. It was here at MECS that I was nurtured, encouraged and supported to develop my skills and grow over a period of 4 years, as a language therapist, a general counsellor and an assessor. Supervision sessions at MECS helped me gain objective insight into my own performance and skills as a counsellor in turn enabling me to find better ways to support my clients´ mental well being. Working here also gave me the opportunity to interact and learn from my peers and senior counsellors and form lasting friendships.
The clients that I worked with at MECS are mostly refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) who have a traumatic past that is exacerbated by their uncertain immigration status. They come from all over the world in search of a better life in the UK. Apart from English, I provide therapy in three other languages. Though some of the clients have basic knowledge of the English language, they appreciated the opportunity to talk in their mother tongue during the sessions where we tried to make sense of their ever-changing world replete with stress and anxiety. Therapy in their mother tongue produces a different energy and understanding between the client and me, the therapist. In their isolated circumstances they seek identification and connection through a shared language. ¨If you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart ¨ (Beverly Costa, founder of Mother Tongue).
Counselling helps RAS clients explore their psychological and emotional problems resulting from their traumatic past in a confidential, safe, and culturally sensitive environment. It helps them better understand what has happened in the past, and provides them the tools to help them deal with what is happening in their lives now. On completion of her counselling sessions, one of my clients described her experience of therapy as ¨a cage being let open and that she could fly¨.
Thank you for sharing, such important work for people in the midst of a hugely uncertain time, especially when having come from a traumatic past. I can see people are different depending on which language you speak to the in so can definitely relate to the quote.
Excellent thoughts. The conclusion of using mother tongue in counselling in this own journey in an organisation is logical and fact filled. Wish her happy closure of a journey and continue exploring new horizon and share her thoughts. All the Best!