--Sorenson Communications™, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL), today announced the successful implementation of two advanced continuing education workshops. The classes teach Sorenson Communications interpreters how to cope with highly traumatic interpreting assignments and maintain their professional roles as third-party communications facilitators who deliver positive customer experiences.
The workshops, “Vicarious Trauma” and “Treasure Each Caller,” are taught by leading interpreters and qualify for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). “These workshops are two of the most popular courses we offer,” says Amy Kalmus, director of the Sorenson Communications National Professional Development Department.
The “Vicarious Trauma” course is taught by Ron Lybarger and Nancy Eldredge, licensed psychologists, who are also fluent in ASL. The course addresses the unique challenges sometimes faced by interpreters to provide effective communication for a variety of emotionally-charged, traumatic communications while simultaneously maintaining professional and emotional distance so as to minimize secondary trauma and undue personal job-related stress.
“It is great to know that Sorenson is dedicated to providing quality interpreting services, but is also committed to supporting the physical and mental health of interpreters," says Jay Penual, Video Interpreter for the Sorenson Communications Virginia Beach VRS Interpreting Center.
“Interpreters are, by nature, empathetic, sensitive people, which makes them effective communicators, but also more vulnerable to this type of job-related stress. This workshop helps them establish stronger and healthier boundaries so they don’t take home emotions that belong to the customers they serve,” says Eldredge, a certified interpreter.
The “Treasure Each Caller” workshop reinforces the importance of customer care as well as taking care of oneself during the process. Taught by Sandra Rouse, CI/CT Professional Development workshop facilitator for Sorenson Communications, the course also teaches interpreters how to professionally process in-person interpreting assignments as well as VRS calls without becoming emotionally involved in the interaction. Workshop participant Jim Diggins, Video Interpreter for the Sorenson Communications San Diego VRS Interpreting Center, notes, “With a mixture of real-life scenarios and fresh strategies, this workshop offers a new perspective on who our customers are and how we can best serve them.”
Since the beginning of the year, 410 interpreters have received the training in 51 sessions nationwide. Additional information is available by e-mailing a request to workshops@sorenson.com or by calling 866-756-1284.
About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications™ (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products. The company’s offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service (Sorenson VRS®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson (VP-100® and VP-200®) videophones; Sorenson IP Relay™ (SIPRelay), enabling text-to-speech relay communication; and Sorenson Video Remote Interpreting™ (VRI), a fee-based remote interpreting service.