# Predictors of cross-lingual competence in Australian mental health professionals

## TL;DR

This study examines what factors influence Australian mental health professionals' ability to work effectively with clients who speak different languages.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors of cross-lingual competence among mental health professionals in Australia.

## Key findings

- Engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse clients significantly predicts self-perceived cross-lingual competence.
- Multicultural training is linked to perceived competence but not to understanding client and professional barriers.
- Monolingual professionals who work more with diverse clients perceive greater barriers in cross-lingual practice.

## Abstract

Although spoken language plays a crucial role in psychotherapy with clients whose native language differs from the language of therapy, research on mental health practitioners’ language proficiency remains scarce. Our study explored predictors of MHP’s self-reported competence in cross-lingual practice.

Four hundred and fourteen MHP’s working in Australia, completed an online survey measuring key features of cross-lingual competence (self-perceptions, knowledge of client difficulties, barriers imposed by language), as well as engagement in multicultural training, experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients, and demographic characteristics.

Regression analyses indicated that engagement with CALD clients, being bi-lingual, having had multicultural training, and being fully registered significantly predicted self-perceived competence. However, only engagement with CALD clients predicted perceptions of difficulties faced by clients, and being monolingual and greater engagement with CALD clients predicted perceptions of barriers for MHP’s.

Engagement with CALD clients was associated with greater cross-lingual competence regardless of the ethnic status of the clinician. However, specific training in how to work in a cross-lingual context is required to ensure that all clinicians have strategies to manage the barriers they and their client’s may face.

What is already known about this topic:
Most mental health professionals (MHPs) in Australia speak English and provide services in English to clients who have English as a second language.Most multicultural training does not explicitly teach skills related to working cross lingually.Little is known about how competent Australian MHPs are to provide cross lingual psychotherapy nor what predicts cross-lingual competence.

Most mental health professionals (MHPs) in Australia speak English and provide services in English to clients who have English as a second language.

Most multicultural training does not explicitly teach skills related to working cross lingually.

Little is known about how competent Australian MHPs are to provide cross lingual psychotherapy nor what predicts cross-lingual competence.

What this topic adds:
Engagement in multicultural training was associated with MHP’s perceived cross-lingual competence but not their knowledge of difficulties/barriers client’s and professionals may face.Greater exposure to CALD clients was associated with both MHP’s perceived cross-lingual competence and knowledge-based competence in terms of difficulties/barriers client’s and professionals face in cross-lingual therapy.Clinician’s ethnic status did not predict self-perceived competence, but monolingual’s who worked more frequently with CALD clients perceived greater barriers to cross-lingual work.

Engagement in multicultural training was associated with MHP’s perceived cross-lingual competence but not their knowledge of difficulties/barriers client’s and professionals may face.

Greater exposure to CALD clients was associated with both MHP’s perceived cross-lingual competence and knowledge-based competence in terms of difficulties/barriers client’s and professionals face in cross-lingual therapy.

Clinician’s ethnic status did not predict self-perceived competence, but monolingual’s who worked more frequently with CALD clients perceived greater barriers to cross-lingual work.