NORTHSIDE
TRAINING
Psychotherapy Across Languages
An Encounter in the Multilingual World
Language shapes the way we think, feel and relate to others - but what happens when psychotherapy takes place across multiple languages? Come and join us on this 2.5hr online workshop to find out more.
17 June 2025, 9.30am - 12.00 Online
Course Information
Course information
Explore together the fascinating intersection of language and psychotherapy, delving into how different linguistic
systems influence emotional expression, therapeutic relationships,
and the very concepts that shape mental health treatment.
We will examine the impact of translating psychotherapy theories
across languages, questioning what may be lost, gained, or
transformed in the process. How do power dynamics emerge
between dominant and minority languages in therapeutic settings?
What unique challenges and opportunities arise when therapists
and clients speak different native tongues? And how does
bilingualism affect cognition, emotions, and the therapeutic
experience itself?
​
Through discussions on linguistic code-switching, bilingual identity, and the unspoken power of words, this session invites participants to reflect on the role of language in shaping meaning, connection, and healing. Whether you are a psychotherapist, counsellor, trainee or simply curious about the interplay between language and mental health, this workshop offers a thought-provoking exploration of psychotherapy in a multilingual world.
Content
In this interactive workshop (20% of didactic teaching, 30% of exercises and 50% of group or small groups discussion)
we will explore the role of language in psychotherapy, combining personal reflection, research insights, and practical discussion.
​
​The workshop content will include:
-
Reflecting on our own relationship with different languages, considering how language shapes identity, emotional expression, and therapeutic practice.
-
Examining research on how language influences emotional experience.
-
Discussing what happens when we lack words for certain internal or interpersonal processes and how this impacts therapy.
-
Exploring the challenges of translating psychotherapy theories across languages and how therapeutic models shift when moved across languages and discuss the implications for clinical work.
-
Using the Cultural Script Matrix (Shivanath & Hiremath, 2003) to explore power dynamics between languages.
-
Discussing bilingual clients and therapists, focusing on linguistic code-switching—the unconscious or intentional switching between languages based on emotional and contextual cues.
-
Examining how different languages exist within our Ego States and Scripts, considering how our linguistic backgrounds influence our therapeutic approach.
-
Reflecting these insights into practice.
About the trainer
Hanna Konoplianyk (PTSTA) is a multilingual therapist, trainer, and supervisor with extensive experience working with clients from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Growing up in a Russian-speaking family in Ukraine, Hanna learned Ukrainian from an early age and now considers herself a Ukrainian speaker. Having lived in the UK for over 10 years, she navigates both English-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking environments, offering her a unique perspective on bilingualism and cross-cultural dynamics.
​
Her professional background includes extensive work with clients, supervising, and training in multiple languages, often with individuals using their first, second, or third language in therapy. Hanna’s own experiences of living in a multicultural society and working across language barriers have shaped her understanding of cultural identity and the role language plays in emotional and psychological processes.
​
One of Hanna’s professional interests is exploring how language influences the therapeutic relationship, particularly in multilingual contexts. Her work is informed by both her personal experiences and professional reflections on how cross-cultural and multilingual dynamics impact identity, communication, and internal processes. She is committed to helping clients and professionals navigate the complexities of working in a multilingual world.
