With AI and automation moving fast, it’s worth pausing to ask: What parts of interpreting still feel deeply, undeniably human to you?
Is it the way we hold space during emotional moments? The cultural cues we pick up without words?The trust we build, person to person?
Take a breath and reflect—we’d love to know what stands out to you.
What am I carrying that was never mine to hold? Where in my body do I feel that weight?And what might it feel like to gently let it go?
Take a moment to breathe into that awareness. Release with intention. Reclaim your center.
Interpreting Mantra: “I can hold space without holding everything. My presence is powerful enough.”
What does trust look like in an interpreting team? How can we foster an environment where everyone feels respected and trusted to do their best work?
Share your thoughts on practical strategies.
Take a moment to think about how your emotional intelligence showed up during your last team assignment.
Did you notice any areas where you were able to improve your collaboration skills, or any areas where you could develop further?
Share your experience!
For those of you who went to the 'Building Effective Interpreting Teams' workshop, think about your role in interpreting teams. How do you build trust and respect with your team members? Share one insight from the workshop that you’re excited to apply to your next team interaction.
As interpreters, our brains are constantly doing the impossible—processing, feeling, translating, regulating—all in real time. But here’s the thing we often forget:
Emotional intelligence isn’t a soft skill—it’s an essential communication skill.
Reflection Prompt:
Think back to your most recent interpreting experience.
What was the emotional tone of the room?
How did it affect your presence, choices, or energy?
Empathy with boundaries isn’t a wall. It’s not rigid. Not sharp. Not cold.
It’s a breath. A pattern. A living, moving pulse that keeps you connected without losing yourself.
You inhale their experience—deeply, consciously. You let their story rise in your chest, settle in your awareness. You allow yourself to feel. To care. To be with them in that sacred in-between.
But then you exhale.
You come back to you. To your body. To your baseline. To the truth that what they are carrying is not yours to hold forever. This is the art of compassionate empathy: You breathe in presence. You breathe out attachment.
And just like breath, it’s cyclical. It happens again and again—moment to moment, session to session, client to client.
We’re thrilled to have so many new people join our community! This is your space to grow, connect, and thrive as interpreters. Whether you're here to sharpen your skills, boost your emotional intelligence, or find your people—you're in the right place.
Let’s break the ice!
Drop a comment below and share:
Your name and where you're from
Your favorite interpreting memory or a fun fact about you
What you're hoping to learn or gain from this group
Hi There! My name is Barbara Lewis and I'm from Long Island. I started my journey as an interpreter in 2007. I took a 4 year hiatus to serve as an EA to the CEO of a Deaf owned company. While still using my ASL skills everyday, it wasn't te same as being out in the field. My first job back was with a consumer I worked with many times in the past. It was a very happy reunion, however, I'm a bit rusty and really need to sharpen both my signing and receptive skills. I'm so happy to be here!
I do mostly medical interpreting. It always feels human, intimate and sometimes emotional