It is our privilege to share with you the printed versions of this groundbreaking resource developed by The Voice of Love Project, which is hosted and supported by MCIS Language Solutions, a non-profit social enterprise based in Toronto. In addition to MCIS’ Free Online Training on Secondary Trauma and Fostering Wellness for Interpreters, this training manual is designed to support a five-day training program about interpreting for survivors of torture, war trauma and sexual violence.

The digital version of Healing Voices is available as a free download. It can be used as a manual to train refugee interpreters, but this book also addresses interpreting for displaced migrants in any part of the world.

This manual was developed by specialists in spoken language interpreting and clinicians. However, the content is also relevant for sign language interpreters and intended for their benefit.

Due to the sensitive content in this manual, including the experiences of torture and war trauma survivors, it is not intended for novice interpreters. Completion of a 40-hour foundation training in community, medical and/or legal interpreting should be considered a minimum requirement.

Healing Voices is divided into the following modules:

Module 1 – Trauma, Recovery and Torture Survivors
Module 2 – Impact on Survivors and Interpreters: Managing Your Own Reactions
Module 3 – Secondary Trauma and Fostering Wellness for Interpreters
Module 4 – Ethics and Standards of Practice in Trauma-informed Interpreting
Module 5 – Addressing Communications Barriers
Module 6 – Cultural Dilemmas
Module 7 – Legal Interpreting for Survivors
Module 8 – Sexual and Domestic Violence
Module 9 – Global Skills Review