Package Description

With Cecily Peeples Rodriguez, Margie Bruce-Miguel, and Freshta Taeb

Continuing Education Approvals: CCHI 7.0 instructional hours Program ID 10808 | 0.35 IMIA/NBCMI CEUs Education Registry ID 25-1089 | RID 0.8 CEUs

Day One: Participants will delve into new research in mental health interpretation, focusing on the study by Cecily Peeples and Andrea Briceno titled Emotional Labor of Providers and Interpreters and Assumptions on the Psychological Costs of Clients in Virginia’s Behavioral Healthcare System. Additional topics include an overview of the behavioral health field and trauma-informed care, equipping participants with a thorough understanding of these critical areas.

Day Two: The second day will address ethical dilemmas faced by interpreters of indigenous languages. Facilitators will provide an overview of the Behavioral Health Interpretation (BHI) curriculum developed by Eva Stitt in collaboration with Virginia Tech, which encompasses topics such as psychological and psychiatric evaluation and treatment, mental health disorders, and their management. The course will conclude with a focus group dedicated to revising and enhancing the BHI curriculum.

Program Goal(s) and Learning Objectives

1. To enhance participants' understanding of behavioral health terminology and practices.

2. To cultivate skills in handling sensitive topics and emotions during interpretations.

3. To explore ethical considerations and confidentiality in behavioral health settings.

4. To provide strategies for de-escalating stressful situations and fostering effective communication.

Facilitators

Cecily Peeples Rodriguez

Cecily Peeples Rodriguez is a researcher and advocate for language access. She currently serves as Associate Director for Research and Organizational Innovation at the Institute for Policy and Governance (IPG) at Virginia Tech. Her master’s degree in public administration has equipped her with a strong public policy and management foundation. Additionally, Cecily is a Certified Diversity Executive, reflecting her commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity in all aspects of governance.

Her research focuses on language policy and its critical role in promoting social equity, with particular attention to the needs of immigrant and non-English-speaking communities.

She is also a member of the National Network for the Elimination of Disparities in Behavioral Health, where she works to address systemic barriers that affect access to mental health services for diverse populations.

Margie Bruce-Miguel

Margie Bruce-Miguel is a Level II Interpreter for Fairfax County Public Schools, the sixth-largest school district in the United States. Trained by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) as a Bilingual Staff Interpreter and a Behavioral Health Interpreter Trainer 3, she plays a vital role in facilitating communication among parents, educators, psychologists, and students with emotional disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other challenges during Individualized Education Program (IEP) conferences, as mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

Margie finds great satisfaction in her work, helping families and individuals from diverse backgrounds. She holds a bachelor’s degree in design from Universidad Autónoma del Caribe in Colombia.

Freshta Taeb

Freshta currently leads the Refugee Interventionists Program at Cornerstone Family and Marriage Intervention. She spearheads intervention sessions that incorporate, but are not limited to, clients with PTSD, anger management, and domestic violence. She oversees a team that implements emotional wellness workshops for refugee teens and adults.

She is also the Managing Director of FT Translation Services. She has acquired extensive translation experience through continual collaboration with renowned media outlets such as Al Jazeera America and The New York Times. This year she has started to teach Behavioral Health Interpretation courses to various groups including mental health providers in NOVA and hosts an Afghan TV show that discusses community issues such as civic engagement.

This live webinar took place over 2 separate days, June 12 and 17, 2025.

Register to view this webinar recording by clicking here. 

NCIHC Members: FREE

Non-NCIHC Members:  $60.00  Become an NCIHC Member today!