The study underlying this volume started in 1998. Its subject was working with interpreters during psychotherapeutic conversations. During the study, a conceptual map was made to obtain a better view on the factors which play a role in psychotherapeutic conversations mediated by an interpreter. During the study, many of those conversations have been videotaped to relate the results of the conceptual map to the practice. This report contains a description of the study and answers three questions: 1) does an interpreter need specific knowledge and competencies to work within the framework of mental health, 2) how can one detect those special competencies, and 3) which parts of this study can be used to do more research in the somatic field with the objective to determine the knowledge and competencies needed? [Source: K. Foelen]