The United States continues to become linguistically more diverse every year, with currently 21% of the population speaking a language other than English in the home. Multilingualism/bilingualism is often documented as a component of cultural diversity, yet there is limited literature of how this impacts the dynamics of couples and family therapy. Multilingualism/bilingualism can be an enriching experience for couples and families, and it can raise unique dynamics in the therapeutic process. This can be especially challenging for the monolingual clinician who is working within a multilingual system and trying to navigate cultural diversity. Thus, clinicians ought to: (a) be aware of personal assumptions and biases, (b) assume a nonjudgmental/curious stance to multilingualism, and (c) discuss with the couple/family how the use of language impacts their relationship. The purpose of this article is to distinctly identify the unique dynamics of multilingual/bilingual couples and families; implications for couples and family counselors are also discussed.
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