How does trauma-informed interviewing differ from traditional interviewing when dealing with victims?

• A. Focus on speed
• B. Emphasizes safety, choice, collaboration, trust; minimizes re-traumatization; uses open-ended questions
• C. Emphasizes interrogation tactics
• D. Requires no consent

Answer: (B)

A trauma-informed approach to interviewing focuses on safety, choice, collaboration, and trust, with the goal of minimizing re-traumatization while gathering information. This means creating a respectful space where the victim feels in control of what they share and the pace of the conversation. The interviewer recognizes how trauma can affect memory, fear, and disclosure, so they prioritize open-ended questions that let the person describe their experience in their own words rather than guiding or pressuring them toward specific details. This approach also emphasizes consent, voluntary participation, and the option to pause or stop at any time, as well as offering breaks and providing a sense of control throughout the interview.

This differs from approaches that chase speed or rely on aggressive interrogation tactics, which can heighten fear and lead to distorted or incomplete disclosures and re-traumatization. It also rejects the notion of forcing information without regard to the victim’s comfort or consent. By focusing on safety and empowerment and using non-leading, open-ended questions, the trauma-informed method aims to obtain more accurate information while protecting the victim’s well-being.