Option 1: Victim-Centered Trauma-Informed Interviewing

Duration: One Day

This victim-specific course is ideal for detectives, investigators, assistant district attorneys, child protective services professionals, and police officers who want to focus on supporting survivors and minimizing re-traumatization. Built on evidence-based methodologies, this training refines your ability to gather critical details while safeguarding emotional well-being and establishing deep rapport.

 

What You’ll Learn

• Safeguard Emotional Well-Being: Structure interviews so victims feel protected, respected, and empowered, reducing the risk of re-traumatization.

• Extract Critical, Accurate Details: Employ a collaborative approach and open-ended, empathetic questioning to strengthen case-building and procedural fairness.

• Build Trust and Rapport in High-Stakes Situations: Master practical techniques to foster psychological safety, enabling survivors to share sensitive information with confidence.

• Recognize Neurobiological Responses: Understand how trauma affects memory, emotional regulation, and recall to accommodate potential non-linear or fragmented accounts.

 

Real-World Applications

• Criminal Investigations: Gather nuanced, accurate statements from trauma survivors while ensuring a thorough, ethically sound process.

• Child Protective Services & Vulnerable Populations: Interview children and other vulnerable groups who may have experienced complex trauma, using age-appropriate, compassionate strategies.

• Legal Preparation: Enhance victim comfort and credibility during depositions or court appearances by utilizing survivor-centered communication skills.

 

Key Topics Included

• Legal Considerations in Trauma-Informed Interviewing

• Principles of Trauma-Informed Interviewing

• Understanding Trauma and its Effects on Victims

• The Interview Environment

• Building Rapport with Trauma Survivors

• Teach to Talk™

• Focus Note-Taking Method

• Questioning Techniques in Trauma-Informed Interviews

• Cultural and Individual Considerations in Trauma Interviews

• Obtaining Accurate Written Statements

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Option 2: Comprehensive Trauma-Informed Interviewing

Duration: Two Day

This comprehensive course expands on victim-focused techniques to also address witnesses and suspects, recognizing that anyone involved in an investigation may have a trauma history. Perfect for professionals seeking a broader skill set, this training ensures that each interview is conducted ethically, with empathy for all participants, regardless of their role.

 

What You’ll Learn

• Adaptive Interviewing Across Roles: Apply trauma-informed methods that account for potential fear, stress, or past trauma in victims, witnesses, and suspects.

• Enhanced Cooperation & Accuracy: Cultivate trust and reduce defensiveness or misinformation by avoiding coercive tactics and re-traumatization.

• Strategic Use of Evidence (SUE) in a Trauma-Informed Context: Present or withhold evidence while respecting the interviewee’s emotional well-being.

• Cultural Responsiveness: Use culturally humble approaches to promote equitable treatment for all interview participants.

• Self-Care & Vicarious Trauma Prevention: Recognize signs of burnout or secondary trauma in yourself and your team, implementing grounding techniques and organizational support.

 

Real-World Applications

• Broad Scope Investigations: Adapt to high-stakes scenarios involving multiple interviewee categories: victims, witnesses, and suspects.

• Witness Cooperation: Encourage accurate disclosures while minimizing the impact of stress or fear, especially for witnesses who may have witnessed severe violence.

• Suspect Interviews: Employ a respectful, empathetic approach that can foster more open communication, avoid unnecessary confrontation, and strengthen case integrity.

 

Key Topics Included

• Legal Considerations in Trauma-Informed Interviewing

• Principles of Trauma-Informed Interviewing

• Understanding Trauma and its Effects on Victims

• The Interview Environment

• Building Rapport with Trauma Survivors

• Teach to Talk™

• Focus Note-Taking Method

• Questioning Techniques in Trauma-Informed Interviews

• Cultural and Individual Considerations in Trauma Interviews

• Obtaining Accurate Written Statements

• Interviewing Child and Adolescent Trauma Survivors

• Working with Special Populations

• Interviewer Self-Care and Secondary Trauma Awareness

• Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration in Trauma-Informed Investigations

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Elevating Trauma-Informed Interviewing Skills

This course empowers participants with cutting-edge, evidence-based techniques to elicit accurate, trustworthy information, even when navigating sensitive or painful disclosures. By emphasizing compassion, awareness, and trust, participants will enhance the depth and reliability of the information they gather. Key takeaways include:

• Safeguard Emotional Well-Being: Learn how to structure interviews so that trauma survivors feel protected, respected, and empowered, reducing the risk of re-traumatization.

• Extract Critical, Accurate Details: Adopt a collaborative approach and use open-ended, empathetic questioning that leads to better recall and more detailed narratives, vital for building strong cases and ensuring procedural fairness.

• Build Trust and Rapport in High-Stakes Situations: Master practical techniques to foster psychological safety and reassurance, enabling survivors and witnesses to share sensitive information with greater confidence.

 

This course seamlessly integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on training, preparing participants to excel in criminal investigations, witness interviews, and legal proceedings. By mastering these crucial trauma-informed interviewing skills, participants will reinforce the integrity of their investigations, support survivor well-being, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in every case they handle.

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Real-World Applications Across Crucial Scenarios

Participants will acquire essential trauma-informed tools and techniques applicable to:

• Criminal Investigations: Learn to gather nuanced, accurate statements from individuals who have encountered trauma. Identify potential inconsistencies without undermining psychological safety, ensuring a thorough, ethically sound investigative process.

• Child Protective Services & Vulnerable Populations: Master strategies for interviewing children and other vulnerable individuals who may have experienced complex trauma. Employ sensitive techniques designed to encourage truthful disclosures while minimizing emotional distress.

• Legal Preparation: Gain skills to prepare victims and witnesses for depositions or courtroom appearances, enhancing their comfort and credibility. These approaches also help prosecutors and investigators conduct subsequent interviews with greater respect and clarity.

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Research-Based Techniques for Reliable Results

What sets this course apart is its integration of the latest trauma-informed research and evidence-based best practices. Participants will learn to:

• Leverage Neurobiological Insights: Understand how trauma affects memory formation, emotional regulation, and recall. Use this knowledge to structure interviews that accommodate non-linear or fragmented accounts, ultimately yielding more accurate information.

• Practice Cultural Humility and Intersectionality: Recognize how identities related to race, gender, sexuality, culture, and socio-economic status intersect with trauma. Apply culturally responsive strategies to ensure equitable and respectful treatment of all interview participants.

• Prevent Coercion and Misinformation: Avoid interview methods that could inadvertently pressure or mislead interviewees. Employ grounding techniques and pacing strategies that maintain the survivor’s sense of safety and control.

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Interactive, Hands-On Learning

Both of these courses go beyond traditional lectures, offering an immersive and engaging experience that prepares participants for the complexities of real-world investigations. With practical exercises and scenario-based training, participants leave equipped to excel in high-stakes situations, whether they are supporting crime survivors or engaging with reluctant witnesses or suspects.

 

Transform Your Investigative Approach with Game-Changing Interview Techniques

These courses set a new benchmark for trauma-informed interviews, blending empathy, ethics, and advanced methodology to achieve deeper, more accurate insights. Uncover critical details that can shape a case or influence critical decisions, while building trust and safeguarding the emotional health of all parties. For professionals dealing with high-stakes investigations, this training ensures that no detail is overlooked and no voice goes unheard.

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The ASC Commitment to Excellence

At ASC, we believe in delivering training that produces genuine, measurable results. Our research-driven, evidence-based approach transcends theoretical knowledge to provide practical, real-world techniques. By focusing on proven methodologies and cutting-edge trauma-informed research, we empower participants to excel in critical, often sensitive investigations.

 

Why Choose ASC’s Trauma-Informed Trainings?

• Evidence-Based Practices: Our methodologies are grounded in the latest trauma research and validated in the field, ensuring that your new skills translate seamlessly into real investigative contexts.

• Holistic Approach: From victim-specific to comprehensive strategies, ASC’s trainings equip you to handle a diverse range of cases with empathy, professionalism, and precision.

• Immediate Practical Application: Real-world case scenarios, interactive role-plays, and ongoing support ensure that participants can implement new techniques right away.

• Ethical, High-Impact Results: By integrating compassion, awareness, and advanced investigative techniques, these courses enhance both the emotional welfare of interviewees and the reliability of the information gathered.