Guidelines for empathetic listening, validating the account, and providing emotional suppo
To ensure you can receive disclosures with calm, active, nonjudgmental listening, enroll in our practical training for recognizing and responding to child abuse and build the skills to remain composed and supportive during disclosures.
The Adult’s Attitude and Active, Nonjudgmental Listening
Receiving an account of child sexual abuse requires the professional or caregiver to maintain a stance of absolute calm and composure.
It is essential to control reactions such as alarm, shock, crying, or overreaction, as any display of distress or excessive emotion may cause the child to withdraw, feel guilty, or fear that they have caused a bigger problem.
Listening should be active, respectful, and uninterrupted, allowing the child to express what happened spontaneously without pressuring them for unnecessary details.
It is essential to be at the same physical level, to ensure the privacy of the space, and to maintain a receptive demeanor that conveys a sense of security.
Furthermore, it is a priority to avoid questioning or probing questions that cast doubt on the truthfulness of their words or imply any responsibility.
The adult should focus on receiving the disclosure with calm, emotionally neutral acceptance, ensuring a safe environment where the victim feels that their voice is being heard with the utmost seriousness and without moral judgments or interruptions.
Validating the Account and Managing Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Validating the account means explicitly believing the child’s word and clearly conveying to them that they bear no blame whatsoever for the events they experienced.
It is essential to reaffirm that responsibility lies solely with the perpetrator.
Throughout the process, verbal language should be simple, clear, and direct, avoiding complex expressions, euphemisms, or false promises that cannot be kept, as these could create false expectations or mistrust.
Regarding the recording of information, it is recommended to transcribe the child’s words verbatim, respecting their own terminology and idioms, without altering their speech or prom pting responses.
On a nonverbal level, it is crucial to maintain warm but non-intimidating eye contact, a relaxed body posture, and gestures of agreement that reflect empathy and support.
Consistency between the spoken message and body language reinforces a sense of protection, showing the child that they have acted correctly and courageously by breaking the silence in the face of violence.
Emotional Support and Protection Against Revictimization
Emotional support focuses on acknowledging and normalizing the child’s feelings of fear, shame, confusion, or anger.
It is vital to assure the child that the necessary measures will be taken to ensure their protection, supporting them at all times without overprotecting them or treating them in a stigmatizing manner.
To prevent revictimization, the adult should not ask the student to repeat their account or subject them to interrogations or confrontations with the perpetrator.
The information gathered must be handled with strict confidentiality and discretion within the school, and the case must be immediately referred to the authorities or specialized services t
guidelines for empathetic listening validating the account and providing emotional support