TECHNIQUE #4 Supportive Containment o has been severely traumatized o is under the influence of drugs or alcohol o is in the suffering of a psychotic episode However, you should think more in terms of supportive containment than restraint per se. Use the minimum amount of force and restraint necessary, for example, wrapping the distressed victim in a blanket as opposed to pinning his arms. Remember that if the subject is not actually being arrested, physical restraint should be used only as a last resort, and only in the interest of the subject’s own safety and of those around him. ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS Active listening techniques comprise the fundamental skill set for any kind of crisis intervention. They are multipurpose communication tools that can be effectively applied to a variety of both emergency and routine clinical and law enforcement settings, and they have reached perhaps their greatest degree of refinement and sophistication in the field of hostage negotiation, where life and death can literally hinge on the tone of a voice or the turn of a phrase. Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector For a victim’s own protection or the protection of others, sometimes you may have to physically restrain a victim who: These techniques are useful for on-scene crisis intervention with crime victims, as well as for phone interventions and in-office contacts with distressed and distraught clients. Emotion Labeling • It helps the subject clarify what they are feeling. It contributes to a state of calmness by reducing internal confusion. • Sometimes, just giving an intense feeling a name shows that the emotion is understood and that the subject is less out of control than they might have thought. • Also, by focusing on the crime victim’s emotions, you allow a break from discussing frightening events and fears about the future, and at the same time you let the victim know you are interested in how they feel about things, not just what kind of information you may want from them about the crime. • The important thing is to demonstrate to the victim that you are tuned in, that they have your undivided attention, either by an “um-hmm”-type interjection or by encouraging them to go on. 50