•
Reflecting/Mirroring
•
Responder repeats the last word or phrase, or the main word or phrase, of
the subject’s statement in the form of a question, thereby soliciting more
input without actually asking for it.
It also allows the responder to buy time if they cannot immediately think
of an appropriate emotional label or paraphrase, while still encouraging
the victim to focus on what they have just said.
VICTIM: “What if the guy’s still here? Did they catch him yet? He’s gonna
find me. We have to get out of here or I’m gonna die.”
RESPONDER: “We have to get out?”
VICTIM: “Yeah, the guy might still be around, waiting to attack me.”
RESPONDER: “You think he might still be here, huh?”
Minimal Encouragers
•
These are nothing more than the little conversational speech fillers we all use
to indicate that we’re paying attention to someone during a conversation.
•
In the on-scene crime victim crisis intervention context, these consist of
short utterances and questions that let the victim know that the responder
is listening but that do not interfere with the victim’s narrative flow.
•
Indeed, the purpose is to encourage the victim to keep talking. Examples
include: “Oh?” “I see.” “Yeah.” “Uh-huh.” “When?” “And?” “Really?” “You do?”
“He did?”
Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector
As always, if you are not sure what the victim just said or meant, ask him
to repeat it: “I don’t know if I got all that, Anthony. Could you say it again,
please. I want to make sure I understand exactly what you’re telling me.”
Silence and Pauses
•
Aside from just buying time, silence can be used strategically.
•
For one thing, in a relatively active conversation, your silence encourages
the victim to fill in the gaps, which keeps them talking.
Following a statement by silence is also a way of emphasizing a point
you’ve just made:
RESPONDER: “I know this looks like it’s gotten out of control, but not
everything that starts bad, ends bad. It doesn’t have to end bad [pause].”
You can also use silence to frame the victim’s point or to encourage
elaboration:
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