CASE STUDY Using a client’s personal support strategies to assist with complex trauma


A young woman with a background of complex trauma was highly motivated to tell her story in her first police interview while being highly anxious and likely to dissociate as she recounted details of abuse.


With her social worker, she prepared calming items to take to a formal police interview, which included lollies, soft drink, sensory toys and photos of her pet.


The Communication Partner and the Interviewing Officer built rapport by talking about the client’s interests, sharing commonalities about pets, and discussing strategies that would make the interview easier for her. The client asked the Communication


Partner to rub her back during prolonged silence, distress or when she had trouble breathing calmly. The longest silences were up to two minutes and the client breathed through her anxiety.


With demonstrated patience during these long pauses, the client was able to gather herself and answer clearly. The willingness of the Investigating Police Officer to go slowly, demonstrate calm and patience in her body language, and allow the client to utilise her self- regulating strategies, were the keys in eliciting a clear evidential narrative.


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