An introduction to trauma-informed interviewing principles and how they shape the intake of harassment complaints.
Trauma-Informed Interviewing Foundations
An introduction to trauma-informed interviewing principles and how they shape the intake of harassment complaints.

Trauma-Informed Interviewing Foundations

A trauma-informed approach centers safety, dignity, and autonomy. In interviewing harassment complaints, you apply five guiding principles: safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. These principles help reduce re-traumatization and support meaningful disclosure.

Applied to intake, these principles shape how information is requested, how support is offered, and how decisions are documented. The interviewer remains curious, non-judgmental, and explicit about confidentiality boundaries within legal and organizational limits.

  • Safety: Prioritize physical and psychological safety during the conversation.
  • Trust: Build predictability, consistency, and respectful communication.
  • Choice: Respect options for sharing details and setting boundaries.
  • Collaboration: Engage the complainant as a partner in the process.
  • Empowerment: Validate agency and control over the disclosure.