When conducting interviews about traumatic subjects, it comes as no surprise that there will be many emotions present, from both the interviewee and the interviewer. This module focuses on emotional well-being throughout these interviews – by gaining these skills, you will be able to empathetically connect with the interviewee and ensure that your interview doesn’t harm the interviewee further.
In Module 2, you will:
- Recognise symptoms of emotional irregularity/imbalance that occur during an interview
- Discover and practice techniques to deal with possible distress or discomfort and keep it to a manageable level during the interview
- Understand how to present these techniques to the interviewee in an empathetic way
Main Takeaways:
- There might be moments in the interview when someone (the interviewer, the interviewee, or the interpreter) shows signs or symptoms of distress or discomfort. This indicates that the person is outside of their so-called ‘window of tolerance’ and might need help with regulating or balancing their emotions.
- Grounding, the butterfly hug, and intentional breathing are three of many strategies an interviewer can use to help balance the emotions of those who show signs of distress or discomfort during an interview. These strategies are crucial to ensure that all those involved in the interview leave the room feeling as emotionally balanced as possible.
- It is important to always adapt strategies to the person experiencing distress or discomfort and to create a safe space, by taking steps to protect everyone’s wellbeing and cause no harm.
Before moving on to the quiz, please check out the additional resources provided under the “Materials” tab above.
Strongly Recommended:
- Factsheet: "Interviewer and Interviewee Well-Being"
- Video clip: "What is the Window of Tolerance?", Resileo
Additional Resources:
- Worksheet: "Grounding: Create Personal Calm"