Sample interview questions: How do you support a young client who is dealing with trauma or adverse experiences?
Sample answer:
1. Build a Strong Therapeutic Relationship:
- Establish a safe and supportive environment where your client feels heard, accepted, and understood.
- Convey empathy and genuine care for their well-being.
- Respect their boundaries, autonomy, and confidentiality.
2. Provide Validation and Normalization:
- Acknowledge their experiences and emotions, even if they differ from your own.
- Validate their feelings as “normal” and “understandable” responses to adverse experiences.
- Challenge self-blame and negative self-talk, helping them recognize they are not alone.
3. Cultivate Resilience:
- Help them identify and utilize their strengths, coping mechanisms, and support systems.
- Teach stress management techniques, such as relaxation exercises, mindfulness, or deep breathing.
- Promote self-care practices like healthy diet, exercise, and sufficient sleep.
4. Foster Emotional Expression and Coping Skills:
- Encourage them to express their emotions in healthy ways, such as through art, writing, or talking.
- Teach coping skills to navigate difficult thoughts and feelings, like cognitive-behavioral strategies (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
- Provide opportunities for creative expression, such as drawing, painting, or journaling.
5. Connect Them with Resourc… Read full answer