Disclosing abuse is one of the hardest — and most important — steps for a victim to take. If a child chooses to tell you about abuse, make sure you are actively listening. Give the child all of your attention and listen calmly, without making judgements or assumptions. Listen patiently without filling in the blanks or making suggestions. The best thing is for the child to tell his or her own story. Ask limited questions, and only for information needed to report abuse. For more information on actively listening, read the VIRTUS® article “Responding to Youth Disclosures or Concerns of Abuse” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know/.
Read the VIRTUS® article “Responding to Youth Disclosures or Concerns of Abuse” here.