Listening

- Listen carefully.
- Let them do the talking. Don't offer opinions unless they are specifically asked for.
- Acknowledge feelings as normal.
- Be sensitive to individual circumstances, and different points of view.
- Do not judge.
- Be supportive.
- Reassure the person that they are safe with you.
- Don't respond with "you're lucky it wasn't worse." Instead, say that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and help.
- Don't take emotional responses like anger personally.
- Respect an individual's need for privacy. If someone doesn't want to talk about the incident or their feelings, don't insist.
- Try to understand how they feel, not how you would feel in their place. Everyone reacts differently to an event.
- Respect the person's strength as well as their weakness.
- Understand that it is an honor to have this person open up to you. Therefore honor the trust that the person is placing in you.


Reaching Out At Work

- Organize support groups at work to help one another
- Offer a "listening ear" to someone who hasn't asked for help but may need it.
- Give encouragement, support and understanding with on-the-job issues.
- Identify resources for additional help (EAP, mental health benefit, human resources department).


Helping Family and Friends

- Offer to spend time with the traumatized person. Reassure them that they are safe now.
- Offer help with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family.
- Respect their need for privacy and time alone.
- Suggest available help (community resources, church groups, etc.)
- Keep communication open -- be available and accessible.