
Rapport: It’s Not Just a Phase!
Course Description
Although there are multiple nationally recognized forensic interviewing models in use, the importance of building and maintaining rapport is emphasized in each process. While these models all implement steps or phases labeled as “rapport,” what does it really mean to build rapport with each individual child? This session will discuss research-based and best-practice informed steps to establishing rapport. We will also discuss how interviewers can recognize when they’ve built rapport, when they need to spend more time building rapport, or when they’ve lost rapport and need to get it back at any point throughout the interview. The session will emphasize the importance of building, maintaining, and sometimes rebuilding rapport throughout your interaction with the child witness.
Learning Objectives
1. Review and discuss applicable research and best-practices regarding rapport and narrative event practice in all nationally recognized forensic interview models.
2. Participants will learn how to blend the science (research and protocol structure) with their own interviewing art (conversation style, body language cues, etc.) to tailor the rapport building process to the individual child in front of them.
3. Participants will be encouraged to think more critically about what rapport means, and how to successfully build it. We will also discuss how to recognize when you’ve lost rapport, and strategies to rebuild it.
2. Participants will learn how to blend the science (research and protocol structure) with their own interviewing art (conversation style, body language cues, etc.) to tailor the rapport building process to the individual child in front of them.
3. Participants will be encouraged to think more critically about what rapport means, and how to successfully build it. We will also discuss how to recognize when you’ve lost rapport, and strategies to rebuild it.
Please check out the upcoming training calendar to view upcoming training sessions for individuals, or choose request training to bring a session to your organization.