At the End of the Workshop, You Will Be Able To:

1. Define and identify complex needs and how they impact the forensic interview;
2. Assess and mitigate potential biases when working with individuals with complex needs;
3. Differentiate between symptoms and diagnoses to better tailor the interview to each individual’s unique challenges rather than relying on diagnostic labels;
4. Apply strength-based interviewing techniques that build on the interviewee’s existing skills and resilience to foster a supportive and productive interview environment;
5. Tailor your interview to accommodate various impairments (e.g., visual, hearing, verbal) and behavioral challenges (e.g., sexualized or disruptive behavior) to ensure an inclusive and effective interview process;
6. Adapt interviewing strategies to effectively interact with individuals with developmental delays, attention deficits, social deficits, and social anxiety to enhance communication and information gathering;
7. Respond to and manage emotional and psychological challenges (e.g., psychosis, confusion) during interviews, using empathetic and responsive communication techniques.