Trauma narrative preparation

It is not a narrative worksheet and should not be used to collect a child’s account of traumatic events. Keep actual narrative material within your established clinical and confidentiality procedures. Preparation and pacing require individualized assessment and consultation when indicated.

Establish the working agreement

Plan how to explain the purpose of narrative work in developmentally appropriate language. Invite the child’s questions and choices about format. Clarify privacy, the limits of confidentiality, and how any later sharing with a caregiver will be prepared. Avoid promising absolute secrecy or surprise disclosure.

Questions to address and choices to offer:

Plan support and pacing

Review current safety, functioning, available coping skills, and the child’s ability to communicate distress. Identify a check-in method, a pause signal, and how you will respond to overwhelming distress or disengagement. Plan time to reorient and finish the appointment with support. Do not require complete absence of distress before beginning; determine pacing clinically.

Prepare the caregiver separately

Assess the caregiver’s capacity to listen supportively and manage their own reactions. Rehearse a response that communicates belief, care, and freedom from blame. Address questions or reactions that could burden the child before a shared meeting.

Review the next step

Identify the next therapist-guided task and what will remain in session. Home support can reinforce learned skills without pressing for details. Record questions for supervision and a review point. This sheet intentionally provides no space for personal trauma details.