The Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) is designed to account for trauma's impact on memory and communication, thereby

• A. Presenting only the facts without any emotional content.
• B. Facilitating a more effective and empathetic interview process.
• C. Eliminating all confusion during testimony.
• D. Reducing the duration of the interview.

Answer: (B)

Trauma affects how memory is stored and how people communicate, so an interview approach needs to be attentive to those effects. The Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) is built around that idea, using a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes safety, rapport, and flexible pacing. By allowing grounding techniques, breaks, and prompts that let the person describe events in their own words without pressure or leading questions, FETI helps the interviewee recall more details more accurately and share them with less distress. This combination—supportive, patient, and non-coercive—naturally leads to a more effective and empathetic interview process.

The other options miss the mark because trauma-focused interviewing isn’t about stripping away emotion or forcing a perfectly clean narrative, nor is it about eliminating confusion entirely or shortening the conversation. The goal is to accommodate memory and communication under distress, not eradication of all emotion or speed.