Nov 29, 2022
This is PART 2 of a four-part series; an interview of Jennifer Jones.
Continuing in this series, this interview of Jennifer is an emphasis of why this podcast is so important. Refer to the notes of Episode 7 to get the back-story of how this interview came to be…and this podcast for that matter! Jennifer is one of the four people who convinced me that this podcast needs to exist…albeit a long time in coming, as Jennifer so blatantly points out (but all in good fun!)
This interview is an example of many of the principles and techniques used in conducting a trauma-informed interview. Listen for the sensory questions, and how they’re asked…and then pay close attention to the detail that can be accessed by asking the right questions, in the right ways. There are some examples, also, of using explicit memory to bring about activation of implicit memory (i.e.the details of the blanket Jennifer talks about). This interview brought out much emotion, but only so much as Jennifer allowed herself to bring to the surface…Jennifer is in control of the interview. A critical aspect of this interview, and the catalyst to the amount of information Jennifer was willing to share, rests on empathy. It’s always important to remember that empathy is the key to initiating the interview, as well as maintaining the relationship throughout.
I want to thank Jennifer again, here, in this brief narrative. Her strength, bravery, and endurance are commendable, and I want everyone to know how grateful I am to Jennifer for her willingness to tell us about her horrific experience. But there is also much to acknowledge in her survivorship: Jennifer is the Assistant Director of the Shaw Wellness Institute, a "centralized location for health and wellness resources"* at Colgate University; she is in a loving, supportive relationship with her partner, and they are both involved in providing a loving, safe, and cuddly environment for their three foster children. And those are just a few highlights of how impressive Jennifer is with regard to being a strong, enduring survivor.
There are two more interviews being posted over the next two weeks…don’t miss out on this amazing series of powerful and impactful survivors. Please pass on the word to your circle of influence that SASS exists to help bring justice to victims or rape and sexual assault. Tell everyone you know to listen to this podcast—because we all know someone whose life has been affected by rape or sexual assault. And remember: Start by Believing!
*Shaw Wellness Institute, Colgate University, website, 2022.
https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/shaw-wellness-institute