Table 1.

Summary of Professional Screening Practices That Support Disclosure of Abuse

Build rapport through active listening and empathetic reflection. Ensure that any disclosure of abuse is confidential. Explain the reasons why disclosure would be beneficial. Ask clients directly about abuse. Define abuse broadly, with physical, sexual, and emotional components. Use both open-ended probes and behaviorally anchored questions. Avoid questions that force a woman to identify with a stigmatized status. Provide multiple opportunities for disclosure within interviews and over time.