Changes in The CornerHouse Interview Protocol
Changes in The CornerHouse Interview Protocol
Changes in The CornerHouse Interview Protocol
Winter, 1997
CORNERHOUSE STAFF
Interview, Team Services
and Training Program
Lori Holmes,
Training Specialist
Mary Hunt,
Program Assistant
Debbie Peterson,
Interview Specialist/Trainer
Anne Nuernberg,
Interview Specialist/Trainer
Diane Sharper, Cultural Support
Program Coordinator
Mary Annette Venier,
Program Director
Judy Weigman,
Clinical Supervisor
Physicians
Marjorie Hogan, M.D.
Julie Kummer, M.D.
Jud Reaney, M.D.
Linda Thompson, M.D.
Administration
Theresa Culpert,
Secretary-Receptionist
Carolyn Smith,
Administrative Assistant
Kristi Thomson,
Administrative Supervisor
Joci Tilsen,
Executive Director
indicate to the child that, since people have different names for
body parts, the interviewer would like to know what the child
calls a particular part. Reassurance such as, Whatever you call
it is OK, or, I just want to be sure I call it the same thing you
do, may be included. Only a few body parts other than the
private areas are pointed out for the child to name. For children
over 10, this stage of the process is generally less useful, and
may be skipped altogether depending on the childs needs or
developmental level. However, the interviewer may still use
the drawings as needed to identify or refer to various places on
the body. For older children, the touch inquiry stage may also
be skipped. Instead, the interviewer may ask the child, Do you
know why you came here today?
Using Anatomical Dolls. In order to use the dolls, a child
must be able to make a representational shift. This is a level of
cognitive development usually reached by age 4-5. The
interviewer uses the dolls as a demonstration aid on a case-bycase basis. Dolls are no longer introduced as special, because
perpetrators often tell their victims that they are special."
Instead, the interviewer introduces the dolls as not to play
with, and, to talk about touches.
Inviting Statement to the Perpetrator. One of the earliest
changes made in the protocol was dropping what was referred
to as the retaliation release. Near the end of the interview, the
interviewer would ask the child what s/he would like to say to
the person that the child had indicated was the abuser. This
scenario may have given the appearance of not being objective
on the part of the interviewer, and seemed to be more
appropriate in a therapeutic setting.
Inquiring About an Alternative Hypothesis. Before the
closure stage of the interview, the interviewer routinely asks a
question such as, Has anybody else touched the private areas
on your body or made you touch their private places? This
provides an opportunity for a child to disclose any other
possible perpetrators and indicates that the interview is not
biased toward the initial allegation.