Student Documentary Project - You can make history.

Tips for dealing with an emotional interview:

* Have water and tissue accessible incase the veteran becomes
emotional.

Q: What do you do when the interview topic or one of the
interviewee's recollections leads to crying or other expressions
of deep emotion?

A: There is no right answer about how to respond, beyond taking
cues from the interviewee's reaction. Do not think that this
result indicates a mistake on your part. In many cases, it means
that you have done a good job of establishing rapport and the
kind of interpersonal situation that can bring forth these
recollections. However, it can sometimes be hard to "bring back"
veterans who begin crying during interviews. For some
individuals, this may represent a potential "loss of face." In
some cases, though, you may want to step away conversationally
from the interview for a few moments and talk about the power of
these experiences and of storytelling. This may also enable the
interviewee to put his or her face "back on." Never record
someone without his or her knowledge. If they ask you to stop
recording so they may collect themselves, do so by pressing the
pause button and gently ease back in to more neutral topics
verbally acknowledging when you begin recording again.

Q: How do you draw someone out who is reluctant to speak? How do
you draw people back on track when they wander or leave the
first person?

A: Here, too, there is no right answer except to take your cues
from the interviewee. Sometimes when a person says, "I don't
have anything to say," they are really saying, "I don't want to
talk about this," or "I've decided not to be interviewed." Be
respectful of that sentiment, but also offer that every person
involved in the war had an important role, and we want all those
stories.

The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder provides
information on the effects of trauma, types of trauma and
diagnosis and treatment of PTSD. For more information and
resources please visit http://www.ncptsd.va.gov or call the
Information Line at (802) 296-6300.