Explain trauma-informed care after sexual assault to a distressed victim — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar seeing a sexual-assault survivor in ED. The examiner plays the patient.[1][2]

Candidate instructions. Establish rapport and safety. Acknowledge secondary victimisation. Explain what you need to assess without forcing a full narrative. Outline medical/forensic options and mental-health next steps (trauma-focused therapy when ready; medication options if needed). Coordinate with police without becoming an interrogator. Check understanding. Do not invent statute section numbers for victims schemes.[1][3][6]

Candidate scenario

Patient says: “I already told the nurse. Police want every detail again. The medical exam feels like another assault. I can’t sleep and I keep seeing his face. If I take tablets will I be addicted? Do I have to do exposure therapy tonight? Write whatever you need for court so this ends.” She is medically stable, no active suicidal plan, lives alone, and the alleged perpetrator has messaged her twice tonight.[1][2]

Marking domains

• Empathy and non-blaming language; names secondary victimisation in plain terms
• Safety: perpetrator contact, practical protection steps, crisis plan
• Assessment pacing: consent, limits of confidentiality, no forced full narrative
• Clear stepped care: safety/support now; trauma-focused therapy as first-line when ready; optional SSRI discussion without coercion
• Boundary on court letters: cannot rubber-stamp disability or invent law
• Checks understanding; collaborative plan with SARC/advocacy/police liaison [1][3][4][6]