Audio Based Learning
Text Based Learning
Tip #1: Prioritise Emotional Regulation
Encourage clients to regulate their nervous system to improve their ability to process and communicate vital information.
Emotional distress can cloud judgment, making it harder to communicate effectively.
A dysregulated nervous system affects memory retention, which is crucial for legal and safeguarding discussions.
Children are highly receptive to a parent’s emotional state—co-regulation helps strengthen emotional resilience.
Supporting clients with regulation techniques ensures they remain clear-headed when engaging with professionals.
Tip #2: Avoid Name-Calling
Help clients understand the risks of labelling their perpetrator with psychological terms like "narcissist" or "psychopath."
Without a clinical diagnosis, these terms are legally meaningless and can harm credibility.
Perpetrators may use mental health arguments to minimise accountability, clinical labels reinforce this defence.
Emotional outbursts coupled with name-calling can play into the perpetrator's narrative, making the victim appear unstable.
Encourage clients to use legally factual language such as "coercive control" or "stalking" instead of psychological labels.
Clients should also avoid positioning themselves as mentally disordered, as this may impact how professionals perceive their reliability.
Tip #3: Establish Clear Communication Boundaries
Post-separation, clients must set firm communication rules to protect their safety.
If no children are involved, all contact is advised to cease immediately.
When children are involved, professional guidance is essential to assess risks and establish court-approved boundaries.
Clients should communicate these boundaries in writing (email, text, or solicitor’s letter) to avoid ambiguity.
If unwanted contact continues, advise the client to send one final message reiterating that the behavior is unwanted.
Two or more incidents of continued contact constitute stalking, which can then be reported to the police.
Tip #4: Document & Record Ongoing Behaviors
Thorough documentation is key to building a strong case and assessing ongoing risk.
Clients should record every incident, noting dates, summaries of events, and any police reports with crime reference numbers.
A structured incident log helps prevent confusion and ensures clarity in statements to law enforcement or the courts.
A downloadable incident recording template is available to assist clients in keeping detailed and organised records.
Download your free incident recording template below to help your clients accurately document ongoing behaviors.