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Yes, Your Intake Form Might Be Retraumatizing: A Breakdown



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Let’s rethink that checklist that demands “Describe your trauma in 3 lines or less.”


If your law firm or legal agency still asks people to “describe their trauma” on the first page of your intake form... we need to talk.


It’s not that you don’t care.

It’s not that you’re trying to be cold.


It’s that the system trained you to prioritize efficiency over empathy.

But in trauma-informed practice, those two things don’t have to be enemies.

You can collect what you need without causing harm.


Let’s break it down.


🚩 The Problem with Traditional Intake Forms


You’ve seen these before:


  • “What happened to you? (Briefly explain in 2–3 lines)”

  • “Describe your assault”

  • “What is your immigration trauma history?”

  • “How has this incident impacted your life?”


The intent is usually good: streamline intake, assess case eligibility, get to the facts.

But the impact?


For a survivor of trauma—especially abuse, violence, or systemic oppression—this feels like:


  • Being asked to commodify their pain

  • Being reduced to a story summary

  • Being told “we only have space for your pain if you can make it tidy”


And if you think they won’t notice that... you’re wrong.


🧠 How This Causes Harm


When someone has survived something overwhelming, their brain and body aren’t wired for efficient storytelling. They're wired for protection.


That means:

  • They may freeze when faced with a blank box

  • They may shut down from shame or fear

  • They may give you an inaccurate or surface-level summary

  • Or worse—they may decide not to continue the process at all


You don’t build trust by asking someone to summarize their pain before you’ve earned the right to hold it.


🔄 What to Do Instead


You still need information. That’s fair. But how and when you ask for it matters.


Here’s how to shift your intake process without losing clarity:


✅ 1. Replace the “Tell Us Everything” Box with Trust-Building Prompts


Instead of:

“Briefly describe your trauma. Try: "Is there anything you’d like to share now? You’ll have space to tell your story when you’re ready.”

✅ 2. Break It Into Sections


Don’t ask for their full timeline on Page 1. Use layered forms or structured calls to gather information gradually.


✅ 3. Offer a Trauma-Informed Alternative

“We understand it can be difficult to write about personal experiences. If you’d prefer to share this with someone over the phone or during a meeting, just let us know.”

This one line? It tells your client: You see them. You don’t expect emotional labor on demand. And that makes you more trustworthy than any checkbox ever could.


🧭 Ask Yourself:


Before you hit “send” on your next intake form or launch that client portal… ask:


  • Is this question necessary at this stage?

  • Are we giving them agency in how and when they share?

  • Are we asking this because it helps them—or just because it helps us?


If your form feels like a test, people will either shut down—or ghost you.


🔚 Final Thought


Your intake form is your first impression. It can either reinforce harm, or start the healing.


You don’t need to turn your form into therapy. You just need to remember: every question carries weight. Ask like someone who deserves the answer.


👉 Ready to make your firm’s intake process trauma-informed? Download our free communication guide or enroll in our full course: Justice with Compassion. Your clients—and your outcomes—deserve better.


 
 
 

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