In preparation for the fieldwork, the Data Justa research team organized a workshop to strengthen the skills needed to handle critical situations involving the emotional impact that may arise during interviews with people who work with victims.
The workshop, led by psychologists Daniela Zúñiga (UACh), Alejandra Vega (UDA) and Elizabeth Lira (UAH), focused on psychological first aid (PFA), sharing the knowledge and experiences of mental health professionals. The aim was to emphasize that PFA should be part of every researcher’s toolkit to provide emotional support and containment in critical situations—whether for interviewees or interviewers. Although this study does not plan to interview victims directly, multiple studies have confirmed the risk of vicarious traumatization among professionals. This risk must be addressed from an ethical standpoint to ensure the necessary care and protect the well-being of everyone involved.
The workshop began by introducing key concepts such as trauma, traumatization, retraumatization, secondary traumatization, and vicarious traumatization, with a particular focus on victimization and revictimization. Group exercises were carried out to analyze real-life experiences, identifying moments of crying and emotional distress—among other expressions—as critical situations that may arise during interviews. As Elizabeth Lira explained, “When a painful experience is relived, a person may go into crisis, even if the trigger doesn’t seem serious from the outside. That’s why the ethical question isn’t just whether we should continue the interview, but how we can accompany the person in a respectful and responsible way”.
Concrete signs of emotional crisis—such as crying, silence, anger, irritability, or disorientation—were identified. Participants also shared practical strategies to manage these situations: pausing the interview, avoiding judgments or personal opinions, respecting the emotional process, and giving the person enough time to recover.
Alejandra Vega spoke about the origins of the concept of “victim” and its symbolic implications. She emphasized that ethical safeguards in these contexts involve protecting individuals and their rights, avoiding the need for them to repeat their stories, and, even when suffering is inevitable, ensuring a framework of attentive listening, protection, and support—one that does not harm the person and allows them to reframe their experience. The importance of informed consent was also highlighted. This requires a clear explanation of the project and its objectives, helping participants understand the purpose and scope of the interview.
The workshop concluded with a reminder not to overlook the well-being of the research team itself: to set boundaries, acknowledge one’s own emotions, and create spaces for mutual support. As Daniela Zúñiga noted, “Providing emotional support also means knowing our own limits and understanding how to care for our own mental health.””.
This training space not only reinforced existing knowledge, but also created an opportunity to share concerns and collectively reflect on the approach to fieldwork—ensuring its ethical foundations, the necessary care for participants, and the quality of interpersonal relationships in sensitive contexts. In the words of one team member: “What we learned here stays with us not only during the interview, but also in how we understand the commitment we take on when we do research.”.