Question
You're a school counselor, and 11-year-old Mia has just confided in you that her stepfather has been physically abusing her. You know you must report this information immediately. After ensuring Mia's immediate safety, which of the following responses would be most appropriate to support Mia?
"Thank you for telling me, Mia. It's not your fault, and you did the right thing by speaking up. I believe you, and I'm going to take action to get you the help you need."
"Mia, I'm so sorry this happened. Let's keep this between us for now, and I'll figure out how to help you."
"Oh no, Mia! We need to call your mom right away and tell her everything."
*Are you sure about this, Mia? Sometimes kids misunderstand things. Maybe your stepfather was just playing rough.*
"Thank you for telling me, Mia. It's not your fault, and you did the right thing by speaking up. I believe you, and I'm going to take action to get you the help you need."
"Mia, I'm so sorry this happened. Let's keep this between us for now, and I'll figure out how to help you."
"Oh no, Mia! We need to call your mom right away and tell her everything."
*Are you sure about this, Mia? Sometimes kids misunderstand things. Maybe your stepfather was just playing rough.*
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most appropriate response to support Mia after she has confided in you about the abuse is:
"Thank you for telling me, Mia. It's not your fault, and you did the right thing by speaking up. I believe you, and I'm going to take action to get you the help you need."
This response is supportive, validating, and emphasizes that Mia is not to blame for the situation. It reassures her that she made the right choice in speaking up, and it signifies that you will take her concerns seriously and ensure that she receives the necessary help and protection.
"Thank you for telling me, Mia. It's not your fault, and you did the right thing by speaking up. I believe you, and I'm going to take action to get you the help you need."
This response is supportive, validating, and emphasizes that Mia is not to blame for the situation. It reassures her that she made the right choice in speaking up, and it signifies that you will take her concerns seriously and ensure that she receives the necessary help and protection.