Institutional Abuse

Norm Therapy® is an innovative abuse management interviewing process whereby the Norm Therapy® Intake Specialist (NTIS) will interview an eclectic array of Victims or Survivors (V/S) from around the world. Norm Therapy® can be described as a pre-therapy–preparing a V/S of Abuse for ‘traditional’ counseling or therapy with clinicians, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and many other entities within the Abuse Care Community. We are not here to cure anyone, however, we are here to help find the truth and take that truth into therapy, if needed.

All Norm Therapy® personnel, including NTIS Candidates, must adhere firmly to confidentiality, non-disclosure, and indemnity agreements. It is expected that all NTIS Candidates hold themselves to the highest truth-telling standards as they expect from the Victims and Survivors they interview.

NTIS must adhere to the practices outlined throughout training and the continued trajectory of rank-level advancement.  Guidelines for NTIS Conduct and NTIS Interviews are outlined in the Norm Therapy® Department Handbook (2022), including mandatory reporting. 

During Norm Therapy® Training, NTIS Candidates must acknowledge and follow all applicable and appropriate expectations for certified NTIS – especially when it pertains to the skills and strategies that are required to graduate as an NTIS. Completion of Training does not guarantee graduation nor certification as an NTIS. NTIS Candidates will be evaluated on enthusiasm, attendance, preparedness, progress notes, and participation. 

The NTIS must keep detailed confidential notes for each role-play, interview and Overwatch session they participate in. A mandated reporter is referred to as an individual who holds a professional or authoritative position that requires them to report to appropriate agencies suspected cases of child abuse/maltreatment or neglect. Regardless of profession, within the United States, there are some states that require all persons who suspect abuse to report. As a leader within the Abuse Care Industry, Norm Therapy® stands against all types of abuse and we require all NTIS to report when there is suspicion of abuse and neglect to children. Because NTIS’ work with V/S in multiple jurisdictions, regardless of state law, the NTIS must always take action in an attempt to prevent potential harm. A mandated reporter must file a complaint of suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate law enforcement or child support services agency within 36 hours of discovery.

NTIS Candidates must not miss more than two live training sessions. Regardless of missing a scheduled training session, this session must be made up prior to graduation. If an NTIS Candidate received approval for a make-up session, the NTIS Candidate must meet all expectations and demonstrate the knowledge of any information missed. If more than two live training sessions are missed, and the NTIS Candidate still seeks to become NTIS certified, the Candidate is required to repeat the entire course.

Gaining certification for becoming an NTIS is a prodigious accomplishment. NTIS Candidates who have completed the 12 training modules, the required tests, assignments, Methods Of Teaching & Training (MOTT), and the necessary performance evaluations will be on track for graduation. If during the End of Course performance evaluation, an NTIS Candidate is not meeting expectations in any of the required areas of participation or performance, the NTIS Candidate may not receive their certificate to become a certified NTIS until those areas of being at-risk are addressed. An NTIS Candidate will further not be able to graduate nor receive their certification without a minimum of 70% of the rubric weight.