REFRAME
Restorative Engagement For Reparation And Motivating Empathy
REFRAME is a restorative justice model developed to support meaningful participation in restorative processes by both those who have caused harm and those who have been harmed. The model combines the core values and principles of Restorative Justice with evidence-informed approaches drawn from Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care. It was developed in response to a practical challenge faced by many restorative justice practitioners:
How do we support people to become ready, willing, and confident enough to engage in a restorative process?
REFRAME places particular emphasis on preparation and engagement. Rather than viewing preparation as a single stage before a restorative meeting, REFRAME sees preparation as an ongoing process that helps participants explore their concerns, strengthen their motivation, develop empathy, and make informed decisions about participation.
The REFRAME Model
REFRAME consists of three interconnected stages:
1. Preparation and Engagement
This stage focuses on building trust, understanding individual needs, and supporting informed decision-making.
Practitioners use restorative conversations and motivational interviewing skills to:
- Explore participants’ hopes, concerns, and expectations.
- Enhance readiness and willingness to engage.
- Support personal choice and autonomy.
- Develop understanding of harm and its impact.
- Build emotional and psychological safety.
- Ensure participation remains voluntary throughout.
2. Restorative Meeting
Where appropriate and agreed by all parties, a restorative meeting provides a safe and structured opportunity for dialogue.
The meeting allows participants to:
- Share their experiences.
- Express the impact of harm.
- Ask questions.
- Acknowledge responsibility.
- Develop understanding and empathy.
- Explore ways of repairing harm.
3. Outcome and Follow-Up
The restorative process does not end with the meeting.
REFRAME emphasises follow-up, accountability, and support for agreed outcomes. This stage may include:
- Reparation and restitution.
- Relationship repair.
- Personal development goals.
- Community reintegration.
- Ongoing support and review.
Core Principles
REFRAME is guided by the fundamental principles of restorative justice:
- Voluntary participation
- Respect and dignity
- Safety
- Fairness
- Accountability
- Inclusion
- Collaboration
- Repairing harm
The model also recognises the importance of trauma awareness and seeks to avoid re-traumatisation by creating environments where people feel heard, respected, and supported.
Why REFRAME?
Many people affected by harm, whether victims, offenders, family members, or communities, may feel uncertain, anxious, resistant, or ambivalent about engaging in restorative justice.
REFRAME provides practitioners with a practical framework for addressing these challenges while remaining firmly rooted in restorative values.
By combining restorative justice, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care, REFRAME helps practitioners support meaningful engagement, strengthen empathy, and promote sustainable outcomes.
Training and Development
We provide training and development opportunities on the REFRAME model for practitioners working in restorative justice, criminal justice, community development, addiction services, youth work, education, and related sectors.
Training focuses on:
- Applying restorative values in practice.
- Using motivational interviewing skills to enhance engagement.
- Working effectively with ambivalence and resistance.
- Trauma-informed restorative practice.
- Facilitating meaningful participation and accountability.
- Supporting positive and sustainable outcomes.
For further information on REFRAME training and development opportunities, please contact pdelaney@cornmarketproject.com