Chapter 1: Interviewing

Question 1

Assessment procedure

Answer 1

1. Plan assessment (how much time is needed to understand person)
2. Collect data
3. Process data
4. Report results

Question 2

Referral questions

Answer 2

Necessary to plan assessment
Serve as focus of assessment
Explains why person is seeking therapy
Usual reasons: seeking diagnosis, placement (gifted program, special ed, etc.), abilities (IQ testing), prognosis

Question 3

What hypotheses for planning assessment are based on

Answer 3

Referral question
Presenting concerns
Intake interview results
Behavioral observations

Question 4

Methods of data collection

Answer 4

Clinical interview
Observations
Tests
Information from other parties who know client well (parents, spouses, etc.)
Examination of life records

Question 5

Typical intake interview

Answer 5

Presenting concerns (must start with what client was asking for)
Case history
Diagnostic questions
Mental status exam

Question 6

2 sources of information gained from interviews

Answer 6

Content (what is said; thoughts and feelings)
Behavioral observations (what is displayed)

Question 7

Things examined in behavioral observations

Answer 7

General appearance and behavior
Mood and affect
Sensorium (awareness of situation)
Perception (vision, hearing, etc.: influence what tests are administered)
General intelligence
Higher cognitive functions (speech and form of thought, insight and judgment, memory, attention and concentration)

Question 8

Other information queried in an interview

Answer 8

Looking for abnormality
Birth and development
Family
Education/employment
Social/recreation/leisure
Relationship/sexual history
Alcohol and drugs
Physical health

Question 9

How to build rapport with a client

Answer 9

Comfortable atmosphere
Collaborative stance
Acceptance, understanding, empathy, respect

Question 10

Two types of questions

Answer 10

Close-ended (produce 1 or 2- word answers; used to gather specific information)
Open-ended (require longer answers; gather lots of information)

Question 11

Clarification

Answer 11

Questioning client to gain additional understanding from an ambiguous answer or confirm accuracy of clinician’s perception
“Are you saying that…” “Could you describe for me…” “Say what you mean by…”

Question 12

Paraphrasing

Answer 12

Describing the content of the client’s message to provide opportunity for client to clarify, encourage client to expand on thoughts, and provide an opportunity to redirect client to central topic

Question 13

Reflection

Answer 13

Describing feelings of client’s message to encourage the client to continue to express their feelings, have the client feel the emotion more intensely, and help the client become more aware of and discriminate between their feelings

Question 14

Summarizing

Answer 14

Two or more paraphrases/reflections that condense the client’s message to tie together multiple elements in a common theme, interrupt excessive talking, and review progress

Question 15

Affirmation

Answer 15

Directly affirming and supporting the client through the interview process to acknowledge the client’s struggles and build rapport
Must be careful not to overuse (can sound disingenuous)

Question 16

Tips for interviews

Answer 16

Avoid asking “why” (can sound judgmental)
Funnel of information (start broad and become more specific)
Silence can make the client more likely to talk
Have a plan going in
Avoid advice and confrontation
When all else fails, just talk to them until you can get on track