• The interviewer selects the content in order to facilitate its achievement.
• One person has to take the responsibility for directing the interaction.
• The realtionship between the two persons is no reciprocal.
• The actions of the interviewer must be planned, deliberate and consciously selected.
• The professional is obliged to accept a client's request for an interview
• The interview is usually a formally arranged meeting.
• We are assigned interviewees - we do not choose them
• The interview is not consistent witht he rules of conduct of a conversation. The interviewer asks about thoughts and feelings, and uses questions and comments not ordinarily found in conversations.
• Patterns of speech indicate an interview is different than a conversation.
• The interviewer has an obligation of accountability to the client.

Building a working relationship.

Discovering strengths and issues.

Defining strengths and issues.

Assessment and goal setting.

• Posture - attentive and relaxed
• Gestures - meaningful and appropriate to the discussion
• Facial expression - responsive to client message (maintain professional objectivity)

• Tone - warm and expressive
• Pace - not too slow nor too fast
• Focus - communicate involvement and attention

• Can be answered with "yes, no" or a simple fact.
• Can be used to request missing information, ascertain parameters of an issue or problem or manage over-talkative clients.
• Often used frequently in intake interviews.
• Ex. - "Are you here because you have a problem?"

Encourages the client to talk more freelyy and openly and can be used to:

• Begin and interview
• Encourage a client to provide more information
• Request specific examples of issues or concerns
• Ex. - "What is going on that you came to see me today?"

• Indicate that the worker is attentive
• Encourage clients to continue talking
• Ex. - "yes," "go on," mmm hmm," etc.

• Restates main ideas
• Doesn't add to or change the meaning
• Do not repeat "parrot" what the client stated.

• Direct/Indirect or projective verbal questioning
• Direct/Indirect or projective written questioning
• Observation in the natural environment
• Obeservation in a simulated situation
• Client self-monitoring and self-observation
• Use of existing documents

• Distinguish between the client system and the target system
• Discuss extensively client strengths
• Use of assessment tools (ie. PHQ-9 to assess for depression)
• Use of diagnosis via the DSM

• Avoid generalizatons and stereotyping
• Client presenting problems and issues are developed in a cultural context
• Workers must adapt the use of skills to accommodate the cultural values of clients

• How the client truly is and how they view themselves
• How the client behaves and what they say
• Between a client's nonverbal and verbal behavior
• Use of defensive strategies to avoid change
• Contradictions in personal and social values

• Should assure that the therapeutic relationship is well established
• Should be offered when the client is most likely to benefit from it
• Should be gentle, tentative, respectful and nonjudgmental
• Should use other skill to facilitate discussion of and resolution of the discrepancy

• When you want to clarify, act as a model or increase trust with the client
• When feelings are provoked by an unbiased response to a client message

• "You seem to have some anxiety about sharing how you feel about how your and I work together"
• "I noticed your changed your position/posture when you mentioned your daughter being in a same sex relationship, what is that about?"

• Focus on what is said and how is not being said
• Respond in the present tense
• Be open and nondefensive

When client questions the interviewers ability due to age, gender, race, etc.

"Because I am young, you are not sure if I have enough experience to be able to help you."

• To facilitate understanding of experience, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• To provide information
• To help clients develop strategies and resolve issues

• Only when it will benefit the client
• Only when you feel comfortable disclosing specific information