Topic 5 (II)

• Clinical interview


  Any assessment tool used in psychological assessment
• Qualities of a clinical interview

  • Validity
  • Reliability
  • Clinical utility
• Element common to psychological assessment is Feedback
• Clinical psychologists rely most frequently on the clinical interview
• Interviewer


  The one who conducts a clinical interview
• Skilled interviewers


  • Mastery of technical and practical aspects
  • Broad-based wisdom about the human interaction it entails
• General skills of skilled interviewers

  • Quieting yourself
  • Being self-aware
  • Developing positive working relationships
• 3V + B

  1. Visual/Eye contact

  2. Vocal qualities

  3. Verbal tracking

  4. Body language
• Interview is an integral component of both stand-alone assessments and assessments that are part of the delivery of psychological services
• Interviews are used to gather information


  • Necessary to make a diagnosis
  • For case formulation
  • For problem definition
  • For goal setting
• Interview data include material that cannot be easily assessed in psychometric tests
• Rapport


  A positive, comfortable relationship between interviewer and client
• Efforts to enhance rapport


  1. Putting the client at ease

  2. Acknowledging the unique situation

  3. Following the client's lead in language use
• Interview styles


  • Directive style
  • Nondirective style
• Directive style


  Interviewers get exactly the information they need by asking clients specifically for it
• Nondirective style


  Interviewers allow the client to determine the course of the interview
• Best strategy involves balance and versatility between the two interview styles
• Specific interview responses


  • Open-ended questions
  • Close-ended questions
  • Clarification
  • Confrontation
  • Paraphrasing
  • Reflection of feeling
  • Summarizing
• Open-ended questions


  Allow for individualized and spontaneous responses from clients
• Close-ended questions


  Allow for far less elaboration and self-expression by the client but yield quick and precise answers
• Clarification


  Makes sure the interviewer has an accurate understanding of the client's comments
• Confrontation


  Used by interviewers when they notice discrepancies or inconsistencies in a client's comments
• Paraphrasing


  Echoes the client's emotions to assure clients that they are being accurately heard
• Reflection of feeling


  Used to make clients feel that their emotions are recognized
• Summarizing


  Ties together various topics, connects statements, and identifies themes that have recurred during the interview
• Conclusions


  Take on many forms, based on the type of interview, the client's problem, the setting, or other factors
• Conclusions may consist of a specific diagnosis or recommendations such as treatment and further evaluation
• Note taking


  There are good reasons and drawbacks for taking notes during an interview
• Interviewers may choose to explain their note-taking behaviors to clients to enhance rapport
• Audio and video recordings

  Require written permission from the client and can hinder openness and willingness to disclose information
• Interview room


  Should strike a balance between professional formality and casual comfort
• Confidentiality


  Clients may have inaccurate assumptions, so interviewers should routinely explain policies regarding confidentiality
• Clinical interviews take on different forms according to the demands of the situation
• A session with a psychologist is absolutely confidential, when in fact there are some situations that require the psychologist to break confidentiality
• Situations that require the psychologist to break confidentiality

  Psychologist discovering during a session that the client intends to seriously harm someone (self or others) or that ongoing child abuse is occurring
• To inform clients about confidentiality and correct misconceptions

  1. Interviewers should routinely explain policies regarding confidentiality as early as possible

  2. Explanations should be consistent with state law and professional ethics

  3. Provided in writing, with ample opportunity for oral discussion offered as well
• Interviewers who discuss confidentiality and its limits with interview clients demonstrate competent and ethical practice
• Clinical interviews


  • They take on different forms according to the demands of the situation, which may depend on the setting, the client's presenting problem, and the issues the interview intended to address
• Broad categories of clinical interviews

  • Intake interviews
  • Diagnostic interviews
  • Mental status exam
  • Crisis interviews
• Intake interview


  Its purpose is to determine whether to "intake" the client to the setting where the interview is taking place, whether the client needs treatment, what form of treatment is needed, and whether the current facility can provide that treatment or the client should be referred to a more suitable facility