This document provides information on interview techniques used by psychologists. It discusses the different types of interview formats, including fully structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. It also describes the goals and procedures of forensic interviews conducted with individuals who have experienced abuse or violence. Specific questioning techniques used in interviews, such as open-ended questions, closed-ended questions, probing questions, and clarifying questions are explained. The document also discusses building rapport during interviews and therapy-interfering behaviors that can negatively impact the therapy process. Strategies for addressing client therapy-interfering behaviors are presented.

1. Interviewing Techniques
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2. Interview Format
• Planning the Interview:
– Fully Structured
– Semi structured
– Unstructured

3. • When any case is referred to FP, the forensic
interview is the first step in the investigation.
• A forensic interview is a sensitive and legally
sound method of gathering factual
information regarding allegations of abuse or
exposure to violence. This interview is
conducted by a competently trained, neutral
professional utilizing research and practice-
informed techniques as part of a larger
investigative process.

4. Questions
• Open ended
• Close ended

5. • Probing Questions: A probing question is a
question that follows up on the answers to
previous questions.
• These can be used to:
• Clarify or search for reasons behind previous
answers
• Search for inconsistencies
• Help the respondent deal with a topic that
has been difficult to speak about
• Revisit responses from earlier in the interview

6. • Clarifying: Can you tell me more about it
• Expending: What happened next
• Checking: You said……
• Revision: “Let’s go back to what you told
me before about… In the light of what you
told me later, can you now tell me more
about…?”

7. • There are a number of forensic interviewing
models, all consist of sequential phases or
stages and include the following:
• Rapport building:
• Substantive phase:
• Closure:

8. • Building Rapport:
– Non Judgmental attitude
– Non Verbal Cues
– Empathic Listening
– Reflecting
– Clarifying
– Summarizing

9. Therapy‐Interfering Behavior (TIB)
• It is exactly what it sounds like!
– Behaviors that interfere with effective therapy
– Can be done by clients and therapists

10. Therapy‐Interfering Behavior (TIB)
• Client behaviors that interfere with
receiving therapy:
– Coming late, missing sessions, or last minute
cancellations
– Not doing homework in between sessions
– Not participating in session (e.g., not talking,
daydreaming, dissociating, lying, saying “I
don’t know” a lot)

11. Therapy‐Interfering Behavior (TIB)
• Client behaviors that burn out therapists:
– Not engaging or accepting treatment
strategies therapist believes are essential
– Phoning or emailing therapist too much
– Demanding solutions / assistance / resources
therapist cannot offer
– Being disrespectful / hostile / critical towards
therapist and therapy
– Not paying for services in a timely manner

12. Therapy‐Interfering Behavior (TIB)
• Can have a range of emotional and
cognitive responses
• And therefore may…
– Ignore client TIB
– Respond assertively to client TIB
– Respond aggressively to client TIB

13. Therapy‐Interfering Behavior (TIB)
• Therapist does not recognize client TIB is
occurring
• Therapist is unclear how to understand /
conceptualize client TIB

14. Addressing Client TIB
• Create / share conceptualization of TIB
with client
• Brainstorm alternative strategies for key
links in the behavioral chain
• Assist client in implementing new
strategies (e.g., skills training, cognitive
restructuring)
• Modify contingencies in therapy to
reinforce skillful behavior, not TIB

15. Addressing Client TIB
• Client not doing homework:
– Cognitive restructuring / modification
– Acting opposite to urges to avoid phone call,
avoid getting into bed
– Interpersonal skills training: making requests ,
building friendships, etc.
– Building in rewards, incentives for doing
homework

16. Addressing Client TIB
• DEAR (Linehan, 1993):
– (D) Describe the current situation
– (E) Express your thoughts and feelings in a
nonjudgmental manner
– (A) Assert yourself (make your request)
– (R) Reinforce the other person for meeting
your request or respecting your limit