The clinical interview is an important assessment tool for counselors to gather reliable information from clients during the initial intake phase. Validity refers to how well a test measures what it is intended to measure, and a clinical interview is a valid way for counselors to obtain a wide range of information about a client's past and present circumstances. The clinical interview is structured compared to an ordinary conversation, with defined roles and direction from the interviewer to communicate the assessment process, understand client expectations, and document problem behaviors.

1. PRINCIPLES OF CLINICAL INTERVIEWS
• Remember, an intake interview is an
assessment!
• There are various types: structured,
unstructured and semi-structured.
• Clinical interviews offer the ability to obtain
reliable information from clients.

2. Validity of intake interviews
• Validity refers to how well a test measures
what it is supposed to measure.
• Our job as counselor is to gather information
from our clients.
• So, it would be appropriate for us to gather a
wide range of information as a basis to begin
our work with clients.

3. Validity of intake interviews
• Whiston (2009) states:
• “…validity is not a quality that an instrument
either has or does not have, rather it is a
description of the situations in which it would
be appropriate for a counselor to use the
particular instrument and how the results
should be interpreted.” (p.67).

4. Therefore…
• A clinical interview is appropriate for a
counselor to use in the initial intake phase of
gathering information from our clients.

5. Strengths & Purposes of the Clinical Interview

To communicate & clarify the assessment
process

Understand the client’s expectations

Obtain information about past and current
events in the family

Document the context, severity, an chronicity
of problem behaviors.

Use flexible procedures to ask questions

Resolve ambiguous responses

6. Ordinary Conversation
• May occur spontaneously
• Parties may end conversation at any time
• Not always purpose-driven
• Involves an exchange of ideas
• No planning necessary
• Flows without specific direction
• Parties may reaction emotionally
• Some content may be presumed to be understood
• Parties are under no obligation to keep
confidentiality.

7. Clinical Interviews
• Usually a formally arranged meeting
• Follows rules of confidentiality
• Interview obliged to stay until end
• Has definite purpose
• Well defined relationship with specific roles
• Interview plans/organizes his/her behavior
• Interviewer directs interaction
• Interviewer does not reaction emotionally
• Interviewer doesn't presume understanding

8. Strength & Purposes of Clinical Interview

Clarify misunderstandings that the client may
have

Compare verbal/non-verbal behaviors

Verify collected information

Formulate hypotheses about client that can be
tested using other assessment procedures

Learn beliefs, values, & expectations held by
client.

Assess client’s reaction to intervention
strategies