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
