The Counseling Interview - Principles & Practices

Chapter 12
The Counseling
Interview
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Chapter Summary
 Preparing for the Counseling Interview
 Structuring the Interview
 Conducting the Interview
 Summary

Preparing for the Counseling
Interview
 Analyzing Self
 Know yourself before trying to help others know
themselves.
 Good problem solvers may be poor counselors.
 Do not stray beyond your level of expertise.

Interview
 Analyzing the Interviewee
 Be informed but keep an open mind.
 Be aware of past, present, and future events.
 Be prepared for rejections of offers to counsel.
 Listen rather than talk.

Interview
 Selecting an Interviewing Approach
 Directive Approach
 Nondirective Approach
 Combination of Approaches

Interview
 Selecting the Setting
 Do not underestimate the importance of location
and seating.
 A round table is a traditional arrangement for
problem solving.

Structuring the Interview
 The Opening
 Initial Comments and Reactions
 Want to help and show it.
 Be tactful but not indifferent.
 Rapport and Orientation
 Accept seemingly irrelevant opening comments.
 If you are uncomfortable, the interviewee will be
uncomfortable.

 The Opening
 Encouraging Self-Disclosure
 Self-disclosure varies from person to person.
 Work Within a Known Time Frame

 The Body of the Interview
 Feelings play central roles in counseling
interviews.
 Counseling interviews rarely progress in an
orderly manner.
 Enable the interviewee to relate the problem.

 Closing the Interview
 Involve the interviewee as an active participant in
the closing.
 Decide which leave-taking means is most
appropriate.
 Be sincere and honest in the ways you close
interviews.

 Evaluating the Interview
 Review all you did and did not do and accomplish.
 How prepared were you for this interaction?
 Which skills need more work? Preparation,
structuring, interviewing, or counseling?

STRUCTURING THE INTERVIEW
 The Telephone Interview
 Advantages
 Inexpensive
 Convenient
 Preserves Anonymity
 Gives Sense of Control
 Disadvantages
 Possible Inconvenient Time
 Distractions

Conducting the Interview
 Listening
 Focus on the interviewee and the interviewee’s
problem.
 Do not interrupt or take over the conversation.

 Observing
 Look for nonverbal signals but interpret them
cautiously.
 If you are taking notes, explain why.
 Note that deceptive answers may be lengthier,
more hesitant, and characterized by long pauses.

 Questioning
 Do not ask too many questions.
 Keep your questions open-ended.
 Phrase all questions with care.

 Responding and Informing
 Client-Centered Approach: Focuses the interview on the
interviewee.
 Highly Nondirective Reactions and Responses: Give
control to the interviewee.
 Nondirective Reactions and Responses: Inform and
encourage.
 Directive Reactions and Responses: Advise and
evaluate but do not dictate.
 Highly Directive Reactions and Responses: Dictate
strong advice and actions.

 Responding and Informing: Tips
 Responses are more nonverbal than verbal.
 Silence has its limits.
 Use questions that force the interviewee to formulate
answers and solutions.
 Use questions to determine what a person is not saying.
 A thoughtless comment or two can damage a relationship.
 Exhaust all less directive means before dictating action.

Summary
 You take part in a counseling interview
whenever you try to help a person gain
insights into a problem.
 Preparation helps to determine how to listen,
question, inform, explain, respond, and relate
to each interviewee.
 Many suggestions but few rules apply to
counseling interviews.

The Counseling Interview - Principles & Practices

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