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An interview is an integral part of the assessment to determine the effective intervention for improvement of patients’ mental health. A counselor needs to have many skills and ideas in both psychology and related sciences to build rapport with a client, understand the features of his or her condition, and determine the course of treatment. However, the interview is the essential step in the process of assisting clients with mental or physiological concerns, since, at this stage, a professional receives all the information for further analysis.
The settings for the interview, in general, can be located anywhere, for example, a hospital or private office of a therapist. However, some conditions can positively affect the progress of communication and the establishment of trusting relationships. It is preferable that the room has warm, calm colors, and good natural lighting, but not too bright. These features will help the client feel more relaxed on a subconscious level. In addition, the room in which communication takes place should be isolated from external sounds, phone calls, as well as unexpected visitors as the noise distracts the counselor and the client, as well as creates a feeling of insecurity. Such conditions will be most convenient for communication and, most likely, will help a client to feel trust for his or her counselor.
Moreover, the arrangement of clients and a therapist also has a significant impact on the interview process. Too close proximity will make a client feel uncomfortable due to penetration into his or her personal space. At the same time, a large distance will create a feeling of disinterest. In addition, various barriers between clients and the counselor also impede free communication as they create an environment. For this reason, the optimal arrangement of clients and the counselor is chair or sodas located face to face. This position assists in maintaining eye contact and open communication.
Building rapport is one of the critical action for interviewing clients, since psychologist can understand and evaluate their concerns only in the environment and conditions which help people to disclose themselves. Balkin and Juhnke (2017) note, “The mere fact that a client will sit down with a complete stranger and begin to disclose highly personal information is worthy of respect for the courage and risk that accompanies this scenario” (133). For this reason, the consultant needs to be very careful during the first sessions with clients to create an environment of trust for them. In this process, skills such as listening without judgment, asking questions, and empathy are necessary.
Lack of judgment is crucial as a person who wants to open up and often even a slight expression of dissatisfaction, such as a look, can cause closing of his or her feelings again. Communicating questions are also important, since they help a client tell inconvenient information without looking for a reason for its disclosure. Empathy also makes clients feel that their thoughts and feelings are not unique and common, so the psychologist needs to show the same emotions when appropriate, such as being angry or showing sympathy. Thus, soon the trusting relationship between the client and the counselor will help to proceed to a discussion of more private and harmful experiences.
The primary skills for conducting an interview are listening, empathizing, and responding appropriately. Listening is a key skill as clients’ words always carry valuable information that can demonstrate his or her concerns. However, the reaction to the client’s stories is also significant, as it encourages the person to further dialogue. For example, the counselor must maintain eye contact and respond with nods while the client speaks, he or she can also interpret her or his words, ask clarifying questions or directly answer or explain some of the speaker’s concerns. Empathy is also part of the reaction, which can be expressed in words and other manifestations. For this reason, the ability to respond appropriately, not to interrupt, and encourage further communication is a key skill of a mental health professional
However, interviewing is just one of the first steps in determining treatment for a patient. The next step is case conceptualization that involves such actions as evaluating client concerns, organizing observations and evaluations, and selecting a theoretical interpretation for determining diagnosis and treatment (Schwitzer & Rubin, 2015). Case conceptualization ultimately gives the consultant a clear idea of the client’s concerns and the factors that cause and keep them, which allows him or her provide an effective plan of interventions. Therefore, case conceptualization is a crucial part of the process of determining the diagnosis and its features and choosing a treatment regimen for the client.
In conclusion, the role of the interview and the proper implementation of all its steps is vital for mental health professionals as it is the first stage in providing help for people. The communication and professional skills of counselors or psychologists help them build trusting relationships with clients and help them disclose their feelings. At the same time, scientific knowledge and professional experience make it possible to assess the client’s concerns adequately and offer them the most appropriate treatment option. However, the first step is always to collect information, and interviewing is the most effective way to obtain it.
References
Balkin, R. S., & Juhnke, G. A. (2017). Assessment in counseling practice and applications. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Schwitzer, A. M., & Rubin, L. C. (2015). Diagnosis and treatment planning skills: A popular culture casebook approach (2nd ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
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