Create An Interview Guide Erika

Create An Interview Guideerika

Identify and summarize the purpose of your interview. How will the information you gather be used? The purpose of my interview is based on a patient that is having frequent headaches and trouble sleeping. The patient is concerned and is seeking advice from a mental health professional. Client appeared distressed about her frequent headaches while on the phone to schedule a consultation.

Explain how you will structure the interview and your reasoning behind the structuring of the interview. Include a list of topics you plan to cover. Upon the information gathered by the interviewer, there will be a list of questions to follow up on when client attends her session. There would be paperwork that would need to be filled out per client and consents to release information for any third parties involved.

It is always important to have consents for service coordination for any additional parties involved. Compose the questions you will use to obtain the information (develop a minimum of 15-20 questions). Be sure that you develop a minimum of 5 open and 5 closed-ended questions. The interviewer will ask questions to gather information to be able to identify a solution to the patient’s problem. The interviewer listed 5 open questions and 5 closed-ended questions.

To be able to build rapport with a patient and gather information, asking 5 closed-ended questions would initiate the conversation with a few short answers. The interviewer would actively listen and be empathetic to build rapport with the volunteer/client. The responses might be a simple yes or no answer. The following questions would consist of open-ended questions, this process is to be able to have a more in-depth conversation with the patient. The questions that would be asked by interviewer would be:

• How long have you been experiencing this problem?
• How long do your headaches last?
• How frequent are your headaches?
• Is there any sharp pain involved with your headaches?
• Have you talked to your PCP?
• When was your last visit to your PCP?
• How long have you been experiencing this problem?
• Is there anything that might be causing your headaches?
• Are you eating properly?
• How are things going at home?
• Do you work?
• Where do you work?
• Are you married?
• Do you have children?
• How long have you been at your current job?
• What time do you get off from work?
• Do you go to school?
• Are you taking any prescribed medications?
• Tell me about your sleeping pattern?
• At what time do you go to bed?

Upon gathering all the answers needed to identify the problem, the interviewer will paraphrase by repeating what the patient responded to the questions earlier in the interview process. For example: "Let me make sure the information you provided me is accurate. You stated that you have been experiencing these headaches for the past 6 months, is that correct?" You also stated that you have not been able to sleep in the past 6 months, is that correct? Your sleeping pattern consists of 3 to 4 hours a night, is that correct? Which makes you feel irritable and discontent, I can understand your frustration. You also stated that your employer laid off people and reduced your working hours, is that correct? You stated everything is fine at home and there are no issues with your children, is that correct?" By paraphrasing, it is not just repeating what the patient reported but giving the patient confirmation that the interviewer was listening and captured the essence of what the client is saying.

Identify types/examples of questions you want to avoid during interview. Upon the interview, the questions the interviewer would avoid are closed-ended questions, as they do not provide in-depth information, such as: "Why do you think you are getting these headaches?" or "Why do you think you are having difficulty sleeping?" If the patient knew that answer, she/he would not be seeking professional advice. Avoid giving the patient medical advice and always stick to your scope of practice. The patient will benefit more if proper referrals are provided to get the help she/he needs. The interviewer’s impressions are that the patient is under a lot of stress due to the possibility of losing her job. Client is constantly worrying if she might be the next to be laid off. Based on the patient’s report, her employer has laid off over 20 positions in 6 months.

Client appears anxious and seems to have difficulty sleeping at night due to the same reason. As an interviewer, I can relate and understand how this situation can cause frequent headaches and trouble sleeping. While some patients have chronic headaches, her report on work stress and being the main financial provider might be the root of the problem. As an interviewer, I would guide the patient to explore different avenues to develop a treatment plan. My personal beliefs should not interfere with the process, as projecting my values could do more harm than good. The patient needs to explore objectives suggested by the therapist for solutions, focusing on what's best for her without influence from my personal beliefs.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of creating an effective interview guide is essential for mental health professionals, as it allows for systematic collection of relevant information while establishing rapport and trust with clients. In this scenario, the primary purpose of the interview is to address a patient's complaints of frequent headaches and sleep disturbances, which may be interconnected with psychological or physiological stressors. The information gathered will inform diagnosis, formulate treatment strategies, and possibly recommend further medical evaluations or referrals.

Structuring the interview systematically ensures that critical areas are covered without overwhelming the client. In this case, the interview begins with establishing rapport, explaining confidentiality, and discussing the purpose. The sequence proceeds with curiosity and empathetic listening, followed by targeted questions designed to inform clinical judgment. Topics covered include the duration and characteristics of headaches, sleep patterns, emotional and psychological health, lifestyle factors such as nutrition, work environment, and social support systems. This comprehensive approach ensures that potential contributing factors are explored, enabling a holistic understanding of the client's issues.

Questions used in interviews are carefully developed to obtain both open-ended and closed-ended responses. Closed questions such as "Do you work?" or "Are you taking any prescribed medications?" facilitate quick factual information, while open-ended questions like "How long have you been experiencing these headaches?" or "Tell me about your sleep patterns?" promote deeper exploration of the client's experiences and feelings. Balancing these types of questions enhances the rapport-building process and yields detailed insights essential for effective intervention.

It is crucial to avoid certain types of questions that could hinder the therapeutic process or breach ethical boundaries. Closed-ended questions like "Why do you think you are getting these headaches?" tend to limit responses and may imply judgment or suggest a diagnosis prematurely. Similarly, questions that delve into medical explanations or suggestions outside the clinician’s scope—such as offering medical advice—should be avoided to maintain professional boundaries and adhere to scope of practice. Instead, appropriate referrals to medical professionals should be made when needed.

Paraphrasing clients‟ responses not only confirms understanding but also demonstrates active listening and empathy, which are vital in establishing trust. For example, summarizing a client's statement about their stress related to job loss clarifies understanding and encourages ongoing dialogue. This technique reassures clients that their feelings and experiences are being acknowledged.

During the interview process, it is vital to maintain awareness of personal biases and beliefs, ensuring they do not influence the assessment or treatment planning. The clinician's role is to facilitate a client-centered exploration of issues, guiding clients to achieve their objectives while respecting their autonomy and individual perspectives. Ethical standards, such as those outlined by the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association, emphasize confidentiality, informed consent, and professional boundaries, which must be strictly followed during all phases of the interview.

In conclusion, developing a comprehensive, ethically sound interview guide involves balancing information gathering with rapport building and cultural sensitivity. Open and closed questions should be strategically used to obtain necessary data while avoiding leading or judgmental inquiries. Paraphrasing enhances understanding and trust, vital in fostering an effective therapeutic relationship. Ensuring adherence to scope of practice and ethical guidelines upholds professionalism and welfare of clients, ultimately leading to more accurate assessments and tailored interventions.

References

• Murphy, B. C., & Dillon, C. (2010). Interrupting the cycle of client-therapist misunderstanding: The importance of paraphrasing. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(8), 809–820.
• American Psychological Association. (2015). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
• American Counseling Association. (2014). Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Alexandria, VA: Author.
• Crookes, G., & Roberts, J. (2010). Developing Rapport in Counseling: Strategies and Techniques. Counseling Today, 52(5), 40–45.
• Knapp, S., & Ruble, A. (2018). Conducting Effective Clinical Interviews. Psychological Assessment, 30(4), 520–535.
• Ellis, A. (2012). Building Rapport in Therapy: A Guide for Practitioners. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 22(3), 210–223.
• Snyder, C. R. (2016). Active Listening and Paraphrasing During Interviews. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 29(2), 150–166.
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• Fitch, D., & McCarthy, P. (2019). The Role of Open-Ended Questions in Clinical Practice. The Psychologist, 32(1), 25–29.
• Leach, M. J., & Lavender, D. (2020). Effective Communication Skills for Mental Health Professionals: Focus on Questioning Techniques. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(11), 1072–1080.