Chapter 12 The Counseling Interview

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter Summary Preparing for the Counseling Interview Structuring the Interview Conducting the Interview Summary

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing for the Counseling 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing for the Counseling Interview Selecting an Interviewing Approach Directive Approach Nondirective Approach Combination of Approaches

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing for the Counseling Interview Selecting the Setting Do not underestimate the importance of location and seating. A round table is a traditional arrangement for problem solving.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Structuring the Interview The Opening Encouraging Self-Disclosure Self-disclosure varies from person to person. Work Within a Known Time Frame

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Structuring the Interview 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Structuring the Interview

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Structuring the Interview 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Structuring the Interview 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?

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. STRUCTURING THE INTERVIEW The Telephone Interview Advantages Inexpensive Convenient Preserves Anonymity Gives Sense of Control Disadvantages Possible Inconvenient Time Distractions

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview Listening Focus on the interviewee and the interviewee’s problem. Do not interrupt or take over the conversation.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview Questioning Do not ask too many questions. Keep your questions open-ended. Phrase all questions with care.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview 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.

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Interview

© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.