Chapter 12 The Counseling Interview Copyright © 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill/Irwin

12-2 Chapter Summary Preparing for the Counseling Interview Conducting the Interview Summary

12-3 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.

12-4 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.

12-5 Preparing for the Counseling Interview Selecting an Interviewing Approach ▫Directive Approach ▫Nondirective Approach ▫Combination of Approaches

12-6 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.

12-7 Conducting 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.

12-8 Conducting the Interview The Opening ▫ Encouraging Self-Disclosure  Self-disclosure varies from person to person. ▫ Work Within a Known Time Frame

12-9 Conducting the Interview Listening ▫Focus on the interviewee and the interviewee’s problem. ▫Do not interrupt or take over the conversation.

12-10 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.

12-11 Conducting the Interview Questioning ▫Do not ask too many questions. ▫Keep your questions open-ended. ▫Phrase all questions with care.

12-12 Conducting the Interview Responding and Informing ▫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.

12-13 Conducting 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.

12-14 Conducting 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?

12-15 Conducting the Interview The Telephone Interview ▫Advantages  Inexpensive  Convenient  Preserves Anonymity  Gives Sense of Control ▫Disadvantages  Possible Inconvenient Time  Distractions

12-16 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.