1. The Clinical Interview
PSY 614
Instructor: Emily E. Bullock, Ph.D.

2. Clinical Interviewing: An Overview
Terminology
Interviewing as information-gathering?
Interviewing as treatment?
“Interviewing skills” generally refer to core counseling micro-skills (e.g., open questions, restatement, reflection of feelings).
Across theoretical orientations, good interviewing draws heavily from the client-centered perspective.

3. Types of Clinical Interviews
Initial assessment interview (intake)
Interview during treatment (e.g., suicide assessment)
Assessment interview

4. Structured vs. Unstructured Interviews
Most clinical interviews are unstructured.
Primary advantage is flexibility
Structured interviews have many advantages:
Standardization permits high inter-rater reliability and facilitates research.
Standardization guards against interviewer bias.

5. The Role of Assessment in Treatment
Diagnosis
Guiding Treatment
What type of treatment?
Is this treatment effective?
What to expect from this client?
Therapeutic Assessment
Documenting Outcomes

6. Assessment in the Counseling M.S. and Ph.D. Programs
Role of This Course
Role of Supervision
Assessment in Practicum Courses
Practicum I
Practicum II
Masters Internship
Doctoral Training

7. The Assessment Interview: Importance & Goals
Included in every assessment
Client’s first contact with agency/professional
Often serves to match client with provider
Goals
Building rapport
Gathering information
Providing information

8. Assessment Interview Outline
Introduction
Introduce yourself and note your status/credentials
Outline the time and goals for this meeting
Mention that you will be taking notes
Review Limits to confidentiality
Opening
Provide the “client” with the opportunity to discuss his/her problem(s)
Use counseling micro-skills to facilitate communication and convey empathic understanding

9. Assessment Interview Outline
Body
History of presenting problem(s)
Mental health history
Medical history and review of physical systems
Coping & social support
Suicidal/homicidal ideation & history
Administer the MINI
Personal & social history

10. Assessment Interview Outline
Closing
Summarize important themes/issues and inform client of the next step in the process.

11. Strategies for Effective Interviewing
Start with open questions.
Remember, this isn’t therapy.
Don’t be afraid to direct the interview.
Strive for a balance of information-gathering and rapport-building.
Observe behavior and mood.
Take notes.
Use an outline and/or structured interview.

12. The MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview
Brief, highly structured interview of primary DSM-IV Axis I disorders
Requires approximately 15 minutes
Minimal training is necessary (for persons who have already had basic training in clinical interviewing)
Modular structure saves time

13. Effective Interviewing with the MINI
Make sure you preface it with a disclaimer.
The MINI is only as good as the person using it, so you must be prepared to insert follow-up questions as needed.
“Please give me an example.”
The MINI will produce many false positives in settings where malingering is likely.
May want to supplement with malingering test

14. Effective Interviewing with the MINI
Interpreting the MINI
1) List all screening items endorsed
2) List the results of modules administered by listing all that client meets criteria for
3) Support or refute those issue that criteria was met for by giving examples from information gathered in the interview