The Counseling Interview

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Chapter Summary

• Rationale for the Interview

• Preparing for the Counseling Interview

• Structuring the Interview

• Conducting the Interview

• Summary

Rationale for the Interview

• Uncover problems that may lead to work maladjustment

– Psychological problems

– Lack of education or training

• Help clients view themselves from a holistic perspective

– Career + personal connection

• Develop Goals

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.

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.

Preparing for the Counseling Interview

• Selecting an Interviewing Approach

– Directive Approach

– Nondirective Approach

– Combination of Approaches

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.

– Personal Characteristics of Helper: Genuineness, Being Nondogmatic, Being Accepting

– Nonverbal Behaviors: Posture, Tone of Voice, Eye Contact, Touch

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.

Structuring the Interview

• The Opening

– Encouraging Self-Disclosure

• Self-disclosure varies from person to person.

– Work Within a Known Time Frame

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.

Structuring the Interview

The Use of Questions

• Open Vs. Closed Questions

• Direct Vs. Indirect Questions

• Use of “Why” Questions

Structuring the Interview

Giving Information, Advice, and Offering Alternatives

• Offering Alternatives: Suggests May Be a Number of Ways to Tackle Problem

• Information Giving: Offers the Client Valuable “Objective” Info

• Advice Giving: Suggests Helper May Hold the Solution (Least Helpful Response)

Structuring the Interview Confrontation: Support with

Challenge

• Giving Feedback Without Being Judgmental, Critical, or Aggressive

• One Good Method: Higher-level Empathic Response

• Another Method: Suggesting Alternatives

• Another Method: Pointing out Discrepancies (“You Say, But...”)

Structuring the Interview

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.

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?

STRUCTURING THE INTERVIEW

• The Telephone Interview

– Advantages

• Inexpensive

• Convenient

• Preserves Anonymity

• Gives Sense of Control

– Disadvantages

• Possible Inconvenient Time

• Distractions

Conducting the Interview

• Listening

– Focus on the interviewee and the interviewee’s problem.

– Do not interrupt or take over the conversation.

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.

Conducting the Interview

• Questioning

– Do not ask too many questions.

– Keep your questions open-ended.

– Phrase all questions with care.

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.

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.

Conducting the Interview

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.

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