DESP-8, ch. 2

INTERVIEWING

This is a key/central piece in SP
                                                   Vehicle for
                                                giving info

Medium for Therapy -> INTERVIEWING <- Means of estab/sustaining relationship
                                                  ^
                                                  |
                                            Data collecting tool

COMMON INTERVIEWING CONSIDERATIONS:

- Fears of clinician - more perceived than real - good prep, positive outlook, establ good rapport w/cx
- Lack of specific purpose - prep, prep, prep

AN APPROACH TO INTERVIEWING:
-Goal 1: obtain info
1,Setting tone - intro, set groundwork expectations, answer client qq/concerns, etc.
Asking qq

1. respondent perception of prob
2. When/conditions prob developed
3. How has it changed until now?
4. Consequences (handicapping condition) of prob
5. How cx/family copes w/it
6. Impact on the rest of the family
7. Cx/family expectations regarding dx'ic session

This can be done by "shifting styles"
- asking objective & subjective qq./
- inverted funnel (gen to specific

2. The presenting story: circumstances in recent or distant past that have brought everyone to the table - be aware of distracting antecedents in this process (car wouldn't start, burnt breakfast, etc).

3. Nonverbal msgs: how family/cx reacts, behaves, projects...

4. Things to avoid in the interview:

1. Avoid over use of CE qq.
2. Avoid inhibiting line of qq.
3. Avoid talking too much
4. Avoid concentrating on phys symptoms
5. Avoid info overload early on
6. Avoid hemming and hawing... be direct and straightforward, e.g., "What impact did that have on you?"
7. Avoid negativistic or moralistic responses verbal/non to cx stmt. - even "good" implies a judgment and keep "why" qq to a minimum (this is not an interrogation)
8. Should cx wander, avoid abrupt transition to bring cx back on pt.
9. Avoid allowing cx to provide only superficial answers   
1. - crosshatch or interlocking qq are often useful in this case to get more details when topics are glossed over
10. Avoid letting client reveal too much in one interview
11. Avoid trusting to memory

Goal 2. Give info - no one likes uncertainty - ensure that client leaves with an clear idea of what's going on and what to expect going forward

1. The qq the cx asks;

1. QQ dealing with info/content - I want to know more about...
2. QQ with predetermined opinions - Dr. Oz says... what do u think about that?
3. QQ that are "faint knocking on the door" cx seeks reassurance or support of some kind

6 basic principles for imparting info to cx:

1. Emotional confusion happens - client may not hear the whole msg 
2. Refrain from being overdidactic
3. Use simple lang w/follow clarifying examples/illustrations
4. Provide parent/cx with something that can be ACTED upon - give'em somethin' to do!
5. Say what you need to say pleasantly, but FRANKLY!
6. You may have to be the bearer of bad tidings (what cx and everyone else has been avoiding) and take the brunt of cx anger, etc. 

Goal 3. Provide Release & Support: This is ongoing, not the last thing done in the interview...

USING INTERVIEWING SKILLS BEYOND THE DX'IX EVAL:

1. Ethnographic interviewing - law requires families to be part of IFSP/IEP process
2. Curriculum-based assessment - what are the demand for lang use child is facing vis-a-vis instruction...

IMPROVING INTERVIEWING SKILLS:

1. Read widely from variety of sources
2. Listen to all sorts of ppl - get acquainted w/how different ppl talk, project, interact
3. Specialist support group to compare notes
4. Role play in prep for interviews
5. Record your first interviews, analyze, critic with help from instructor...