Final Exam Tips

1. When explaining confidentiality, be clear about reporting abuse and neglect of someone who cannot take care of themselves.
2. Summarize frequently.  This helps you remember what the client has shared, reinforces important points, lets the client clarify what you might misunderstand and tells the client you are listening.
3. “How does that make you feel?” is overused!  You should not use this question more than twice during the interview and may not need to use it at all.
4. “Tell me more” is a great neutral phrase than encourages the client to share from their perspective.
5. Instead of “have you tried this….,” a statement which reflects your values and lack of respect for the client’s competence, you can ask the client “what kinds of things have you been doing to address these concerns?”
6. Never ask “why.”
7. Silence is okay.
8. Focus on client strengths.
9. Remember that the miracle question should be asked with deliberation and slowly.
10. Your fellow students know what you mean by the miracle questions and the ratings.  In a true interviewing situation, the client will not know.  Remember to explain what you mean and with the ratings, give parameters (1 means this and 10 means this).
11. Remember that the client is the expert and you are there to help them find a path, not lead them on a path or decide what path they should take.
12. For compliments, remember you are focusing on skills and be specific.  “You are a strong person” doesn’t really mean much.  “You show incredible determination when you keep going to school despite all the adversity” means more. 
13. The bridge is a connection between two lands – the compliments and the task.  The connection can be short and just a restatement of the client’s perception of the reason they are seeking help, such as “You have described a lot of chaos in your family and you really want to address that” or “I agree that this seems like an overwhelming problem that you are trying very hard to address.”
14. The tasks need to be appropriate to the client relationship.  You don’t suggest a behavioral task to a visitor!
15. Remember this is only 30 minutes out of your life 0relax and try to have some fun with the interview (even though it is much easier for me to say that!)
16. Don’t forget your videotapes! J
17. Have confidence in your own skills.  You have grown as an interviewer and are still very early in the learning process for these skills.  It takes years for most competent interviewers to feel comfortable.