CLINICAL
INTERVIEWING
SKILLS
Presented by: Bhoomi Rajpal
Komal Chaudhary
Sneha Modi
Prachi Tripathi
TOPICS COVERED
01 What is a Clinical Interview
02 Structure of a Clinical Interview
03 Types of a Clinical Interview
04 Building the Therapeutic Relationship
INTRODUCTION
Clinical interviewing skills are crucial in healthcare,
providing a foundation for effective patient-
therapist communication. These skills encompass
active listening, empathy, and open-ended
questioning to gather comprehensive information
about a patient's history, symptoms, and concerns.
Additionally, clinicians use non-verbal cues and
body language to establish rapport and create a
comfortable environment.
SHEA'S (1998) CLINICAL INTERVIEWING
MODEL
01 02 03 04 05
THE
THE OPENING THE BODY THE CLOSING TERMINATION
INTRODUCTION
THE INTRODUCTION
This interviewing stage begins at first contact between therapist and client;
it ends when the therapist begins to specifically ask about “the reasons the
patient has sought help.” Tasks common to the introduction may include
scheduling, check with clients on expectations
therapist reassurance regarding initial
the purpose of the interview,
patient fear or reluctance,
explanations of confidentiality, time limits, and
formal introductions, a discussion of theoretical orientation
THE OPENING
This stage involves the therapist initially and formally asking questions
about the client’s current concerns. The opening is minimally directive and
lasts about 5–8 min. The focus during this period is on eliciting and then
listening to and analyzing the client’s chief complaint.
Therapist tasks during the opening stage include:
opening question,
use of basic attending or nondirective listening skills (e.g.,
paraphrasing, reflection of feeling), and,
THE BODY
The body of a clinical interview primarily involves information gathering,
but it can also include the implementation of specific therapy interventions
or techniques.
Therapist tasks during this stage include:
transitioning from less directive to more directive interviewing,
gathering information pertaining to the patient’s problem,
focusing on patient symptoms and characteristics associated with possible
psychiatric diagnoses, and
applying interventions as appropriate.
THE CLOSING
Termination of the interview involves and requires close time management.
During this stage, the clients tend to use Doorknob statements which
represent clients’ efforts to extend the session. Doorknob statements are
one example of the challenges of ending clinical interviews in a timely
fashion.
Tasks associated with the closing stage include:
providing reassurance, watching the clock or time
management, and
summarization,
tying up loose ends
instilling hope,
TERMINATION
The closing signals the end of information gathering (diagnosis) or
intervention (treatment). Instead, the discussion turns to planning for the
future- which may include coping strategies for the week ahead or a
discussion about what to talk about during the next session. The closing
generally occurs about 5–10 min before the interview is over.
Tasks associated with the termination stage include:
observing for and handling guiding and empowering patients,
doorknob statements and
offering reminders of appointments offering well wishes until the next
or homework, meeting
STRUCTURED CLINICAL
INTERVIEW
TYPES OF
CLINICAL SEMI-STRUCTURED
INTERVIEW CLINICAL INTERVIEW
UNSTRUCTURED
INTERVIEW
TYPES OF CLINICAL INTERVIEW
BUILDING
THERAPEUTIC IMPORTANCE OF
RAPPORT
RELATIONSHIP
COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES
MOTIVATIONAL
INTERVIEWING
IMPORTANCE OF
RAPPORT BUILDING
Rapport forms the basis
of meaningful, close and
harmonious
relationships between
people.
COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES
Providing broad
openings allows the
client to share what's
on their mind.
MOTIVATIONAL
INTERVIEWING
It is a counselling method
that involves enhancing a
client's motivation to change
by means of four guiding
principles
