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.
For Better INDONESIA