Our ride through the ASWB exam content outline's next top: The principles and techniques of interviewing (e.g., supporting, clarifying, focusing, confronting, validating, feedback, reflecting, language differences, use of interpreters, redirecting). Let's go through it all then look at how the topic may look on the licensing exam.
You can't have social work without the social work interview. And you can't have a good social work interview without some basic skills. These techniques help guide the conversation, address the client’s needs, and ensure that the social worker and client are aligned in their goals.
Principles of Interviewing
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Establishing Rapport
- Build a trusting and respectful relationship with the client from the start. This sets the foundation for open and honest communication.
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Active Listening
- Focus on what the client is saying, both verbally and non-verbally, without interruptions or distractions. This helps the social worker fully understand the client’s perspective.
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Cultural Competence
- Be aware of and sensitive to the client’s cultural background, language, and values. Respect cultural differences and adapt the interviewing approach accordingly.
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Empathy
- Demonstrate understanding and compassion for the client’s feelings and experiences. This helps the client feel heard and validated.
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Non-Judgmental Attitude
- Approach the client without bias or judgment, allowing them to express themselves freely without fear of criticism.
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Collaboration
- Involve the client in the conversation and decision-making process. This promotes a sense of empowerment and partnership.
Key Interviewing Techniques
Supporting
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- Definition: Providing emotional support to the client by showing empathy and concern for their well-being.
- Purpose: To help the client feel safe and understood, especially during times of distress.
- Example: “I can see that this situation has been really hard for you. I’m here to help you through it.”
Clarifying
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- Definition: Asking follow-up questions to ensure that both the client and social worker fully understand what is being communicated.
- Purpose: To prevent misunderstandings and ensure accurate information is being shared.
- Example: “When you said you were feeling overwhelmed, can you tell me more about what aspects of your life are contributing to that feeling?”
Focusing
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- Definition: Redirecting or narrowing the conversation to specific issues that are most relevant to the client’s needs or goals.
- Purpose: To keep the conversation productive and centered on important topics.
- Example: “We’ve discussed a lot today, but let’s look some more at the challenge you’re having at work. What do you think would help most in that area?”
Confronting
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- Definition: Gently challenging the client when there are discrepancies between their words and actions or when avoidance behaviors are observed.
- Purpose: To encourage the client to reflect on inconsistencies and promote self-awareness.
- Example: “You mentioned that you want to improve your relationship with your partner, but you’ve also said that you haven’t been willing to have open conversations with them. How do you think these two things align?”
Validating
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- Definition: Acknowledging and affirming the client’s feelings, thoughts, or experiences as legitimate.
- Purpose: To help the client feel understood and supported.
- Example: “It makes sense that you’re feeling anxious about this situation. It’s a lot to handle, and anyone in your position would likely feel the same way.”
Feedback
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- Definition: Providing the client with constructive insights or observations about their behaviors, choices, or progress.
- Purpose: To encourage growth, self-reflection, and awareness of the client’s strengths and areas for improvement.
- Example: “You’ve been consistently showing up for yourself in this process, and I’ve noticed the progress you’re making. Let’s continue building on that momentum.”
Reflecting
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- Definition: Rephrasing or summarizing what the client has said to show understanding and encourage deeper exploration of their thoughts or emotions.
- Purpose: To help the client hear their own thoughts and feelings, facilitating greater self-awareness.
- Example: “It sounds like you’re feeling conflicted between wanting to move forward but being afraid of the potential risks involved. Does that sound right?”
Addressing Language and Communication Differences
Language Differences
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- Definition: Being aware of and adapting to language barriers that may affect communication between the social worker and the client.
- Purpose: To ensure that the client fully understands the conversation and that the social worker is respectful of linguistic and cultural differences.
- Example: If the client has limited proficiency in the language spoken, the social worker should simplify language, avoid jargon, and check for understanding frequently.
Use of Interpreters
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- Definition: Engaging professional interpreters when there are significant language differences to ensure accurate communication.
- Purpose: To maintain clear and accurate dialogue between the social worker and client, respecting both linguistic and cultural nuances.
- Best Practices:
- Use trained interpreters instead of relying on family members, to ensure confidentiality and professionalism.
- Speak directly to the client, not the interpreter, to maintain a connection with the client.
- Be patient and allow time for interpretation.
Managing the Interview
Redirecting
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- Definition: Gently steering the conversation back to the primary issues when the client becomes tangential or avoids certain topics.
- Purpose: To maintain focus on the client’s goals and the purpose of the interview while acknowledging their concerns.
- Example: “I notice we’ve shifted to talking about your work stress, but let’s go back to discussing your concerns about your relationship, as you mentioned earlier.”
Summarizing
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- Definition: Providing a brief overview of key points covered in the conversation to ensure mutual understanding.
- Purpose: To review what has been discussed and ensure that the client and social worker are on the same page regarding next steps.
- Example: “So today we talked about your goals for therapy, including improving communication with your partner and managing your anxiety. Does that sound right?”
Ethical Considerations in Interviewing
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- Confidentiality: Always maintain the client’s confidentiality throughout the interview, especially when interpreters are involved.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of cultural differences that may impact communication styles, such as norms regarding eye contact, personal space, or emotional expression.
- Avoiding Bias: Approach every interview with an open mind, avoiding assumptions or judgments about the client’s behavior or responses.
On the Exam
This material lends itself to simple definition questions or "Which of the follow is an example of..." questions. Some possibilities:
- A client expresses frustration about not being able to find a job despite multiple attempts. The social worker responds, “It makes sense that you’re feeling frustrated after all the hard work you’ve put into job hunting.” What technique is the social worker using?
- During a session, a client begins talking at length about their frustrations with their job, even though the initial focus of the session was on the client’s family stress. The social worker responds, “Let’s bring the conversation back to the challenges you’re facing at home.” What technique is the social worker using?
- During a session, a client expresses frustration about not being able to manage their time well between work and personal life. The social worker responds by saying, "It sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed because you're trying to balance your job and your personal responsibilities." What interviewing technique is the social worker using?
You get the idea. Get questions like these--and much trickier ones--when you prepare to pass with Social Work Test Prep's full-length practice tests.
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