PSYC 3403 Lecture Notes - Therapeutic Relationship, Motivational Interviewing, Information Seeking

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3403
• Professor: John Weekes

Document Summary

The clinical interview can be characterized as a conversation with a purpose . The difference between a conversation and a clinical interview. A conversation has no central theme, the participant"s rules are not usually defined, and a conversation starts and ends at will. An interview, however, is directed towards achieving a specific purpose. There are defined roles between participants and an interview occurs at a predefined place and time. However, it is possible to misinterpret these nonverbal cues when interviewer and clients do not come from the same culture. John demonstrated this in class with an anecdote about how he misinterpreted the body language of a native man he was treating. John mistook his lack of eye contact as a sign of defiance, when, in native society, it is considered a sign of respect to not look your elders directly in the eyes. Interviews are often used as the sole method of assessment.