Home > How It Works > Assessment Interview

Assessment Interview

The most important part of the way the Service works is the Assessment Interview. It is the first contact you will have with us and will also give us a chance to meet you and find out about your problem.

The interview usually opens with you letting the interviewer know just what it is that you feel is problematic. He will attempt to clarify the issue(s) by asking a few questions that are intended to help him get a better idea from a psychotherapeutic point of view.

Having gotten an impression of what we call the Presenting Problem, the interviewer will engage the prospective patient in a discussion of his/her past history - both of the symptoms that were just discussed and of his or her family, social and employment life. This will help the interviewer to place the symptoms into the context of the patient's life in order to get a better perspective.

Usually, there are some problematic aspects of the prospective patient's early family so he will also attempt to achieve an impression of how it was experienced by the interviewee. If possible, he may point out a theme or two that seems to have had a lot of staying-power or he may point out a connection that he thinks the patient might not have made by himself. This, in fact, is the meat and potatoes, so to speak, of the psychotherapy experience.

Near the end of the session the interviewer will provide some feedback on what appears to be the problem and make some recommendations. He will also ask if you have any gender preferences of a therapist and how transportation arrangements will be made. Some times the interviewer will be able to refer to a therapist who works near the prospective patient's employment or home thus reducing the difficulties in establishing a regular routine.

In all cases, the interviewer will attempt to arrange a referral to a therapist who is experienced in the area the patient needs to work. He will then make a call at a later time to the therapist he has in mind to make sure the therapist has available time. He will then get back to you with the name and phone number of that therapist.