Lecture 1: Clinical skills- Introduction
Why are clinical skills important?
Therapeutic factors that influence client’s improvement
Scientist + practitioners⇒ work as a clinician and evidence-based backup
INTAKE
Egan (1994) → Helping model (three stages):
1. Problem clarification (INTAKE)- making contacts and gaining a clear picture of the
problem
2. Gaining new insights (ASSESSMENT/CONSULTATION)- help client obtain a more
differentiated picture of problem
3. Treatment of the problem- do something about the problem
What is an intake?
- Usually first meeting, where you:
● Get to know each other + build a working relationship
● Gain insight into complaints and referral question
● Formulate goals
● Provide information about what to expect
, Basic attitude of the helper
❖ Diagnosis-prescription model→ the helper is an expert in the field and in a
directive way reduces a complex problem into a simple goal
➢ Reduces the chances of helper losing control
➢ Leads to distancing from personal material and a too premature definition of
problems and solutions
➢ Result: advice is often ignored
❖ Cooperation model→helper and client work together on the clarification of the
solution of problem
➢ Unconditional acceptance and own responsibility
➢ Helper lets client know from the beginning about this cooperation and asks
for approval
4 roles of the helper
1. Confidant: creates clarity and calmness, is attentive and understanding, encourages
to speak freely
2. Communicative detective: tries to obtain a clear picture of the clients’ thoughts and
actions. Includes reasoning behind the questions
3. Teacher (CONSULTATION): provides client with a more effective approach to their
problems and discusses how they may best put this to good use
4. Coach (CONSULTATION): assists client in putting new insights into practice and will
help in developing new skills if needed
Goals of the initial interview- The intake
1. Establish a working relationship
2. Gently explore the problems
3. Bring a sense of order to the problems
4. Create clarity about what to expect (for client and also for therapist) of this intake
and the rest of the counseling process
a. What you are going to do during this intake
b. How long this conversation will take
c. What they can expect from you
d. Discuss confidentiality
i. Child has to agree with what you tell parents
ii. 16+ parents do not need to know about what was discussed
Questions you can ask during intake:
I. General aspects
A. What do you want to know about everyone?
Why are clinical skills important?
Therapeutic factors that influence client’s improvement
Scientist + practitioners⇒ work as a clinician and evidence-based backup
INTAKE
Egan (1994) → Helping model (three stages):
1. Problem clarification (INTAKE)- making contacts and gaining a clear picture of the
problem
2. Gaining new insights (ASSESSMENT/CONSULTATION)- help client obtain a more
differentiated picture of problem
3. Treatment of the problem- do something about the problem
What is an intake?
- Usually first meeting, where you:
● Get to know each other + build a working relationship
● Gain insight into complaints and referral question
● Formulate goals
● Provide information about what to expect
, Basic attitude of the helper
❖ Diagnosis-prescription model→ the helper is an expert in the field and in a
directive way reduces a complex problem into a simple goal
➢ Reduces the chances of helper losing control
➢ Leads to distancing from personal material and a too premature definition of
problems and solutions
➢ Result: advice is often ignored
❖ Cooperation model→helper and client work together on the clarification of the
solution of problem
➢ Unconditional acceptance and own responsibility
➢ Helper lets client know from the beginning about this cooperation and asks
for approval
4 roles of the helper
1. Confidant: creates clarity and calmness, is attentive and understanding, encourages
to speak freely
2. Communicative detective: tries to obtain a clear picture of the clients’ thoughts and
actions. Includes reasoning behind the questions
3. Teacher (CONSULTATION): provides client with a more effective approach to their
problems and discusses how they may best put this to good use
4. Coach (CONSULTATION): assists client in putting new insights into practice and will
help in developing new skills if needed
Goals of the initial interview- The intake
1. Establish a working relationship
2. Gently explore the problems
3. Bring a sense of order to the problems
4. Create clarity about what to expect (for client and also for therapist) of this intake
and the rest of the counseling process
a. What you are going to do during this intake
b. How long this conversation will take
c. What they can expect from you
d. Discuss confidentiality
i. Child has to agree with what you tell parents
ii. 16+ parents do not need to know about what was discussed
Questions you can ask during intake:
I. General aspects
A. What do you want to know about everyone?
