Dale Pietrzak, Ed.D.

, LPC-MH, CCMHC

University of South Dakota

Assessment: Initial Phase

The
The Intake
Intake Interview
Interview

Assessment
Assessment Process
Process
Initial
Initial Phase
Phase

Intake
Intake

Mental
MentalStatus
StatusExam
Exam

Testing
Testing(Objective
(Objectiveor
or
Projective)
Projective)
Intermediate
Intermediate Phase
Phase

Client-Therapist
Client-Therapist
Interaction
Interaction

Testing
Testing

Termination
Termination Phase
Phase

Meet
MeetGoals?
Goals?

Dismissal
DismissalDx?
Dx?

Referral
Referral
Appropriate?
Appropriate?

Interactional Nature of
Assessment Components
Intake Interview

Test Results

Treatment Plan
and Goals

Client Behavior

Intake
Intake Interview
Interview
Ranked
Ranked as
as the
the most
most
needed
needed and
and valued
valued skill
skill by
by
practicing
practicing mental
mental health
health
professionals
professionals 11
Morrison,
Morrison, J.
J.(1995).
(1995). The
Thefirst
firstinterview:
interview:Revised
Revised
for
forthe
theDSM-IV.
DSM-IV.New
NewYork:
York:Guilford
Guilford

11

Purpose of Intake Interview

Determine areas of
concern: type and
severity of concerns
Determine
appropriate testing
process
Set stage for
Relationship

Determine general
to specific treatment
goals (initial and
termination)
Serves as
framework for
interpretation of
testing

Intake
Intake Components
Components
General Information
General Concerns
Relationships
Developmental &
Medical History
Chemical Use

Legal History
Mental Health
History
Detailed Concerns

Interview
Checklist

Psychiatric Evaluation
Chief Complaint
History of Present Concern
Past History of MI & Family History of
MI (screen for neurological impairment)
Med History
Medications & Drugs
Psychosocial History (pg 132-141)

Zimmerman (1994).

Psychiatric Evaluation Cont

Mental Status Exam (pg 120-125)
Physical Exam
Differential Diagnosis
Treatment Plan

I dont know if I can do this!

Initial
Initial Contact
Contact
Phone

Contact
Waiting Room
or Office
Identifying
Information

Client Attitude
Treatment
Agency
Therapist

And you would like the

counselor to help with
what else?

Current
Current Concerns:
Concerns: General
General
What is the difficulty?
What made client
seek treatment now?

Relationships:
Relationships: Past
Past &
& Present
Present

How
How does
does client
client handle
handle closeness?
closeness?

How
How does
does client
client handle
handle conflict?
conflict?

How
How does
does client
client determine
determine friendships?
friendships?

How
How does
does the
the client
client end
end friendships?
friendships?

How
How does
does the
the client
client handle
handle authority?
authority?

How
How does
does the
the client
client handle
handle

subordinates?
subordinates?

Medical
Medical History
History

Physical conditions impacting situation

Medications impacting situation
Chemicals impacting situation
Learning difficulties/Developmental
delays
Neurological concerns
Family history of conditions

Legal/Financial
Legal/Financial History
History

Childhood
Childhood to
to date
date

Types,
Types, severity
severity and
and chronicity
chronicity

Role
Role in
in motivation
motivation in
in treatment
treatment

Financial
Financial difficulties
difficulties

Role
Role in
in concerns
concerns

Mental
Mental Health
Health History
History

Conditions
Conditions

Treatments
Treatments

Attitudes
Attitudes about
about Tx
Tx

&& Dx
Dx

Releases
Releases

Family
Family History
History

Current
Current Concerns:
Concerns: Specifics
Specifics
Specific

Symptoms

Checklist
Interview form
Interview
Duration
Impact

on areas of home, friendship,

work (school), personal self-care
Things missed so far

Integration
Summary

of Information

Strengths
Weaknesses
Personal Style
Concerns/Diagnosis
Treatment

Plan

Short & Long Term Goals

Th
d
n
eE