Interviewing Clients in Involuntary Situations Involuntary clients are clients that feel forced, told to, or pressured/mandated into

the counseling relationship. Involuntary clients can consist of one of the following: Child/children whose parents send them to counseling because of problems One Member of a dyad (a two-person relationship) Mandated clients who are made to attend counseling services by a legal authority

Strategies to increase client motivation and compliance: Emphasize client choice wherever possible Inform clients about what to expect during treatment and their part in it Making Contracts around goals and treatment Procedures Fostering client participation throughout the treatment

Taking a Solution Focused Approach during an involuntary client interview. Begin by assuming the client does not want anything from you. o Involuntary clients believe that the counselor has little of value to offer them. o Involuntary clients angry and unresponsive Respond to Anger and Negativity in a non personal way. o Clients usually have a story behind the way they are reacting. o Accept their perceptions and ask more about them. Listen for Who and What are Important Building a Solution Focused Relationship Interviewing involuntary children *Children problems and successes are defined by influential adults in their lives. Get prepared to meet the child o Have materials in the office that are suitable for the child o Think in terms of short sessions o Considers going with a walk with the child Start with positives o Get to know the child. Ex. ask about favorite television shows, o Notice something positive about the child. Ex. pretty hair bows, new shoes, etc. o Use simple everyday language (No Big Words) Enlist Adults as Allies o Work with the parents alone or jointly to empower behavioral changes Get the Childs Perception

Use many relationship questions. o Relationship questions reflect the importance of focusing on positives, especially when you begin engaging a child or adolescent. o Example relationship questions: What would your mother tell me is your best subject in school? What would she say she like the best about having you around the house?

Interviewing Dyads *A dyad is two persons who are in a close relationship. Focus on the relationship. Get started o Know ahead of time why the clients are being interviewed o Start with the person who is mostly likely to be there involuntarily and focus on the strengths. Work toward a common goal (essential to an improved relationship) o Ask clients what they want o Move quickly to asking each client what he or she wants different Stay focused on the relationship Maintain Balance Reinforcing the invitation to construct a common goal Ask the miracle question Use scaling to continue to generating possibilities

Interviewing Mandated clients *Clients who have been ordered into services by the court and are distinguished from those informally pressured into services by a school, parents, or a spouse. Get Started o Be responsible to know what the requirements are and be prepared to communicate them clearly and respectfully o Be clear on what you know about the clients case Get more details about the clients understandings and what the client wants Ask about context with relationship questions o By using relationship questions to get details about the clients view of his or her context, topics that are highly charged can be asked without jeopardizing trust between the interviewer and interviewee. o Relationship questions increase hopefulness and motivation o Example relationship questions for mandated clients: Based on what you heard in court, what is the court expecting you to do before your children will be returned? What do you suppose it will take to convince the protective-service worker that it is safe to return your boys home? What else? Co constructing Competence o Be on the lookout for hints and past successes.