Intake Interviews, Intake Data

In most settings, the intake interview is referred to simply as an intake. Intake is de?ned as “an act or instance of taking in” , which re?ects how an intake is needed to get something into a system. The intake interview is the entry point for clients seeking professional mental health assistance. Intake data come from the 168 Structuring and Assessmentclient, the interviewer’s observations of and reactions to the client, and referral or registration information. Although intake interviews sometimes help clients resolve their problems, or at least initiate the helping process, intakes usually are not designed to provide treatment or help. Intake interviews, in their purest sense, are designed for assessment. Consequently, interviewers rely heavily on questions when conducting intake interviews .

OBJECTIVES OF INTAKE INTERVIEWING Broadly speaking, the three basic objectives associated with an intake interview are: Identifying, evaluating, and exploring the client’s chief complaint and associated therapy goals.

Obtaining a sense of the client’s interpersonal style, interpersonal skills, and personal history.

Evaluating the client’s current life situation and functioning.

Achieving these objectives during an intake interview is dif?cult, requiring re?ned skills and attentiveness to interpersonal process and informational content.

An additional objective associated with intake interviewing involves communicating the results of your intake interview-most often to other professionals, but sometimes to other interested parties. In most mental health settings, you not only conduct the intake interview, but also write or dictate the intake report following your session.