Questioning and Interviewing for Active Work

SW 611: Activities for Advancing Interview/Assessment Skills

Process: Reflection of Feeling One participant (client) read the scene All participants note four feeling words One participant (case manager) give the client a response using reflection of feeling skills
Your Role:	Skills:
Runaway Teen Case Manager	My family doesn’t know I am pregnant. They would be so ashamed of me. It doesn’t matter what I say, my father would refuse to listen. I just can’t go to him for help. List four feeling words Give your client a response using reflection of feelings.
Elder Care Case Manager	This nursing home is not working out. My family is too far away, and I don’t know anyone here. I just suffer here alone. The folks here are nice; they are just not family. My daughter and son were planning to come visit me last month, but something came up. I hope that they can come soon – who knows how long I'll last? I wish I knew how to reach my relatives in Japan – there we respect elders. List for feeling words Give your client a response using reflection of feelings.
Child Protective Services Case Manager	You are so wrong about me. You don’t know me and I don’t want to talk about this. You social workers are all the same – and you just want to take my kids; I don’t trust you. You just need to leave me along – I can take care of my kids just fine. I always have, and I always will. Now I want you to leave. List for feeling words Give your client a response using reflection of feelings.
Substance Abuse Case Manager	I want to get married to Tom. My parents hate him – because, well, sometimes he has a drink. I know that he has a problem with drinking; he’s never denied it. So what if he parties occasionally? And he is the man of the house – so if he gets mad – well? I grew up in an alcoholic family like second nature to me – I know how to deal with it and I know how to handle me, you know? List for feeling words Give your client a response using reflection of feelings.

Process: Paraphrasing One participant (client) read the scene All participants list at least two key points in the client’s message One participant (case manager) restate what the client has said using paraphrasing skills
Your Role:	Skills:
Community Mental Health Worker	I really need to talk to my doctor. It’s been two weeks since I had my medication. I have to have it now. You just don’t get it. Without the doctors okay, I can’t get my medicine. The pharmacy closes at five o’clock tonight. It’s the only one in town that accepts my medical cared. If I don’t get it, who know what will happen – I'll go off and I need it for my nerves. Key points in the clients message Give a response using paraphrasing skills
Family Services Case Manager	I want to get my life back. I know I messed up in the past, but I want my kids back. They have been away from me for too long – it’s been almost a year. Imagine, strangers raising my kids. I know the foster care system is supposed to be helping – but they tear us apart, now what? Really, I thin things are much worse since that so-called social worker got involved...our family is ripped apart by a stranger. Key points in the clients message Give a response using paraphrasing skills
Adoptions Specialist Case Manager	My adoptive parents are cool. I know they love me, and I love them too. But there is this feeling deep inside of me. I want to know who gave birth to me. I want to hear from her why she gave me up. Five years ago, the other social worker told me that I could look for my mom when I was older. Now I am ready – can’t you tell them that. Key points in the clients message Give a response using paraphrasing skills
Clinic Case Manager	I’ve gained 25 points in the last 16 months. I try to control my eating, but it’s so hard. It is different for me with this disorder. I always end up stuffing myself when I feel stressed and overwhelmed – and that is like every day. I’ve tried everything, nothing seems to help. I just keep getting bigger and bigger. It makes me sick to think that I have to go back to the doctor and tell her that I can’t do it...she’ll just be disappointed in me. I'll probably get kicked out of the program. Key points in the clients message Give a response using paraphrasing skills
Process: Open Ended Question One participant (client) read the scene All participants write at least two specific pieces of information that would further your understanding of the problems One participant (case manager) ask an open-ended question that would prompt the client to provide additional information using open-ended questioning skills.
Your Role:	Skills:
Medical Adherence/ Compliance Case Manager	I took my medication last night. I didn’t want to, but I did. Now I am thinking about whether this is a good idea. I know I am depressed, but I should be able to get through this without prescriptions poising my body. Additional information needed Your question using open-ended questioning skills
Elder Care Case Manager	Like I told the other case manager, my children mean the world to me. I’d do anything for them. But I have to draw the line. I can’t lend them the money, it would leave me with nothing if I did. I hope I didn’t anger them when I told them that I could not give them money. I am broke and my son said he would be by this week to bring me groceries – I think he is not coming here because I don’t get my disability check until next week. I know that nice neighbor called the hotline about me, but it’s like I told her I am sure I can manage on my own. A) Additional information needed B) Your question using open-ended questioning skills
Sexual Assault Program Case Manager	I went to that support group – and that is not working out. People in the group just come here to complain about their terrible lives. It just brings me down. I want to move on with my life and not to stay stuck in my misery. I feel like if I continue to come here, it will wear me down completely. A) Additional information needed B) Your question using open-ended questioning skills
HIV Case Manager	I don’t know what I am going to do. After I got the test I just freaked out and partied for 3 weeks straight. There is no way I could go to anyone...that HIV counselor when I got the test asked me about "coping skills" and "supports" whatever that social work stuff is. I guess I shouldn’t have told her that I would kill myself if I got the test back and it said I had it - it’s not like I really would, but I don’t know if I can live with myself, you know. But whatever, it’s no one else’s business anyway. I just can’t deal with all of this, and there is no way anyone can find out about this. A) Additional information needed B) Your question using open-ended questioning skills

Process: Clarifying One participant (client) read the scene All participants write two pieces of information that needs to be made clearer One participant (case manager) use a response using clarifying skills.
Your Role:	Skills:
New Immigrant Case Manager	We’re going to get evicted...I just know it. We have no money and I don’t know what to do next. I knew I couldn’t trust that landlord. We came here for a better life and now look what happens. The landlord is charging us twice as much and when I tell him we can’t pay, he threatens to turn us in to the government...he knows that my visa ran out. two pieces of information to be clarified use a response using clarifying skills
Domestic Violence Case Manager	My grandfather did these things, disgusting things to us when we were young. He made me promise not to tell my parents which I never did. Now that I am an adult, I can’t stop thinking about him and what happened. Now I know my kids are going through the same thing...when my husband goes crazy – it’s the kids I worry about. two pieces of information to be clarified B) use a response using clarifying skills
High Risk Pregnancy Case Manager	So uhm, I guess I missed that appointment. What did that nurse say about if I miss another one? I mean it’s not like we all have a car to drive around. If I can’t get here, I can’t get here...what can I do. I feel bad about it, but it’s not going to make me get here any faster by guilting me. I am sure all the other pregnant women get rides from their husband and stuff – yeah like that’s what everyone’s life looks like, whatever. So what do I have to get some tests or what? two pieces of information to be clarified B) use a response using clarifying skills
Homeless Case Manager	We’ve been out here on the streets for a few months this time. I am okay, but I worry about my babies. We sleep in the shelter, sometimes we eat there. Summer is almost over, which means that life gets even harder. I guess that’s why the volunteer wanted me to work with you. It’s really like this every year, but we manage some how. Two pieces of information to be clarified B) use a response using clarifying skills

Process: Confrontation Read the scene All participants write two-three issues you would address related to the problem One participant (case manager) use a response using confronting skills.
*What issues would you address?* What is your confrontational response?	Women’s Center Case Manager A 26 year old female has expressed an interest in working on improving her relationships with people in her life. She cannot get along with people at work and fights with her partner. The client has informed the social worker that she can only meet at 1:00pm on Wednesday. For the past two weeks she has come at 1:20 and today she did not attend at all. When she has been late, she has acted agitated that the social worker can only meet for a short time.
*What issues would you address?* What is your confrontational response?	Family Center Case Manager A 38 year old male is fighting for greater visitation rights with his two children. He has shared with the social worker that he is having a sexual relationship with a co-worker. The divorce decree states that he is not to have any overnight guests while the children are with him. He also reports that his ex-wife plans to take him back to court. She wants the judge to order only "supervised visits" until the children are older (they are 6 and 10). He laughed when he learned of this.
*What issues would you address?* What is your confrontational response?	Youth Case Manager A 14 year old male was caught breaking and entering into a local business. This is his second offense. He is on probation and there is a good possibility of serving time in a juvenile facility. He appears to be fairly confident that nothing is going to happen. He asked to talk to his you, the youth case manager so you could "get him out of this".
*What issues would you address?* What is your confrontational response?	Mental Health Case Manager A 45-year old male who is diagnosed as schizophrenic refuses to take his anti-psychotic medication because the side effects include headaches and nausea. He states that he has experienced long period of feeling fine and has no need to take this medication. The staff at his current day treatment program has informed you that he must continue taking his medication or he will be terminated from the program.