Interviewing For Assessment A Practical Guide for School Psychologists and School Counselors

An indispensable guide for school psychologists and school counselors on assessment interviewing

Assessment Interviewing is a collaborative, strengths-based approach to the subject that helps professionals develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively gather the information they need in order to assess children's social, emotional, and academic functioning. Practical and easy to read, it provides step-by-step guidelines for structuring interviews for different purposes, communicating respect and understanding, and strategies for gathering information from children of different ages, cultures, and social standings. 

Chapter contains case studies and examples that illustrate how to clarify and classify problems, understand strengths and resources, appreciate the role of culture in interviews and respond to risk of suicide.  The book concludes with a chapter on how to communicate the key information gathered into a comprehensive assessment or intervention plan. 

• Addresses the unique interviewing needs of school-based professionals
• Features numerous practice exercises
• Provides strategies and guidelines for integrating the information gathered from interviews into a comprehensive assessment or intervention plan
• Includes interview protocols and end-of-chapter checklists

This book is an ideal resource for school-based practitioners and graduate courses in assessment, counseling, and seminars attached to fieldwork.

MICHAEL HASS, PHD, is a Professor of Scholarly Practice in the Counseling and School Psychology graduate programs at Chapman University. Dr. Hass has over 30 years of experience as a School Psychologist and psychotherapist, and holds California licenses in Educational Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Clinical Counseling. He serves as editor-in-chief of the journal Contemporary School Psychology, and co-authored Writing Useful, Accessible, and Legally Defendable Psychoeducational Reports with Jeanne Anne Carriere. In 2016, he earned the California Association of School Psychologists' Sandra Goff Memorial award for exemplary contributions to the profession of School Psychology in California and the nation.

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 Introduction to Interviewing for Assessment 1

Chapter 2 Interviews as Part of a Comprehensive Assessment 11

Chapter 3 Steps in Interviewing for Assessment 19

Chapter 4 Interviewing Strategies 29

Chapter 5 The School-Based Mental Status Exam 47

Chapter 6 Interviewing Culturally Diverse Interviewees 57

Chapter 7 Strategies for Interviewing Young Children 73

Chapter 8 Interviewing to Clarify and Classify Problems 81

Chapter 9 Interviewing About Academic Performance 107

Chapter 10 Interviewing to Understand Strengths and Resources 117

Chapter 11 Interviewing in High-Risk Situations: Suicide Assessment 131

Chapter 12 Pulling It All Together and Communicating the Results of Assessment Interviews 145

Appendix 1–Child and Adolescent Interview Protocol 153

Appendix 2–Questions About Language and Culture 157

Appendix 3–Process of Deferential Diagnosis 159

Appendix 4–School-Based Mental Status Evaluation 161

Author Index 165

Subject Index 173

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