Intake Interview
THE INTAKE/ADMISSION INTERVIEW
• This type of interview is usually concerned with the
According to clarification of the patient's percentage complaints,
Watson the steps he has taken previously to resolve his difficulties ,
and his expectances in regard to what may be done for him".
• The purpose of the initial intake interview or admission interview is to
develop a better understanding ofthe patient's symptoms or concerns i
n order to recommend the most appropriate treatment or
intervention plan.
• Whether the interview is conducted for;
Purpose • Admission to a hospital,
• An outpatient clinic,
• A private practice,or
• Some other setting the initial interview attempts to evaluate the patien
t's situation as efficiently as possible
Intake Interview
An intake interview is your first appointment with a therapist.
During this initial appointment, he or she will ask various questions in
order to make, or come closer to making a diagnosis and to create a
personalized treatment plan for you.
The initial appointment is also your time to ask your therapist questions.
The questions your therapist asks depend on a variety of factors, including the reason
you gave for coming there, your age, and any pre-existing conditions. He or she may
ask you the questions directly and/or give you a diagnostic test on paper or online.
THE INTAKE/ADMISSION INTERVIEW
Ordinarily, a psychiatric social worker conducts this interview; however,
upon occasion, the psychologist, one of the physicians, or
a psychiatric nurse may serve as intake interviewer.
The basic question to be dealt with is "Why is
the patient here? i.e., what doe she says is the matter with him?
Important but secondary questions involve information about previous hospitali
zation, the name of his doctors,
what the patient expect from treatment, his availability for treatment, and
the like.
The intake or admission interview is extremely important in conserving the
time of other professional staff members and in sparing
the clinic or hospital for occasional embarrassing or awkward situations.
Client intake interview questions
What is your reason for coming in today? ...
Can you tell me more about your case? ...
Have you ever worked with an attorney before? ...
Have you seen an attorney about this matter already? ...
Do you have additional documents or information for me?
What are your goals? ...
Example: Intake Interview for
Social Anxiety
Social phobia is also known as social anxiety disorder (SAD). Your therapist is,
again, checking the boxes for the APA-specified criteria, and also asking
questions to rule out other psychological issues like depression during the
intake interview.
They may ask if you have an intense and persistent fear of:
1). People judging you in social situations
2). Being humiliated by your actions
3). People noticing your signs of anxiety, including sweating and shaking
Your therapist might also question you about your overall mood, asking you to
think about whether you spend more days than not feeling the following:
Depressed or sad
Disinterest in life
Guilty or worthless