Ирина Архипова – English for Psychotherapy and Counselling: Handbook for Practitioners. Английский для психотерапии и консультирования: практическое руководство (страница 19)
2. Do you have a good relationship with your parents? → _______
3. Did something bad happen in your childhood? → _______
4. Are you sleeping well? → _______
5. Do you drink alcohol? → _______
6. Are you worried about anything? → _______
Exercise 4: Correct the mistakes
Find and correct the mistakes in these assessment questions:
1. When was happening the problem?
2. What you were doing when you felt anxious?
3. Did you was experiencing stress at that time?
4. She wasn’t cope well with the situation.
5. Were you felt depressed last year?
6. What did happened after you lose your job?
7. He didn’t was sleeping well during that period.
8. While I working, I had a panic attack.
COMMUNICATION:
Conducting an Initial Assessment: Sample Interview Excerpts
Excerpt 1: Opening and Presenting Problem
Psychologist: Good morning, Maria. Thank you for coming in today. Before we begin, I’d like to explain that everything we discuss is confidential unless there’s a risk of harm to yourself or others. Do you have any questions about that?
Maria: No, that’s clear. Thank you.
Psychologist: Great. So, what brings you here today?
Maria: Well, I’ve been feeling really anxious for the past few months. It’s getting worse, and I’m having trouble concentrating at work.
Psychologist: I see. When did you first notice these anxiety symptoms?
Maria: It started around March, I think. I was working on a big project at work, and I began having trouble sleeping.
Psychologist: And you mentioned it’s been getting worse. What’s been happening recently?
Maria: Last week I had what I think was a panic attack. My heart was racing, I couldn’t breathe properly, and I thought I was having a heart attack. It was terrifying.
Psychologist: That sounds very frightening. Where were you when this happened?
Maria: I was at work, in the middle of a meeting. I had to leave the room.
Psychologist: What did you do after you left the meeting?
Maria: I went to the bathroom and tried to calm down. A colleague found me and sat with me until I felt better. That’s actually when she suggested I should talk to someone.
Psychologist: It’s good that you had support. Before this panic attack, had you experienced anything like that before?
Maria: Not to that extent, no. But I’ve been feeling on edge for months now.
Excerpt 2: Psychosocial History
Psychologist: Maria, I’d like to understand more about your background. Tell me about your family.
Maria: Well, I’m 32 years old. I live alone, but my parents and younger brother live in the same city. We’re quite close.
Psychologist: How would you describe your relationship with your family?
Maria: It’s good, mostly. My parents are supportive, but they can be rather demanding. They have high expectations, especially about my career.
Psychologist: And you mentioned you have a younger brother. How is your relationship with him?
Maria: We get along well. He’s five years younger than me, so we weren’t that close growing up, but now we talk regularly.
Psychologist: What about your social life outside of family? Tell me about your friendships.
Maria: I have a few close friends from university. We try to meet up regularly, but with work being so busy, it’s been difficult lately. I’ve actually been avoiding social activities because I feel so anxious.
Psychologist: You mentioned work several times. Tell me about your job.
Maria: I’m a marketing manager at a tech company. I’ve been there for four years. I used to love the job, but lately the pressure has been intense. We had layoffs last year, so those of us who remained have much heavier workloads.
Psychologist: That sounds stressful. Were you working there when the anxiety started?
Maria: Yes, the anxiety definitely got worse after the layoffs. I kept worrying that I might be next.
Excerpt 3: Past Psychiatric History and Substance Use
Psychologist: Have you ever experienced symptoms like this before, Maria?
Maria: Not really. I mean, I’ve always been a bit of a worrier, but nothing like this.
Psychologist: Have you ever sought help for mental health concerns before?
Maria: No, this is my first time seeing a psychologist. I always thought I could handle things on my own.
Psychologist: Have you ever been prescribed medication for anxiety or any other mental health condition?
Maria: No, never.
Psychologist: Is there any history of mental health issues in your family?
Maria: My mother has always been anxious too, but she’s never gotten treatment. She just says it’s “her personality.”
Psychologist: I see. Now I need to ask you some questions about substance use. Do you drink alcohol?
Maria: Yes, socially. Maybe a glass of wine with dinner once or twice a week.
Psychologist: Has your alcohol use changed recently?
Maria: Actually, yes. I’ve been drinking more in the evenings to help me relax. Maybe three or four glasses a few times a week.
Psychologist: And do you use any other substances – tobacco, cannabis, or anything else?
Maria: No, just alcohol.
Excerpt 4: Risk Assessment
Psychologist: Maria, I need to ask you some important questions about how you’ve been coping. Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself?
Maria: [
Psychologist: Thank you for being honest. When you say you wish you could disappear, what do you mean by that?
Maria: I just mean I want a break from all the pressure and anxiety. I want to feel normal again.
Psychologist: That makes sense. Have you had any specific thoughts about ending your life?