Assessment Training

Assessment is the first experience we have face to face with a client. It is a skill and an important tool in helping us think about what the client is bringing, and can we be of use? It is ‘the potential space’ where there is no commitment but, a time to explore possibility.

We can never think about this process too much. There are numerous ways to assess and explore what we need to know. This workshop will give structure to initial interviews and encourage therapists to think about creative and appropriate ways of assessing for their own and their clients’ needs.

We will look at the struggles we experience about the process of assessment.

· What is assessment for?

· Does a good assessment improve the prognosis for therapeutic work?

· Does a poor one diminish potential outcome?

· Why do we assess at all?

· The clients’ defences

· The risks

· How to conduct a thorough assessment without exposing the client and creating undue vulnerability before a working relationship has been formed?

· The CORE form and other tools

We will address different styles of assessment:

· Exploring specific attachment styles

· Brief assessment – are they mad, suicidal or addicted?

· Long assessment including family history, personal background, presenting problem and start investigating relationship

· Assessing by letting the client lead the session

The day will be a mix of interactive seminar and experiential work. Please feel free to bring your own questions and struggles with this topic.

Host or Publisher Somerset Counselling Centre