The Helping Interview

Overview:

This chapter provides suggestions for undertaking helpful interviews, including:

• The necessary skills and knowledge base required for a ‘helping interview’
• How to conduct a helping interview
• Gathering information
• Errors to avoid

Description:

This chapter discusses the many sorts of ‘helping interviews’. It proposes that all interviews have one essential objective. Helping is all about assisting people to manage (and perhaps solve problems). It is about creating action opportunities to change situations.

• Skills and knowledge
• Genuine willingness to help
• Coping circles
• Conducting a helping interview
• Gathering the information
• The process
• Using the tools
• Common errors in communication techniques
• Transference and counter-transference
• Self-disclosure

Speaker / Author:

Hugh Irons

Hugh Irons is a registered nurse who holds a master’s degree in community health nursing and qualifications in workplace assessment and training. Hugh works full-time in community-based mental health care with Ballarat Health Services - Psychiatric Services (Victoria, Australia). He has nearly 20 years of experience in this field, and also has substantial experience in teaching and coordinating undergraduate nursing students at the University of Ballarat, where he is a teaching fellow. Hugh is also a qualified relaxation massage therapist. He is a member of both the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nursing and is an associate member of the Australian Counselling Association. Hugh also runs his own consultancy in workplace and community mental-health behavioural training. In this role, Hugh conducts seminars, runs workplace in-service sessions, and facilitates conferences on a multitude of related topics.

Hugh’s motivation for writing this book springs from his conviction that all caring persons, with or without formal training, can have a significant therapeutic impact on the mental health and well-being of people who find themselves in distressing circumstances. Hugh relaxes with his wife of 35 years, Patricia and is interested in reading, walking and travelling. When travelling, Hugh makes a point of visiting mental-health services in any country that he visits -gathering and disseminating ideas of mutual benefit.

Professional Reviews: