Interviewing in Action Process and Practice

As a counseling major in grad school, I have had the opportunity to examine and peruse a couple of texts that purport to teach the reader the fine art of counseling and intentional interviewing. This book is by far the best I have come across and here is why.First off, it is logically structured. The authors start out with a very sound introduction to the craft, and metting the client for the first time. From this point the book gradually and systematically introduces the various and sundry microskills and techniques. But what impressed me about this is that along with introducing the microskills and giving examples, the authors provide in-depth process commentary on when, where, how, and why you could use a particular technique. Beginning students need to be impressed with the fact that interviewing must be intentional. There should be a rhyme and reason, a method to your madness (no pun intended), and this book does an excellent job at getting the student started on the right track. Too many students come into beginning interviewing classes with preconceived ideas; you can tell they have been watching too much television!This book is definately a keeper!

I used this book as the primary text in my "InterviewingSkills & Techniques" course at Bristol Community College inFall River, MA. It was very well-received by my students, who commented on its excellent format and in-depth, but easily understood, clinical examples.An added "bonus" in the book was the authors' efforts at diversity, both in the type of clients presented and the backgrounds of the therapists.