ABSTRACT
Assessment is an important segment of the helping process. Assessment helps the counsellor identify and define the client’s problem in solvable terms and plan the necessary interventions. The initial interview which is the first step in the assessment process helps the counsellor to gather information about the client’s presenting problem. During the interview, the counsellor is also able to collect some data on the client’s psychosocial history. This data gives the counsellor baseline information on which the counsellor can build up the case. The initial interview follows an unstructured format to explore the story and note the important details which include the client’s antecedents and the context of the problem, the client’s cognitive and affect state, and the abilities and resources available for the client to deal with the problem. This chapter also discusses about the importance and need for documentation and the different formats of documentation. The chapter includes some of the scales and questionnaires developed by the authors which can be diligently used by counsellors during the assessment process.
