Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

Podcast Host: Counselor Toolbox, Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery & The Addiction Counselor Exam Review

Objectives

~ Review key skills for engagement

~ Discuss factors impacting engagement

~ Define screening

~ Explore how to do a screening

~ Identify types of screening instruments

~ Demonstrate verbal and nonverbal skills to establish rapport and promote engagement

~ Discuss with clients the rationale, purpose and procedures associated with screening and assessment

~ Assess clients immediate needs including detoxification

~ Administer evidence based screening and assessment instruments to determine client strengths and needs

~ Obtain relevant history to establish eligibility and appropriateness of services

~ Screen for physical needs, medical conditions, co-occurring mental health issues

~ Interpret results of screening and assessment and integrate information to formulate a diagnostic impression and determine appropriate course of action

~ Develop a written integrated summary to support diagnostic impressions

Engagement

~ Establish rapport and an effective working alliance in which the client feels heard and understood

~ Respectful

~ Nonjudgmental

~ Attentive

~ Motivate and engage the client in identified service needs

~ Engagement puts the clinician in the best position to negotiate with the client about what to do and how to do it.

~ Engaged clients are more likely to

~ Participate willingly

~ Be treatment compliant

~ Successfully complete treatment

Engagement

~ Create a welcoming environment

~ Pleasant physical environment sensitive to

~ Age

~ Gender

~ Disability

~ Sexual orientation

~ Religion

~ Socioeconomic status

~ Stigma

~ About the diagnoses

~ About help seeking

~ Expectations

~ About the effectiveness of treatment

~ About one’s role/power in the treatment process

~ About the treatment process itself

~ Likeableness

~ Client’s social skills

~ Client’s attentiveness

~ Client’s attractiveness

Factors Impacting Engagement

~ First Impression

~ Professional presentation

~ Promptness

~ Courtesy

~ Smooth handling of paperwork

~ Environment

~ Calm, clean, comfortable

~ Not too formal or informal

~ Avoids interruptions

~ Provides appropriate privacy

~ Establish trust and develop rapport

~ Be empathetic

~ Convey warmth and respect

~ Explore client strengths and skills

~ Facilitate client’s understanding of rationale, purpose and procedures of the screening and assessment process

~ Explore the client’s problems and expectations regarding treatment and recovery

~ Determine whether a further assessment is needed

Screening

~ The process by which the counselor, client and SOs review the current situation, symptoms and collateral information to determine the probability of a problem

~ Used by all types of human service personnel to determine eligibility and appropriateness of services and needed referrals

~ Screening helps determine the immediacy of need

~ Must be a transparent process

~ Requires informed consent

~ Identification of early warning signs helps provide early intervention services and/or resources

Screening

~ Screening is the first opportunity to engage the client in the therapeutic relationship and treatment process

~ Sometimes, based on observation or other circumstances people may be referred directly for assessment.

~ The client’s internal motivation is the primary reason for engaging in treatment.