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Agency Interview for Program Evaluation (RM II)

Name

University Affiliation

Instructor

Course

Date
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Agency Interview for Program Evaluation (RM II)

I interviewed a female client who has been receiving counseling services from a private

practice in my local area for the past year. The purpose of this interview was to gain insight into

the client's experience with the counseling services and to learn more about how the practitioner

evaluates her practice. The interview was conducted over the phone, and the client consented to

having her responses recorded for the purposes of this assignment. The client receives counseling

services from a private practice located in the downtown area of our city. The practice provides

individual and group counseling services to adults, children, and adolescents. The counseling

services offered at this practice include individual counseling, couples counseling, family

counseling, and group therapy. The practice has a team of licensed therapists and counselors who

provide these services. The interviewee for this assignment is the client herself. She is a 28-year-

old female who has been receiving individual counseling services at the practice for the past

year. Her therapist is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in treating anxiety

disorders, depression, and trauma-related disorders.

Interview Questions and Responses

Can you tell me a little bit about your experience with the counseling services at this

practice?

The client responded that her experience with the counseling services has been positive

overall. She stated that her therapist has been very supportive and understanding, and that she

has helped her to develop coping skills for managing her anxiety and depression. The client also

noted that she appreciates the flexibility of the practice in terms of scheduling appointments.

How do you think your therapist evaluates her practice?

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The client responded that she believes her therapist evaluates her practice by regularly

checking in with her to see how she is feeling and to assess whether the treatment plan is

working for her. She also noted that her therapist uses various outcome measures to evaluate the

effectiveness of the treatment.

Is there anything that you think could be changed or improved for future service?

The client responded that she has no major complaints about the services provided at the

practice. However, she noted that it would be helpful if the practice offered more resources or

referrals for clients who need additional support outside of counseling.

How do you feel about being evaluated as a client?

The client responded that she is generally comfortable with being evaluated as a client, as

she understands that it is important for her therapist to assess whether the treatment is working

for her. However, she noted that she would appreciate more transparency from her therapist

about the evaluation process and the outcome measures that are being used.

Summary of the Interview

The interviewee, a 28-year-old female, has been receiving individual counseling services

for a year at a private practice that offers individual and group counseling services to adults,

children, and adolescents. The interviewee’s therapist is a licensed clinical social worker who

specializes in treating anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma-related disorders. The

interviewee had positive experiences with the counseling services provided, citing her therapist's

supportiveness, understanding, and help in developing coping skills for managing anxiety and

depression. The practice's flexibility in scheduling appointments was also noted as a positive

aspect. The interviewee believed her therapist evaluates her practice by regularly checking in

with her to see how she is feeling and using outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of the
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treatment. The interviewee had no major complaints but suggested that it would be helpful if the

practice offered more resources or referrals for clients who need additional support outside of

counseling. The interviewee was comfortable with being evaluated as a client but preferred more

transparency from her therapist about the evaluation process and outcome measures used.

The positive experience reported by the client aligns with research findings that show that

individuals who receive counseling services tend to report high levels of satisfaction with their

treatment (Constantino et al., 2011; Sapyta et al., 2012). Additionally, the client's positive

perception of her therapist's evaluation methods aligns with research that has found that

clinicians use a variety of methods, including outcome measures and clinical judgments, to

evaluate the effectiveness of treatment (Hatfield & Ogles, 2004).

However, the client's suggestion that the practice could benefit from offering more

resources or referrals for clients who need additional support outside of counseling is important.

Research has shown that clients who receive additional support services, such as case

management or referrals to community resources, tend to have better outcomes in terms of

symptom reduction and overall functioning (Drake et al., 2001; Kilbourne et al., 2010).

Therefore, it may be beneficial for the practice to consider expanding their services to include

additional support services for clients in need. In terms of the client's comfort with being

evaluated as a client, it is important for therapists to communicate openly with their clients about

the evaluation process and outcome measures being used. Research has shown that clients tend

to have better outcomes when they are involved in the treatment planning process and have a

clear understanding of the goals and objectives of their treatment (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).

Therefore, therapists should strive to communicate openly with their clients about their treatment

and evaluation methods to ensure that they are comfortable and informed throughout the process.
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Reflections on the Interview

The interviewee's positive experiences with counseling services highlight the importance

of having supportive and understanding therapists who can help individuals develop coping skills

for managing mental health issues. The interviewee's suggestion for the practice to offer

additional resources or referrals for clients who need additional support outside of counseling is

also noteworthy, as it emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to mental health

treatment. The interviewee's preference for more transparency from her therapist about the

evaluation process and outcome measures used also underscores the importance of effective

communication between therapists and clients to ensure that clients are fully informed about

their treatment plans.

Evaluation on the Needs and Readiness and critique

The interviewee's positive experiences with counseling services suggest that she was ready

and in need of mental health support. The interviewee's preference for more transparency from

her therapist about the evaluation process and outcome measures used suggests that there may be

a need for increased client education and communication to ensure that clients are fully informed

about their treatment plans. The interview provided valuable insights into the interviewee's

experiences with counseling services and highlighted the importance of supportive therapists and

a comprehensive approach to mental health treatment. However, the interviewee's experiences

may not be representative of all clients who receive counseling services at the practice, and

additional interviews with clients and therapists would be needed to gain a more comprehensive

understanding of the services provided.

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References

Constantino, M. J., Arnkoff, D. B., Glass, C. R., Ametrano, R. M., & Smith, J. Z. (2011).

Expectations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 184-192.

Drake, R. E., Essock, S. M., Shaner, A., Carey, K. B., Minkoff, K., Kola, L., ... & Razzano, L. A.

(2001). Implementing dual diagnosis services for clients with severe mental illness.

Psychiatric Services, 52(4), 469-476.

Hatfield, D. R., & Ogles, B. M. (2004). The use of outcome measures by psychologists in

clinical practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(5), 485-491.

Kilbourne, A. M., Goodrich, D. E., Lai, Z., & Post, E. P. (2010). Schizophrenia. Psychiatric

Services, 61(11), 1112-1117.

Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change.

Guilford press.

Sapyta, J., Riemer, M., & Bickman, L. (2012). Feedback to clinicians: Theory, research, and

practice. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(3), 309-320.