Foundations

Overview W elcome to PSY-545: Foundations of Interviews and Interventions

Welcome to the interviews and interventions course! Thus far in the MA in Psychology program, you have been exposed to theories in psychology in your Human Development and Theories of Personality courses and research in psychology in your History and Research Methods courses. With those foundational courses behind you, you now have an opportunity to get into a core area of psychology: that of interviewing and intervention methods that promote well-being in individuals, family systems, and the workplace. This course is only the beginning of the interview and assessment processes that licensed psychologists learn and understand. Thus, it will provide you with the foundational methods and practice experience in conducting interviews.

All psychologists should have a basic understanding of the therapeutic process because it is useful in all arenas of your professional life. For example, as a researcher, you can use the therapeutic process to help your interviewees become more at ease. As an industrial and occupational psychologist, you can use basic interviewing methods when consulting with managers and employees at companies. And, of course, as a life coach, you will use the therapeutic interviewing process with your clients. Thus, you can see the value of developing basic interviewing skills. You will not only conduct three mock interviews to demonstrate your skills, you will also support your peers in developing their skills by watching their interviews and providing constructive suggestions.

After you conduct an initial interview with a client, you, typically, write an assessment. For the purposes of the psychology program, the assessment won’t necessarily be a traditional type of assessment since you aren’t focusing on diagnosing clinical disorders but, rather, assessing an organization’s or client’s challenges and strengths.

Along with developing interviewing skills, a related skill is learning how to formulate treatment or intervention plans. Again, while you are not diagnosing clinical disorders, you will learn the basics in crafting a plan (treatment or otherwise) with your clients, in whatever capacity you find yourself.

However, this course is about more than interviewing, assessment, or treatment/goal planning. Another area you will explore is to compare traditional psychology with some of the more current approaches in psychology, such as positive psychology or the strengths-based approach.

You will also be journaling about your progress in the MA in Psychology program, your Ted-style talk, and capstone project ideas.

Finally, during a Skype conversation with your instructor, you will have an opportunity to talk about your plans and/or ask questions about the next phase of the MA Psychology program.

Get ready for an experiential ride in this course on interviews and interventions!

1.2 Discussion: Traditional Psychology Methods in Working with Clients

Getting Started

It is important for a student in psychology to have a solid understanding of the general aspects of the field such as theoretical models, research methods, and the history of psychology. In addition, the practice of actual implementation of therapeutic techniques is crucial to those in the field. To that end, you will be learning about the pros and cons of the more traditional approaches to the therapeutic process as well as current strengths-based approaches. This discussion is foundational to your understanding of the interview process.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Evaluate traditional methods of psychology.

Resources

· Article: Organizational Psychology: Positive Psychology: Criticisms of “Traditional” Psychology, Optimism

· File: How to Write an Engaging Online Discussion Post (HTML)

Background Information

Every aspect of psychology has its pros and cons as well as its proponents and detractors. It behooves you to be familiar with the arguments that promote traditional psychology as well as those that describe the disadvantages of traditional psychology. Along with understanding the pros and cons of traditional psychology, you are advised to be aware of the pros and cons of positive psychology, too. To that end, you will discuss traditional psychological techniques and compare this method with those of positive psychology.

Instructions

1. Read the article “ Organizational Psychology: Positive Psychology: Criticisms of ‘Traditional’ Psychology, Optimism .”

2. Read “ How to Write an Engaging Online Discussion Post ” and apply the guidelines to your weekly discussion posts.

3. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. Identify some traditional (non-strengths-based, non-positive psychology-based) methods and techniques that have been used in psychology.

b. Evaluate these methods. How are they helpful? What are their downsides?

4. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 and 500 words.

5. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

c. Be posted on three different days during the workshop.

6. Click on the Activities button to access the discussion forum.

1.3 Assignment. Traditional versus Strengths-Based Approach

Getting Started

Using your discussion in this workshop as your foundation, you will further demonstrate your knowledge of traditional psychological methods and contrast them with strengths-based methods. It is necessary to have a firm understanding of both of these areas.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Contrast traditional with strengths-based psychology.

Resources

· Article: What happens when coaches explore their strengths?  International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring 

· Website: How to make your coaching truly strengths-based. CliftonStrengths 

· Article: How Does a Brief Strengths-Based Group Coaching Intervention Work?

· Article: Leadership Coaching Transforming Mental Health Systems from the Inside Out: The Collaborative Recovery Model as Person-Centred Strengths Based Coaching Psychology

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: Academic Writer

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Resources Page

Background Information

Use your discussion in this workshop to build on your understanding of traditional and strengths-based psychology methods and approaches so that you are a well-informed psychologist who can articulate the benefits, along with the weaker aspects, of both of these approaches to psychology.

Instructions

1. Read the following articles:

a. What happens when coaches explore their strengths?

b. “ How Does a Brief Strengths-Based Group Coaching Intervention Work? ”

c. “ Leadership Coaching Transforming Mental Health Systems from the Inside Out: The Collaborative Recovery Model as Person-Centred Strengths Based Coaching Psychology ”

2. Write a three-page, APA-7 formatted paper contrasting the differences between a traditional approach and a strengths-based approach to working with clients.

a. As part of the paper, you will need to identify sources that support your main points. Please provide two outside references, in addition to any references from your readings, for these sources in a reference page in correct APA format at the end of the paper.

b. Use  the APA 7th Edition Paper Template.

1.4 Exercise: Planning for Interviews

Getting Started

A major component of most psychology programs is a demonstration of therapeutic skills. Even if you are planning to work in some other capacity where you won’t be using specific clinical techniques, you still need to both understand therapeutic methods and practice and demonstrate those skills. Practicing skills is one of the best ways to learn how to apply therapeutic methods. Obtaining feedback about what you did well, as well as areas to improve, is extremely beneficial to enhancing your skills.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Prepare to use engagement and therapeutic alliance techniques.

Resources

· None

Background Information

In this activity, you will begin planning for interviews that you will submit in Workshops Two, Four, and Five. These three interviews will be mock interviews designed to build your interviewing skills. You need to request the assistance of someone who is willing to play the role of a client and be recorded on a video. You can enlist one person for all three mock interviews or choose different people for different interviews.

Set up your first interview as soon as you can during this first workshop so you can submit your recording in Workshop Two. You have a bit more time to prepare for the two other interviews, which are due in Workshops Four and Five. Scenarios will be provided, or you may create your own scenario. If you create your own scenario, you will need to briefly identify the scenario in your recording so the instructor will be aware of the situation. Each of the three videos should be between five and seven minutes in length and demonstrate your understanding of the requisite skills for that workshop. Perfection is not the goal; rather, demonstrating a sound attempt of the skills is the goal.

Instructions

1. Identify a person who is willing to do the first mock interview with you for Workshop Two. Your other two interviews can be with the same person or with different people.

2. The person you choose to interview must have informed consent. That means that you must tell the interviewee what the interview is going to be used for and who is going to view it.  

3. Review the interview assignment instructions and scenarios in Workshops Two, Four, and Five so you can effectively plan for the interviews and help your interviewee understand what to expect.

4. Create an outline of what you and the interviewee will say during the recording.

5. Write their consent into your script, so that it is the part of your video.  Without informed consent, the video will not be able to be graded.

6. Practice the interview and review the video recording method explained in the 2.4 assignment. Ensure that your video recording method works before conducting the mock interview that you will upload for your assignment submission in Workshop Two.

7. Arrange a day and time to complete the mock interview with your interviewee. Plan to have at least an hour to practice, address any technical difficulties, and the like.

8. Note that perfection is not the goal; rather, the earnest demonstration of your best abilities in the skills identified for each interview is the goal.

1.1 Discussion: A Prayer over You

Getting Started

Scripture tells us that we are to pray. Throughout the Old Testament, we witness countless persons praying. More often than not, their prayers are answered, and answered in miraculous ways. During the time Jesus was on this earth, He prayed often, healing the sick and even raising the dead back to life! In John 17, Jesus prays over us and for us. He taught us how to pray.

What has been your experience with prayer? Have your prayers ever been answered?

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Share your perspective on the power of prayer.

· Discuss your experience of having someone (or many others) pray over you.

Resources

· Bible

· Video: A Prayer over You

Background Information

Some believers would say there is much power in prayer! Some would even take it a step further and state that to be prayed over (not just for) is one of the most powerful experiences in life. Have you ever been prayed over? Have you ever prayed over someone else?

If you would, allow a prayer to be said over you. Allow this prayer to speak to your heart and to draw you closer to our Lord God than ever before. Close your eyes and receive this prayer of blessing over your life.

“Oh Father, God Creator of All Things, You are alive and on Your throne as You have been since the beginning of time. You are the Great I AM—the One who exists outside of time, the Creator of time itself. I pray now that my prayer for those experiencing life within the bonds of time are drawn to Your eternal existence and connect with You like never before. For within us, You have planted the hope of eternal life. I pray now that You will shine down through the bonds of time and cause the seed of eternal hope to grow, to live, and most of all to connect with You in Your realm beyond time where You know our prayers before we know them, where You hear our prayers before we ever utter a word, where You answer our prayers before we even ask them. All praises and glory to You, Father God, Lord of all Creation!”

Instructions

1. Watch the video “ A Prayer over You ” (2:05 minutes). If you choose, close your eyes and let the speaker pray over you. You can also read the  A Prayer Over You transcript .

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. What is your perspective on prayer and the interview/assessment process?

b. Would you feel comfortable praying with others during the interview? Why or why not?

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

c. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and insight into the discussion.

4. Use the Activities button to access the discussion forum.