1. As a clinical psychologist, what steps might you take to establish rapport with your clients? What aspects of your personality would likely contribute to your rapport-building goal? Are there any aspects of yourself that might impose barriers between you and your clients? If so, how would you overcome such barriers? Do cultural components play a role in establishing rapport? If so, how?

2. As you envision yourself interviewing a client, do you anticipate utilizing a structured, closed-ended-questions format, or do you foresee yourself incorporating a semi-structured or unstructured approach of open-ended questions? Which technique do you think is most beneficial for quickly deriving pertinent information from the client? Why? Which technique do you think is most beneficial for developing an in-depth understanding of the client’s history and subjective complaints?

3. When interviewing a client, what are some benefits to taking notes during the session? Are there any drawbacks? If so, what? What are your thoughts on audio or video recording sessions? How would you design the ideal treatment room? How would you arrange the furniture; what, if any, kinds of artwork or decorations would you include; would you display personal photographs or memorabilia?

4. Imagine you are designing an office in which to conduct clinical interviews and psychotherapy with patients. What might this office look like? How would the furniture be arranged? What kinds of art or photographs, if any, would you display? Is it appropriate to display photos of your family? Is it appropriate to use decorative accents that might convey your religion, political affiliation, or favorite baseball team? Why or why not?

5. Give an example of both reliability and validity in a clinical setting.

6. Imagine yourself as a clinical psychologist. Which specific behaviors (eye contact, body language, etc.) do you feel would be your strongest? Which do you think you would need to work on?