NEW CLIENT INTERACTION

Practitioner interaction with a new client



Practitioner interaction with a new client

Introduction

The profession of a practitioner is one of those professions where the practitioner comes into contact with many different people, each with their own set of problems and issues. It differs from other professions because clients come to a practitioner to discuss their problems and seek professional assistance.

The first intake interview with a new client/patient

When a patient comes to a psychologist for the first time, there is a lot of ambiguity in the patient's mind. In this case, the client is the patient. Not only does the client initially doubt the competency of the practitioner, he also doubts the fact that the practitioner will be able to assist him with his problem. This is a natural though process that precedes any sort of therapy or consultation. In some cases, the scenario is extremely reversed and the patient displays extreme faith in the practitioner (Fernald, 2008).

In both cases, the first session is usually the decision making session where the client/patient decides if he will continue with the practice or not. This is the time when the psychologist needs to demonstrate excellent people skills to ensure a long lasting relationship with the client (Gazzaniga, 2010, pp. 23).

Ice breaking session

During the first session, a practitioner's main focus should be on breaking the ice and raising the comfort level. The body language of the practitioner should be calm yet composed, displaying confidence, friendliness and professionalism. The client should feel welcomed and his first impression of the practitioner should assure him that the practitioner is well capable of handling his problem.

The major and minor mistakes

The frequent mistakes that practitioners make when handling a new client are that they push the client too much, intimidate the client or they act too professional and ...