Currently, mental illness affects 50 percent of the global population in some way or another. To be considered for a position in clinical therapy, an applicant must have passed the interview. Check out this article on clinical therapist interview questions if you want to brush up on the basics of interview questions.
Who is a therapist? What does a therapist do?
Therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat many mental disorders. Many people, however, are hesitant to speak with a professional about their worries. The reason for this is that people are not aware of the effectiveness of therapy. One can improve their mental health when one chooses a good therapist. However, the effectiveness of a treatment depends on the relationship between a patient and therapist.
The role of a therapist involves providing guidance and support to patients dealing with mental health issues, behavioral problems, and emotional issues through listening and discussion. The term therapist is also used for psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists.
A clinical therapist is more like a counselor, who looks at a patient’s mental health and treats him with a variety of therapeutic approaches based on his situation. The typical prerequisites for clinical therapists are a master’s degree in a field such as counseling, psychology, social platform, etc., along with a rollover therapist interview.
Preparing for your therapist interview requires thinking about possible interview questions and practicing your responses before the interview. Practicing before the interview will help you present yourself to an employer as a qualified and well-prepared candidate.
Are you a good fit for their clinic?
Finding a therapist who matches a clinic’s overall clientele’s personality is crucial. If the clients are nervous in general to start therapy (this is often observed among young children, married couples, hospice patients) the clinics would be looking for a therapist who can provide a more guided approach to their clients.
In such a case, the interviewers will make sure to ask potential therapists about their personal experiences with therapy as well; a good therapist believes in their field and knows what it’s like to be at the receiving end of their treatment.
To alleviate their clientele’s apprehension, the interviewers shall try to find out if a therapist’s professional approach and style will help them achieve their goals before their clients make a full-service appointment at your clinic. Before we go in-depth about the questions asked in an interview, these are some of the common behavioral questions expected by a counselor/therapist.
How would you describe your theoretical orientation?
It is important to demonstrate both your knowledge and how you will apply it to the specific position you are applying for with this question. In case you are selected for the position, you will have a background in several theoretical orientations, many of which are excellent and evidence-based but don’t apply to the population you will work with. Take advantage of your theoretical knowledge and apply it to the job and this particular population.
How do you keep your files and client data organized?
This question is frequently asked candidates at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Your inability to organize the paperwork frequently might lead to documentation requirements being overlooked. You must demonstrate to your potential employers that you are organized and that you are committed to maintaining your documentation requirements.
Are you capable of accurately diagnosing a client or providing effective counseling? Has there been a time wherein you misdiagnosed a client?
When a candidate cannot offer a patient the counseling they require, it may be necessary to recommend them to a specialist who is better suited to deal with their problem. Patients’ problems should not be presented as insurmountable, but rather as requiring help beyond the candidate’s professional capabilities.
What sets apart a social worker from a therapist?
The duties of a licensed clinical social worker are similar to those of a therapist, but with fewer requirements for licensing and experience. Therapy often focuses on treating a specific disorder or population of patients, while social workers focus on the good of a community.
To help you prepare for your therapist interview, we now explore some in-depth questions and also provide you with sample answers.
1. What are the most important qualities for a therapist?
You are asked this question as a therapist by an interviewer to determine if your values align with the clinic’s mission and vision. It is not enough to list these traits; you should also explain why they are important.
Example: “Among the top three traits held by therapists, compassion, active listening skills, and communication skills are a must. Therapists need to have compassion for their client, good listening skills, so they can truly connect with their clients, and be able to speak to their clients in a way they can understand.”
2. Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work that support your well-being and well-balanced life?
Though it may seem odd to ask such a question during an interview, it makes sense for the mental health industry in general. Having a self-care plan will help your potential employer make sure you don’t burn out while helping others. Using this opportunity you could tell them about some hobbies you have or maybe mention that you are interested in mindfulness or yoga, which are very well supported in the mental health field. You are expecting your potential employer to want you to work hard, but they do not want you to work so hard that you are neglecting your health.
Example: “In my spare time, I do what I encourage my clients to do. As much as possible, I exercise, go outside, or engage in some type of social interaction with family and friends. These activities help me feel fulfilled.”
3. How did you come to choose therapy as a profession?
An interviewer asks this question to learn more about the reasons you chose the profession of therapy. When responding to the question, you must emphasize the desire to help other people and improve their lives.
Example: “During my graduation, I happened to opt for a course that introduced me to psychology, and the idea of working with people lured me the most. The classes I took in school taught me a lot about mental disorders, how they’re caused, and what kind of care is available. The idea of helping others recover from mental illness and achieving their goals appealed to me.”
4. To help clients cope with trauma and its evidence, what types of assessments have you used?
By asking this question, an interviewer can determine how knowledgeable you are regarding assessments. If you are using more than one of these assessments, then you must explain why you chose to use them.
Example: “The Child Behaviour Checklist is something that I often use to identify potential behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children. In my experience, using the Paediatric Emotional Distress Scale also facilitates the assessment of a child’s trauma level, following recent traumatic events.”
5. Would it be possible for you to walk me through your clinical process before, during, and after a session with a client?
Your interviewer must know how you organize your routine to benefit your clients in the most efficient manner possible. Describe your normal tasks and why you prefer to accomplish them in a particular way in your answer.
Example: “I review the client notes from the previous session at least 15 minutes before the current session. My notes then lead me to jot down a few points we should cover now. My goal is to not write too much during the session. Instead, I talk to my clients and listen to what they have to say. As to whether they’ve improved since the previous meeting, I go over the points from the previous session. I write extensive notes immediately after the session, which I file in my client’s folder.”
6. Why is tracking mental health data important to your work, and how do you do it?
There is a link between work pressure and mental health issues, which result in disability, respiratory disorders, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders, etc. The tracking of mental health is, therefore, a necessity for all workplace cultures these days.
Example: “Those struggling with mental illness but unable to afford therapy can use mental health apps that track mental health information. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) are among the proven techniques in these apps that can be used to treat depression, eating disorders, and anxiety.”
7. What methods do you use to keep client information confidential?
Your potential employer needs to know that you are committed to following confidentiality laws and rules to keep their clients protected. You need to let your prospective employer know that you are understandably concerned about potential breaches of confidentiality.
Example: “As a general rule, to maintain confidentiality, I would never speak with a client in public. When I talk with them on the phone I will never do so in a public place, I will lock confidential materials, never carry confidential materials on a thumb drive, or text or email clients or about clients without using encrypted email or using initials, etc.”
8. How are psychiatrists and therapists related?
Interviewers use this question to determine how well you know your industry and related professions. You should define their relationship and differentiate between the two.
Example: “Therapists are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication. When a client needs medical assistance for mental illness, therapists refer them to psychiatrists. Being medical doctors, psychiatrists can prescribe medicine to their clients and adjust their dosages according to the individual’s needs. Hence, psychiatrists and therapists have a cooperative relationship since they benefit each other.”
9. What do you consider to be your greatest strength as a therapist?
Applicants should relate their expertise and specializations to their answers. Therapists and psychologists can specialize in assessment, cognition, group therapy, and psychoanalysis within the field of psychology. In the response, the applicant should demonstrate competency and experience in the field of psychology and therapy, while clearly describing their strengths and areas of specialty. Experiences relevant to the position should be listed.
Example: “ I concentrated on the cognitive and developmental aspects of behavior when I was studying clinical psychology. During my previous employment as a school psychologist, I emphasized behavioral emotional issues to improve children’s social interaction and academic progress.”
10. Tell me about a time when you struggled to get your client to express their feelings in person. Can you tell me how you made them feel comfortable around you?
Psychology may help patients who have been traumatized in the past and are reluctant to express themselves. When working with a patient, a psychologist must devise a strategy for making them feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts.
Example: “A patient that I once worked with was nervous to open up to me about their childhood trauma due to fear that I would judge them. I decided to follow a different approach and talk about their most exciting or important moments as adults. By talking about positive experiences, we can put them in a good mood while building trust. Through a variety of sessions, I gradually advanced the conversation to more serious topics. I demonstrated this by just listening without passing judgment or making negative remarks about what they have done.”
11. How did you deal with major challenges in your last role?
During the interview, you will be asked if you have the experience you need for the position. Be honest, mention the challenges that you genuinely faced, but at the same time, how you tried to conquer them.
Example: “Being a therapist requires high levels of patience and deserves special treatment. The beginning wasn’t as smooth for me, despite my great care for patients. In my career, I faced a few challenges that undoubtedly overwhelmed me. Compassion fatigue, professional isolation, and balancing work and family responsibilities were all challenges.”
Preparing for your therapist interview requires thinking about possible interview questions and practicing your responses before the interview. Prepare your responses and practice them before presenting yourself to a potential employer. You may do so by video recording yourself or rehearsing in front of a family member or a friend. Keep in mind the three top traits of a therapist i.e. Compassion, Active Listening Skills, and Communication Skills. Good Luck