Clinical Interviewing
📘 About This Book
Fully updated guide to proven, practical strategies for conducting effective interviews – including access code to online videos Clinical Interviewing is the essential guide to conducting initial interviews, suicide assessment, mental status examinations, and psychotherapy skill development. The Sixth Edition includes: Updates focusing on latest trends in clinical interviewing research and practice Updated information on technology-based interviewing Access to over 70 videos that show the authors discussing and demonstrating crucial interviewing techniques Online instructor’s manual and resources to facilitate teaching Fresh case examples to help apply interviewing skills and concepts New coverage of special populations and multicultural considerations Expanded skills coverage to help facilitate client insight and action This new edition also includes a Registration Access Card with a unique one-time code to access the Wiley Interactive E-Text (Powered by VitalSource), enhanced with dynamic content, including instructional videos and practice questions to further enrich student learning. It provides uninterrupted, mobile access anywhere, anytime.
📖 Summary
Clinical Interviewing by John Anthony Flanagan serves as an essential, comprehensive guide for mental health professionals and students looking to master the foundational and advanced techniques of conducting effective client interviews. Published in its sixth edition in 2016 and spanning nearly seven hundred pages, the book provides a thorough exploration of the therapeutic process, focusing heavily on practical strategies, empirical research, and real-world application. Flanagan structures the volume to take readers step-by-step through the entire arc of the clinical relationship, beginning with the initial meeting and moving through complex evaluations and ongoing psychotherapy skill development. At the core of the text is a commitment to blending proven interviewing methodologies with modern advancements in the field. The sixth edition introduces significant updates that reflect the latest trends in clinical interviewing research and practice. This includes updated information regarding technology-based interviewing, acknowledging how digital communication and telepsychology have shifted the landscape of modern mental health service delivery. Furthermore, the book places a strong emphasis on multicultural considerations and working with special populations, ensuring that practitioners develop the cultural competence necessary to serve diverse client demographics effectively. Key areas of the clinical process receive dedicated focus throughout the volume. Flanagan provides detailed instruction on conducting initial intake interviews, performing rigorous suicide assessments, and executing thorough mental status examinations. These chapters are designed to equip practitioners with the observational tools and questioning frameworks needed to identify client risks, symptoms, and psychological histories accurately. Alongside assessment procedures, the book expands its coverage of essential micro-skills, offering concrete guidance on how to build rapport, listen actively, and facilitate constructive therapeutic dialogue. To bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical execution, the volume incorporates fresh case examples throughout its pages. These scenarios allow readers to see how abstract concepts and interviewing techniques apply in real-world clinical settings. Additionally, the book is bundled with access to over seventy online videos featuring the authors discussing and demonstrating crucial interviewing techniques. This multimedia component transforms the reading experience into an interactive training module, enabling learners to observe the nuances of tone, body language, and pacing in professional practice. Ultimately, Clinical Interviewing stands out as a definitive resource for training the next generation of counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists. By combining up-to-date research, technological insights, multicultural awareness, and practical multimedia demonstrations, Flanagan delivers a robust manual that prepares clinicians to handle the multifaceted challenges of mental health practice with confidence, competence, and empathy.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Includes access to over 70 instructional demonstration videos
Provides fresh case examples that bridge theory with clinical practice
Offers updated guidance on technology-based interviewing and digital trends
Expands multicultural coverage and considerations for special populations
⚠️ Cons
The extensive length and dense academic nature may feel overwhelming for casual readers
Relies on digital access codes for video components which may require active internet resources
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
What edition of Clinical Interviewing is covered in this overview? +
This overview covers the Sixth Edition of Clinical Interviewing by John Anthony Flanagan, published in 2016.
Does the book include digital learning resources? +
Yes, the book includes an access code to over 70 online videos demonstrating crucial interviewing techniques.
What specific assessments are discussed in the book? +
The book covers suicide assessments and mental status examinations, among other diagnostic and initial interview strategies.
Does the book address modern trends in mental health delivery? +
Yes, the sixth edition includes updated information on technology-based interviewing and current clinical research trends.
Are there resources available for instructors using this book? +
Yes, the book is supported by an online instructor manual and additional resources designed to facilitate teaching.









