Counselor Interview Guidelines

In order to help you relate theories of counseling to “real life” counselors, you will complete a counselor interview research paper. This interview needs to be done with a CURRENTLY practicing, professional counselor.  First you should interview the counselor, and then write a 4-6 page research report of your findings.  The purpose of this assignment is to take what we are learning in class and obtain “real life” information from someone who is “doing the work.”

 Your paper should include a summary and discussion of the interview which includes the suggested questions below.  Also, your paper should include a discussion about how the information obtained from the interview relates to information from the class. You must cite at least two sources, one of which may be the text.   The lectures and the counselor being interviewed do not count toward the required references. So, if you cite the counselor or the lectures, you must also cite an additional source, besides the text. Use the following guidelines to organize your paper:

PART I. Summary and Discussion (this entire section should include the questions described below and should take 2-3 pages). Questions/information to obtain from the counselor are are suggestions; you do not need to obtain all of this information and you may add additional findings. Also, this needs to be integrated into paragraphs, not merely typing the question and the answer. 

·         Name of counselor

·         Name of setting

·         Type of clients

·         Training of the counselor (past education, present training, and future training requirements)

·         What forms are used in regards to interviewing and assessment

·         How are counseling services organized

·         How much time does the counselor spend in activities such as group counseling, individual counseling, crisis intervention, assessment, etc.

·         What are major challenges the counselor faces in providing services

·         Discuss the working conditions of the counselor

·         What have been the most significant changes in his/her role over the past two years

·         What is the most enjoyable aspect of the job as a counselor

PART II. Relationship of the interview to counseling theory (2-3 pages):

Your paper must:

Papers will receive the highest grade when information from class is incorporated into what was found in the interview and if the paper grading criteria is followed. Please review the sample paper that is on the website.

If you need clarification on who qualifies as a counselor, please email me. Please get approval from me before interviewing someone who is not in a "traditional" counseling situation, such as peer counselors, volunteer counselors, or clergy.

Please submit your paper to me as an attachment to an email using rtf format (example: save the file as graff.rtf) DO NOT SEND THE PAPER IN THE BODY OF AN EMAIL. Email me with any questions you have.