To ensure that you are getting all of the information you need during the assessment process and to make sure that you start on the right foot with a client or patient, you would need to show active listening skills along with good communication skills. Understanding what your client is telling you
is extremely important because you want to make sure that since you’re just meeting this person, you’re both on the same page. Being able to paraphrase and repeat back will give them the assurance that you are keeping up with what is important to them and what they’re hoping to get out of treatment. It also lets you know that you’re going to give and recommend care that is specific to their need. Good communication really goes with any kind of interaction you have with anyone. In a situation like this, it’s important to stay on the same page the entire process, but especially in the beginning. If your client is thinking that one thing is going to happen and there was never any communication, they’re going to feel let down and possibly ignored. You always want to be able to talk to your clients about what is going on and what is expected, so good communication is a must in this field. The questions that I would make sure to ask would be things like: “Do you truly believe that you could quit using when you wanted to?” “Have you tried to quit and been unsuccessful?” “Have you had withdrawal symptoms?”
“Have you neglected things that you really care about in order to obtain a high?” I DAST-10 model. This would help me understand if this was just an occasional high for them or if they might need to be evaluated for addiction.
