Adaptations of the Traditional Interview to the Brief-Treatment Context

Abstract

This article is concerned with modifications in the standard interview structure, procedures, and interaction that the social work interviewer needs to make in response to the time constraints of the brief interview. Brief treatment is identified as the prevalent format for offering social work services due to the impact of managed care on service delivery patterns and budgetary constraints in the social service sector. The characteristics of brief treatment and the attitudes of social workers toward brief treatment are discussed. The body of the article examines modifications in the traditional interview to fit the requirements of brief treatment.