Last week we focused on different types of active listening that include paraphrasing, reflecting, summarization, etc. I wanted to include interpretation in that same post, but realized it is slightly different and needs a post of its own to highlight the important guidelines that come with interpretation. Come back soon for a question related to this topic…
An interpretive response is one that encompasses not only what a client has actually verbalized but also an inference you’ve derived from the implicit parts of his message. It offers a client an explanatory statement that responds to something about his thinking or behavior that he is not aware of, with the goal of increasing his self-understanding and understanding of the problem, fostering his insight, and/or helping him make connections that he hasn’t seen on his own. This assists a client to view a problem from a different perspective, thereby opening the door to new solutions.
Note that while helping skills such as paraphrasing, reflecting, and clarifying all remain within the client’s frame of reference, interpretation goes a step further by providing a new frame of reference for the client to consider. For instance, interpretation may involve presenting an hypothesis about a cause-effect relationship or other significant meanings in a client’s actions, thoughts, or feelings:
Client: “My life is so boring right now. Some good drugs and a few bucks would sure set me right.”
Social worker: “It seems as if you believe you need money and drugs to feel good about yourself.”
A client may be defensive at first when you offer an interpretive response; however, a relevant and responsive attempt to point out the source of a client’s difficulties often turns out to be therapeutic. In particular, offering relevant and timely interpretations is an important way of facilitating a client’s insight.
Guidelines for using the technique of interpretation include the following:
Until you have a good working relationship with the client, use interpretive responses sparingly.
You should use interpretive responses only when a client is engaged in self-exploration or is ready to do so (although you may also use them before that, to identify a client’s strengths and goals). A client must be ready to receive an interpretation and accept the insight it provides. Do not share an interpretation if the related material is still far removed from a client’s awareness. When an interpretive statement is offered too early, clients usually reject it as meaningless and inaccurate.
Avoid making several interpretive statements in a row because a client needs time to assimilate what you have said.
Phrase interpretive responses in hypothetical terms.
Observe a client’s reaction after offering an interpretive response in order to determine the accuracy of your response; respond empathically to the client’s response if it is negative.