30 Interview Questions for a Therapist (With Sample Answers)

Counselor Interview Questions
  • What is leading you to pursue a career in counseling? …
  • What qualities do you possess that, in your belief, would make you a good counselor? …
  • Have you ever had a case that was hard not to take home with you?

Mental Health Counselor Interview Questions with Answer Examples

13. How Well Can You Handle Criticism?

There will be times where counsellors are criticized hence it is important to be prepared and handle them well.

Tip #1: Show that you expected critiques from growth

Tip #2: Display that you could accept criticisms positively

Sample Answer:

Honestly, criticisms do affect me. However, I always teach myself to reflect on myself and accept the positive input from the criticisms. There were times where I was criticized for my conduct. Those critiques taught me to be more flexible in my approaches. I also learned to always ask for opinions from other parties, for instance, my senior colleagues or even the school administrators.

Questions about a therapist’s experience and background

These questions help interviewers identify your educational and professional background, which qualifies you for therapist positions. Here are some background-focused questions you might hear during your interview:

  • Where did you attend school, and what degrees did you receive?
  • What made you decide to become a therapist?
  • How many BBS hours do you currently have?
  • Can you tell me about a time you helped a client open up? How did you accomplish this?
  • What is your process for reporting instances of abuse or neglect?
  • Can you tell me about a time you had an angry client? How did you make progress with them?
  • What types of assessments, specific to trauma or evidence of it, have you used to help your clients?
  • Have you worked more with children, adults or families? What is your preferred specialty?
  • Can you explain your clinical process before, during and after a session with a client?
  • What is your organizational system like to keep track of client notes and other important information?
  • In-depth therapist interview questions help interviewers gauge your industry expertise and skill level. Here are some in-depth questions you might answer during your interview:

  • Can you tell me what DSM is and how therapists use it in practice?
  • How do you track mental health data, and why is it important to your work?
  • What would you consider to be the leading causes of mental health issues today?
  • How do you approach insurance billing and client expenses?
  • Would you be open to working odd hours or weekends to accommodate a clients schedule needs?
  • What methods do you use with your clients to help them avoid secondary trauma?
  • Would you be open to performing residential therapy for clients who do not feel comfortable leaving their houses?
  • What is the relationship between psychiatrists and therapists?
  • What coping methods would you suggest to a patient who does not want to be prescribed medication?
  • What are your thoughts on virtual therapy?
  • Interview Questions for Student Counselors:

    Demonstrates candidates understanding of the role and their expectations.

    6.    Describe Briefly Your Experience In This Field?

    This is another question that will provide insight on how experienced the candidate is.

    Tip #1: Be confident

    Tip #2: It is encouraged to provide numerical achievement

    Sample Answer:

    My previous school was facing a drastic drop in university admission among students for three consecutive years. I was one of the committees in charge of encouraging students to further their studies in universities of their choice. We planned and conducted events to expose students to good universities locally and abroad. The program managed to boost the percentage of university admission by 60% compared to the previous year.

    Related Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *