Assessment in Behavioral Consultation: The Initial Interview

This paper describes the initial phase of behavioral consultation and presents nine objectives to be accomplished during the initial consultative interview. The purpose of this interview is to define and operationalize problem behaviors so that they can be measured and modified. Support is presented for the notion that the initial problem identification interview is perhaps the most difficult and at the same time the most important aspect of consultation. The paper concludes that while research on the efficacy of consultation is still appropriate, research of the individual contributions of the various components of consultation, such as the initial interview, is sorely needed.