Which statement is clearly not a purpose of an initial interview?

• A. Obtain a firm commitment to limit discussion only to specific situations.
• B. Establish rapport.
• C. Identify presenting problem.
• D. Gather essential history.

Answer: (A)

In an initial interview, the focus is on building a trusting relationship and gathering enough information to understand what brought the person in and how best to help. Limiting the discussion to only specific situations would hinder that process, because the first meeting is meant to be exploratory and broad enough to capture the full scope of concerns, history, and context.

Establishing rapport helps the client feel safe and willing to share openly, which is essential for a truthful assessment. Identifying the presenting problem clarifies the primary reason for seeking help and guides the direction of the interview. Gathering essential history provides background on prior services, mental and physical health, family and social supports, functioning, and risk factors, all of which inform diagnosis, planning, and referrals.

So that choice isn’t a typical purpose of the initial interview because it restricts exploration and relationship-building, which are core to the intake process.