Johnny Silva Cancer Research

The Intake Report

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Report writing constitutes a unique challenge to clinicians. You must consider at least five dimensions:

1. Determining your audience.

2. Choosing the structure and content of your report.

3. Writing clearly and concisely.

4. Keeping your report confidential.

5. Sharing the report with your client.

Before discussing these dimensions, it should be emphasized that interviewers have a responsibility to keep and maintain client records. Although this responsibility varies depending on your professional affiliation and theoretical orientation, failure to maintain appropriate records is unethical and, in some cases, illegal. The American Psychological Association's (1992) ethical code states:

Psychologists appropriately document their professional and scientific work in order to facilitate provision of services later by them or by other professionals, to ensure accountability, and to meet other requirements of institutions or the law. (p. 1602)

The American Counseling Association (ACA; 1995) includes an almost identical statement in its ethical code:

Counselors maintain records necessary for rendering professional services to their clients and as required by laws, regulations, or agency or institution procedures. (p. 4)

The guidelines as written by the American Counseling Association and American Psychological Association imply a balancing act; they suggest, but do not directly state, that written documents must meet standards set by more than one entity. This leads us to a discussion of the first challenge of report writing: Determining your audience.