As we all know, biopsychosocial assessment is the all-important starting point for the psychotherapeutic process. It is our opportunity to gain an understanding of why the client is coming to see us, and what the journey will be like.
From clients I have worked with, there are varying degrees of balance between enjoyment and frustration through the “time consuming” process. One area I consistently support, with some caveats, is the use of questionnaire forms to capture client histories.
While it’s important to not over rely on their use, a well-developed survey can help you gather historical data in advance of the first appointment with the client. This can save a ton of time in capturing this information -- which is important for the overall client picture -- and leave you and your client to spend more time focusing on current and recent issues.
Of course, that said, I will always encourage you to have the new client complete the survey before the first appointment, so you have the opportunity to review their responses during the assessment in order to ensure you have a good understanding of their history.