University of South Carolina

College of Social Work

Field Education Office
Process Recording Template
Student: Mysticka Robinson Date: March 4, 2021 Agency: SBIRT

1. Client System: Female, 23, French nationality, 4 months pregnant

2. Presenting Issue (s): consuming 2 drinks everyday along with socially drinking on weeknights and weekends
3. Purpose: Interview/ Observation: Helping find an alternative to drinking every day, cutting down drinking frequency to avoid
health risks

Content of Contact Student Observation of Student Feelings, Reactions, Competencies Field Instructor Comments
(b) Client (c) Observations of Self (d) Demonstrated (e) (a)
SW Good Afternoon, my Sitting slouched over with a I was extremely nervous to I maintained a calm with Try to mirror the client’s
(YOU) name is Mysticka, very stern face begin the SBIRT an upbeat tone. tone and body language
and I am your social
worker today. How
are you doing?
Client I’m good, thanks for Answer was short and This made me feel nervous, but
asking. seemed as if she was I remained calm
disinterested.
SW Well, that’s good. Client continued with eye Feeling confident in starting
The reason that we’re contact the conversation.
meeting today is
because you answer
some question on an
intake survey stating
you use alcohol
frequently. Do you
mind if I ask you
some more questions
about that?
Client Yeah, I guess that’s Still seeing disengaged This made me extremely Kept an upbeat and
okay nervous as if I wasn’t doing hopeful tone.
well enough
SW Before we go into
anything too deep,
would you mind me
 asking what happens
to be your drink of
choice?

Client I enjoy drinking wine She seemed lively when Happy that she seemed
mainly with shots telling me her drink of engaged now
from time to time. choice.
SW Something we
administer to get a
better understanding
is called an AUDIT.
Would you mind
answering some
questions for me?

Client Yeah, that’s fine.

SW How are you feeling

after answering those
questions?
Client I’m okay. Just a little She continued to keep a I felt hopeful and thankful that
overwhelmed. straight face she was vulnerable with me
SW Well, that’s I gave her reassurance
completely normal that her vulnerability is
and I do appreciate very valid while thanking
you being vulnerable her for being open with
with me. Hopefully me.
as we walk through
and break things
down as we get
deeper into the
conversation, you’ll
begin to understand
better. After going
over your AUDIT,
where you scored
suggest possible
health impacts.
Would you feel
comfortable with me
 sharing this
information with you
in connection with
your results?
Client Sure. She held eye contact the This made me feel as if she was
entire time actually intaking what I was
saying.
SW Okay, I see that there Try not saying “okay” or “I
have been some understand”
positives to this
conversation. Is there
a plan that you see
for yourself? And
this goes with
thinking about
maintain your
relationships as well
as helping with
cutting down your
stress factors as well.
I do remember that
you enjoy drinking
because it was a
socializing
connection for you. If
you are considering
reduction, along with
the benefits of
reduction as well, it
could help you out
physically, mentally,
and even socially.
So, with this all
being said, what does
change look like for
you?

Client I recently read a blog Excited because I felt that I had I stayed calm, continued
and saw Pregnancy helped her make a change in to make eye contact, and
yoga. So, I might this moment showed interest in what
give that a try. And she was saying.
 with the baby
coming, it might
actually help with
stress along with my
marriage.
SW So, what I’ve heard I assumed that she was going
you say is that you’d to quit drinking completely for
stop drinking. What the yoga
would you do in its
place?
Client I never said that I Face was very firm, and I was taken back by her My face expression They stated that I should
would stop drinking, tone seemed agitated response but understanding changed, and I gathered be thankful for the client
just replace drinking because I made an assumption myself and calmed down being open and using the
two times a week correction as information
with the pregnancy to help them instead of it
yoga seeming like a loss.
SW Have you thought of Her face changed to a I tried to change up the They stated that they were
where you would fit pondering look. She conversation to see if she happy that I didn’t press
it into your busy seemed to stop and think would actually get a chance to the issue with her
schedule? about what I asked utilize the yoga completely changing. Just
getting her to consider
change was a good step
forward.
Client No, I haven’t thought
about that yet
actually.
SW Well, I hope that you I felt that she actually would
are able to find some think about how she could fit it
time to add it into in without adding another
your schedule. stressor to her life.
Please provide a self-assessment once you have completed in full the above.

Interpret the interview:

Include detail about the tone and climate of the setting, your initial impressions of attitudes and
feelings of the client, what attitudes and feelings you brought to the interview, what significant
changes in the client occurred during the interview in terms of appearance, gestures, posture?
 The tone from the client was very monotone and the responses were very short and to the point. She had a very
slouched posture to her along with not really showing an interest in the beginning. I felt as if she only came to the
 session because she was referred to me. She felt that since her baby wasn’t in harm’s way, she didn’t really need to
focus on. I brought a positive, upbeat vibe to the session in hopes of helping her make a change. During the section
when we talked about possible health risks, she was very nonchalant about them all in a “matter of fact” kind of
attitude. She would move around from time to time. She smiled when she talked about her drinking, her baby, and
her marriage. Her face remained very flat throughout majority of the session. She shifted her body language when
we began talking about her implementing the changes to her life.
Analyze why you think your interaction with the client unfolded in the manner it did. What is
your assessment of your client’s reaction(s)? Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your
intervention and identify an area you would like to improve upon for your next session. Note at
least three questions to bring to your next supervision with your field instructor.
 Our interaction unfolded the way it did because of the way the conversation was coached. Slowly guiding her into
becoming comfortable enough to share any concerns or even information with me was a key point in building
rapport. While talking to one another, the client tended to be extremely calm and held a straight facial expression
majority of the session. She seemed to have no concern about her health being that she wasn’t exhibiting any risk at
all. Some strengths of the session would be the constant eye contact along with reflecting. Not pushing the client
into dropping her drinking frequently was also another strength as well. Some weaknesses were phrases like “okay”
or “cool” or “I completely understand.” Those phrases could seem as if I am disinterested in what she is saying.
Another weakness was my tone and embrace to the client. I was more upbeat whereas the client was more in a
mellow/serious tone. An area I would like to improve upon would be getting the client to engage more along with
helping the client not feel as overwhelmed and more confident in their life changes.

How many hours do you spend working on paperwork when it comes to the clients?
How active are you in the group homes?
What specific requirements did you have to meet to become a Program Manager?