Professional Interviewing Skills in Social Work

Every successful social work intervention begins with one essential professional skill: the ability to conduct an effective interview.
Whether meeting a client for the first time, completing a psychosocial assessment, managing a crisis, or facilitating long-term intervention, social workers rely on interviewing skills to build trust, gather accurate information, understand complex life situations, and support meaningful change.
Professional Interviewing Skills in Social Work is a comprehensive, evidence-based guide designed to help students, educators, and practicing social workers master the art and science of professional interviewing.
This book moves beyond communication theory to provide practical guidance for every stage of the interviewing process-from preparation and rapport building to assessment, questioning strategies, data interpretation, documentation, and reflective practice. Readers will learn how to conduct interviews that are ethical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and focused on empowering clients while maintaining professional standards.
Special attention is given to interviewing individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, mental health challenges, family conflict, social exclusion, and other complex circumstances frequently encountered in contemporary social work practice. The book also explores motivational interviewing, active listening, non-verbal communication, cultural humility, digital interviewing, and the integration of technology into modern practice.
Grounded in international social work standards and supported by current evidence, this volume combines academic rigor with practical application, making it suitable for university teaching, professional training, field education, and continuing professional development.
More than a communication manual, this book is a guide to developing confident, ethical, and reflective professionals capable of conducting interviews that foster trust, informed decision-making, and positive outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Why This Book Is Worth Reading

1. Master practical interviewing techniques that can be applied across healthcare, child protection, mental health, community services, corrections, schools, and palliative care.
2. Develop the confidence to conduct ethical, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and evidence-based interviews in complex professional situations.
3. Learn a structured interviewing framework that strengthens assessment, communication, documentation, and professional judgment.

1. A comprehensive textbook and practical reference aligned with contemporary international social work education and practice.
2. Combines evidence-based communication strategies with real-world interviewing techniques for immediate professional application.
3. An invaluable resource for students, educators, supervisors, and practicing social workers committed to excellence in client-centered practice.