Clinical Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality and ...

chapter 5 Planning the Evaluation and Rapport Building97Chapter Summary1. The first step in planning an evaluationis to clarify the reason for referral,both in terms of the purpose of testingand the types of behavior that led to thereferral.2. Two important decisions that a clinicalassessor should make prior to starting anyevaluation is whether or not a formalevaluation is warranted and whether heor she is the most appropriate person toconduct the evaluation.3. In addition to competently administeringtests, clinical assessors must createan appropriate environment withinwhich the evaluation can take place.4. Building rapport with a child refers todeveloping a collaborative and supportiverelationship with the child for thepurpose of conducting the evaluation.5. Building rapport with other importantpeople who will be involved in the evaluation(e.g., parents, teachers) is alsocritical to the assessment process.6. A thorough and sensitive informed consentprocedure can play a major rolein showing respect to the child client,and his or her parents and thereby cangreatly aid in the establishment of rapport.7. An explanation of the testing procedureswith a child must be sensitive to alarge number of motivational and developmentalissues.