Check you have the right client
Check you have the right person before you begin your session. There is scope for confusion in busy clinics, but mistakes can occur even in otherwise empty waiting rooms.
Use your casenotes as a Foley file
Making notes of information incidental to the case enhances interactions. The more personal details you retain, the more intimate the interaction and the greater the sense of personal attention.
Give clients your full name and title
Introduce yourself with your full name and professional title. Clients can then decide how to address you as rapport builds, especially if you provide a reminder of your name (ie: a readable ID badge).
Overusing clients” names can mask inattention
Use of a client’s name to foster engagement may mask flagging concentration and inattention. Using a client’s name sparingly permits more accurate judgement of attention to the conversation or task.
Using clients” given names uninvited can backfire
Uninvited use of a client’’s given name can impede rapport in a number of ways. Moving from a position of formality to informality and intimacy is easier than backtracking.