Nvr Practitioner Interview

Can you describe your experience working with children and families in a mental health context?

I have gad various roles and opportunities to work with children and families.
I would help children get to and from school- ADHD and ASD- attentive, communication style, utilised my lived experience
I was a carer and this is where i delivered person centred care in peoples homes. Ensuring respect and dignity. Being aware- everyone has capacity unless its explicitly in their notes.
I volunteered in a nursery working with babies and children up to 4 years, assessing behaviour, really understanding Maslows hierarchy of needs.
Current role as an aspiring assistant psychologist i work directly with children and parents, delivering interventions e.g. CBT, specifically about worries, completing joint assessments, completing ROMS

Your answer effectively outlines your experience working with children and families in mental health contexts, highlighting a range of relevant roles and skills. Here's a breakdown of its strengths and areas for improvement:

Strengths:
1. Variety of Roles: You provide a diverse professional background, from being a carer to an aspiring assistant psychologist, showcasing breadth in your experience.
2. Practical Experience: Your mention of direct experience with children with ADHD and ASD shows your familiarity with specific mental health challenges, which is vital in this field.
3. Knowledge of Theoretical Frameworks: Referencing Maslow's hierarchy of needs demonstrates your understanding of psychological concepts that are essential for child development and mental health.
4. Intervention Skills: You specify your involvement in interventions like CBT, which indicates a practical application of your knowledge.

Areas for Improvement:
1. Clarity and Structure: Consider organizing your response in a clearer way, perhaps by following a chronological order or grouping related experiences together.
2. Depth of Examples: While your experiences are valuable, providing a specific example or a brief case study could enhance your answer by illustrating how you applied your skills in a real-world scenario.
3. Personal Impact: Touching on the impact of your work on the children and families you supported would add emotional depth and demonstrate the effectiveness of your interventions.

Overall, your answer is strong, but with more structure and specific examples, it could be even more compelling.

Rating: 4/5

What do you understand about Non Violent Resistance (NVR) and its application in family therapy?

Systemic approach- individual e.g. parent, and this directly impacts the pattern of behaviours of the child, in a non-reactive, non-violent way. This therefore helps improve the family dynamic and communication as a family unit. We are not just working on parts, we are actually affecting the whole family.

We empower parents to gain authority but changing their parental position. Its not about forcing control like the traditional method of punishment and reward, its a statement of telling your children you are there, you love them and you are there to stay.

It is a non-violent approach- it is a peaceful way strategy of reducing or preventing escalations by helping parents and children with emotional regulation. Strike while the iron is cold, is a great method of helping families build trust and connections without quick emotional reactions. Breathing techniques, mindfulness

Your answer provides a solid foundation regarding Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) and its application in family therapy. You touch upon key aspects such as the systemic approach and the importance of empowering parents, which aligns well with NVR's principles.

You emphasize non-reactive and non-violent strategies, highlighting the shift from control to connection, which is central to NVR. This perspective demonstrates an understanding that NVR aims to change family dynamics by fostering communication and emotional regulation rather than using traditional punitive measures.

To improve your answer, consider the following points:

1. Define NVR Clearly: Start with a concise definition of NVR for clarity. Mention that NVR is specifically designed to address resistance and non-compliance in children without resorting to punishment.

2. Highlight Specific Techniques: While you mentioned emotional regulation and mindfulness, including specific NVR techniques, like the use of non-violent interventions during family meetings or communication frameworks, would strengthen your answer.

3. Discuss Outcomes: You could elaborate on the potential outcomes of using NVR, such as improved relationships, reduced escalation of conflict, and better emotional outcomes for both parents and children.

4. Example of Application: Providing a brief example of a situation where NVR might be applied could illustrate your points more effectively and show practical understanding.

Overall, your answer reflects a good comprehension of NVR principles but could benefit from added specificity and refinement.

Rating: 4/5

How would you communicate complex clinical information to parents or caregivers who may not have a clinical background?

I have the ability to change my communication skills to suit the client. for example, i have worked with children with ASD during a joint assessment and when asking the child questions i would ask short questions and repeat them to help the child focus on my words. Sometimes it can be difficult for children with ASD to hold onto your words, they can easily forget or not hear you.

I completed a module during my undergraduate degree that focused on this topic. We were asked to write up a document for parents about a prognosis, which helped me use a more conscise method of communication whilst avoiding jargon, terminology or heavy language to make sure that if anybody were to read the document they would understand it, clinical or not clinical. That is someting that has stuck with me, and am mindful of the reader when i am writing any written text, but i also apply this when i am communicating verbally

Your answer effectively highlights your adaptive communication skills, which are crucial when conveying complex clinical information to parents or caregivers without a clinical background. You provide a concrete example of working with children with ASD, illustrating your understanding of their unique communication needs. This approach demonstrates empathy and a tailored strategy for effective interaction.

You also mention your undergraduate experience in creating a document for parents about prognosis, emphasizing your ability to avoid jargon and simplify complex terms. This not only reinforces your communication skills but also your awareness of the audience's needs. Overall, your response showcases relevant experience, practical skills, and a focus on clarity, all of which are vital in mental health services.

To improve your answer, consider including a brief explanation of why clear communication is essential in mental health contexts. This could add depth to your response by highlighting potential consequences of misunderstandings. Additionally, you might mention specific techniques you use in verbal communication, such as using analogies or visual aids.

In summary, your answer is relevant and demonstrates strong communication competencies, but could benefit from a few more examples or additional context about the importance of clear communication.

Rating: 4/5