Mock Counseling Interviews as Learning Experience for Dietetics Students

Abstract

The purpose of this learning activity was to provide dietetics students enrolled in a nutrition counseling course an opportunity for hands-on experience with client counseling. ‘Clients’ were actual outpatients from a local hospital nutrition clinic who volunteered for mock counseling sessions. Each ‘Client’ was provided verbal and written instructions regarding the set-up of the interview process prior to the interview date. The counseling setting was a room uniquely designed for observation of student counseling sessions, equipped with a two-way mirror and sound system. Each session was observed and video-taped by the course instructor through the 2-way mirror. Each of the fifteen students enrolled in the course was required to conduct a 15-minute counseling session. Guidelines for the session were reviewed in class prior to the assignment and outlined on a mock interview evaluation form. The intent of the activity was not to substitute for actual in-depth client counseling, but to allow students an opportunity to practice basic interviewing and counseling skills learned in class and to gain exposure to a ‘real-life’ counseling situation. Students were expected to practice basic counseling techniques and skills, such as rapport-building, questioning techniques, listening responses and teaching. Video-taped sessions were edited and highlighted by the instructor for later review in class to provide additional learning and critique of basic counseling skills. Students were asked to submit a self-evaluation of their performance in the counseling session in addition to instructor evaluation. Overall, the activity received high ratings from students and was rated as an excellent learning experience. Many stated the activity was an ‘eye-opener’ in that the challenges of effective nutrition counseling became more apparent with the actual ‘hands-on’ experience, as opposed to perceptions previously held based on didactic knowledge alone.