Interview Questions

Question 1

Why this job/population?

Answer 1

I have always been passionate about working in the mental health field, and this job specifically stood out to me because of the opportunity to be able to be that helping hand through such a difficult time in someone’s life. I strongly believe that having strong support during such a time is important to healing process and is an essential component of overall well-being, and I am excited to be a part of a team that is committed to helping clients achieve their goals.

Question 2

Why would I be a good fit? What can I bring?

Answer 2

My passion of providing support and unconditional positive regard for those who have experienced trauma.

Question 3

What motivates you?

Answer 3

Making a true difference in the lives of my clients as well as their families

Question 4

What interest you about this role?

Answer 4

This position fits perfectly with my skill set and how I’m looking to grow in my career. I also want to be apart of helping people who are going through a difficult time overcome barriers to help them lead better lives.

Question 5

What do you know about this company?

Answer 5

The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) in Boise, Idaho, uses a trauma-informed therapeutic approach to support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Trauma-informed care is a treatment approach that takes into account the effects of trauma on individuals, including the impact on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. This approach recognizes that individuals who have experienced trauma may have unique needs and requires a safe, supportive environment that fosters healing and recovery.

The WCA offers a variety of trauma-informed therapeutic services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, including individual counseling, group therapy, and play therapy for children. They also offer specialized services such as art therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, which are both evidence-based treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating trauma-related disorders.

In addition to therapy, the WCA offers a range of supportive services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, including legal advocacy, emergency shelter, and assistance with basic needs such as food, clothing, and transportation. They also provide education and prevention programs to help raise awareness about domestic abuse and sexual assault in the community.

Overall, the WCA’s trauma-informed therapeutic approach is designed to provide survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault with the support and resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives in a safe and supportive environment.

Question 6

How would I be described?

Answer 6

• Caring
• motivated
• easy-going

Question 7

How would I describe myself?

Answer 7

-Open Minded
-Passionate
-Reliable

Question 8

Where do I see myself in 5 years?

Answer 8

In 5 years, I see myself being able to take on more responsibilities in my role as a case manager. I recently obtained my BSW degree and will be working towards my MSW starting January 9th. I feel that this will provide me with the necessary tools to be able to better assist my patients.

Question 9

How do you deal with stressful situations?

Answer 9

I see stressful situations as a challenge and a learning experience. This helps me to maintain a calm and positive attitude and look at the bigger picture. I like to break down my projects into smaller tasks and take each situation one step at a time.

Question 10

Difficult situation that I handled?

Answer 10

At creekside children’s crisis center, 2 of my clients were attempting to exchange social media contact information in my present and I knew I had to make a difference decision. Given that this was against company policy, it was my responsibility to report this, however, I knew that doing so would risk breaking their trust. In the end, I knew that reporting this incident was the best decision as contacting each other outside of the organization could lead to a lot of harmful situations.

Question 11

Accomplishment

Answer 11

Overcoming my fear of speaking to large groups as well as taking charge and leading multiple group therapy sessions.

Question 12

Strengths

Answer 12

• Self-motivated
• Time Management
• Strong work ethic

Question 13

Weaknesses

Answer 13

Taking my work home with me. When I first began working in the mental health field, I often found myself worrying about my clients throughout the evening. To combat this, I have been practicing breathing and meditation techniques when first getting home to help myself decompress from the day.

Question 14

Favorite therapeutic modalities

Answer 14

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Question 15

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Answer 15

CBT involves efforts to change thinking and behavior patterns

Question 16

What is motivational interviewing?

Answer 16

Helping them identify the problem by using what motivates them

Question 17

Questions

Answer 17

1. What are some challenges people typically face in this position?
2. What is the case load like?
3. Are there any opportunities for advancement?
4. What does a typical day to day look like?
5. What kind of support and resources are available to case managers to help them manage their caseloads effectively?

Question 18

Desired salary

Answer 18

Based on my research of the average targeted case manager salary in this region as well as the skills that I am able to demonstrate, I was hoping for around a salary of 38 to 42K

Question 19

Tell me about yourself

Answer 19

I currently live in pikeville, Ky with my partner and 2 cats. We’ve been living here for around 4 years while I’ve been attending eastern Kentucky university online. I recently obtained my BSW degree and am set to start working towards my MSW starting January 9th. I discovered my passion for social work a few years ago while taking a break from college. When I was first starting my educational journey, I knew I wanted to work with people but I just wasn’t sure how. I pursued dental hygiene and made it into the program completing 1 year. Although I was able to learn a lot of valuable skills from this experience, I knew that I wanted to be able to help people in a different more meaningful way. After a lot of searching, I realized that the values of social work aligned with my own and would provide me with the ability to do what I truly wanted, which is to help people change their lives for the better.

Question 20

WCA Mission

Answer 20

The WCA mission is to provide safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault. We are thankful to be able to serve our community.

Question 21

Challenges faced by this population

Answer 21

Fear and trauma: Women who experience domestic abuse and sexual assault often feel a great deal of fear, anxiety, and trauma as a result of their experiences. They may struggle to feel safe, even after they have left the abusive situation.

Physical injuries: Victims of domestic abuse may suffer physical injuries such as bruises, broken bones, and head injuries, while survivors of sexual assault may experience physical injuries, such as cuts and bruises, or sexually transmitted infections.

Emotional and psychological trauma: Domestic abuse and sexual assault can cause long-term emotional and psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and feelings of shame and guilt.
Financial instability: Women who are victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault may face financial instability as a result of their abuse. They may be prevented from working or may have to leave their jobs to escape their abuser, which can lead to financial difficulties.
Social isolation: Abusers often try to isolate their victims from friends and family, which can leave women feeling alone and unsupported.

Difficulty accessing support services: Women who are victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault may face barriers to accessing support services, including a lack of knowledge about available resources, stigma surrounding abuse, or fear of retaliation from their abuser.

Question 22

About WCA

Answer 22

WCA is a place that offers safety, healing, and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Question 23

WCA therapeutic Approach

Answer 23

Trauma informed therapeutic approach

Question 24

What is a trauma informed therapeutic approach?

Answer 24

A trauma-informed therapeutic approach is based on a number of principles, including:

Safety: A trauma-informed approach recognizes the importance of physical and emotional safety for individuals who have experienced trauma. This means creating a safe and secure environment in which individuals feel protected and supported.

Trustworthiness: Building trust with clients is essential in a trauma-informed approach. This means being transparent, reliable, and consistent in all interactions with clients.

Collaboration: Collaboration and partnership between the therapist and client is essential in a trauma-informed approach. The client is empowered to be an active participant in their treatment and to have a voice in the therapeutic process.

Empowerment: A trauma-informed approach seeks to empower individuals to take control of their own lives and to make decisions that are in their best interest. This means providing education, resources, and support to help clients make informed decisions about their care.

Cultural sensitivity: A trauma-informed approach recognizes the importance of cultural sensitivity and understanding in the therapeutic process. This means respecting the client’s cultural background, beliefs, and values, and working to ensure that their cultural needs are met.

Question 25

Trauma informed therapeutic approaches

Answer 25

Some specific therapeutic techniques that may be used in a trauma-informed approach include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, EMDR therapy, and somatic experiencing. These techniques are all designed to help individuals manage the symptoms of trauma and to work towards healing and recovery in a safe and supportive environment.

Question 26

Different types of therapy for WCA

Answer 26

Counseling, group therapy, play therapy for children, art therapy, and EMDR

Question 27

6 Steps to Support a Survivor

Answer 27

1. Listen
2. Validate
3. Ask what more you can do to help
4. Know where to point someone to for more help
5. Keep an open heart
   Remind a survivor you are available should they like to talk about their experiences further.
6. Finally, care for yourself
   There is a limit to what we are able to take in and process. The stories of someone else’s hardships related to a traumatic event can impact or become a part of us.

Question 28

Creating a safe environment for someone who has experienced domestic violence and sexual assault is crucial in supporting their healing process. Here are some steps you can take to create a safe environment:

Answer 28

Listen and believe: One of the most important things you can do is to listen to the survivor and believe their story. This can help them feel validated and supported, and can encourage them to seek further help.

Respect boundaries: It is important to respect the survivor’s boundaries and allow them to make their own decisions. This includes respecting their privacy and confidentiality, and not pressuring them to disclose information they are not comfortable sharing.

Provide options: It is important to provide the survivor with options and allow them to choose the path that feels safest and most empowering for them. This could include offering referrals to other support services, or discussing different options for reporting to the police or seeking legal assistance.

Trauma-informed care: A trauma-informed approach to service provision is crucial in creating a safe environment. This means understanding the effects of trauma and creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors. This could include providing emotional support, connecting them with appropriate resources, and ensuring that their physical environment feels safe and comfortable.

Non-judgmental attitude: It is important to adopt a non-judgmental attitude and avoid blaming the survivor for their experiences. Domestic violence and sexual assault are never the survivor’s fault, and it is important to convey this message in all interactions.

Safety planning: Safety planning is an important aspect of creating a safe environment. This could include discussing strategies for staying safe in the event of future violence or abuse, and connecting the survivor with resources for emergency assistance.

Ongoing support: Creating a safe environment is an ongoing process that requires ongoing support. It is important to check in with the survivor regularly and provide ongoing emotional support and advocacy as needed.

Question 29

Working with children who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault as a case manager can be a challenging but rewarding role. Here are some steps you can take to provide support:

Answer 29

Build trust: Building a trusting relationship with the child is key to creating a safe and supportive environment. This can be achieved by being consistent, honest, and reliable in all interactions.

Listen and validate: It is important to listen to the child’s experiences and validate their feelings. This can help them feel heard and understood, which is important in supporting their healing process.
Trauma-informed care: A trauma-informed approach to service provision is crucial in working with children who have experienced trauma. This means understanding the effects of trauma and creating a safe and supportive environment for the child. This could include providing emotional support, connecting them with appropriate resources, and ensuring that their physical environment feels safe and comfortable.
Child-centered approach: A child-centered approach to service provision is important in ensuring that the child’s needs are at the center of all decision-making. This means involving the child in all aspects of their care and ensuring that their voice is heard and respected.

Safety planning: Safety planning is an important aspect of working with children who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault. This could include discussing strategies for staying safe in the event of future violence or abuse, and connecting the child with resources for emergency assistance.

Advocacy: As a case manager, you will play an important role in advocating for the child and their needs. This could include advocating for their safety, connecting them with appropriate resources, and working with other professionals to ensure that their needs are being met.

Self-care: Working with children who have experienced trauma can be emotionally challenging, so it is important to have good self-care practices in place. This could include seeking support from colleagues, engaging in regular self-care activities, and taking time off when needed.

Remember that working with children who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault requires a great deal of empathy, sensitivity, and emotional resilience. It is important to have a strong understanding of the nature of these crimes and their impact on children, as well as a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.

Question 30

Developing a safety plan is an important step in supporting someone who has experienced domestic abuse and sexual assault. Here are some steps you can take to develop a safety plan:

Answer 30

Identify potential risks: Work with the survivor to identify potential risks and safety concerns, such as the presence of weapons, the abuser’s access to the survivor, or the likelihood of further violence or abuse.

Create a list of emergency contacts: This could include local police, domestic violence hotlines, or emergency shelters. Make sure the survivor knows how to access these resources and has phone numbers easily accessible.
Identify safe places: Work with the survivor to identify safe places they can go in the event of an emergency. This could include the home of a trusted friend or family member, a shelter, or a public space like a library or community center.
Discuss safe ways to communicate: It may be important to discuss safe ways to communicate with the survivor, such as using a code word to signal danger or creating a plan for texting or calling when it is safe to do so.

Create a plan for leaving: If the survivor is planning to leave the abuser, create a plan for doing so safely. This could include packing a bag with important documents and necessities, identifying a safe route out of the home, and having a place to go.

Document the abuse: Encourage the survivor to document any incidents of abuse, including dates, times, and details of what happened. This can be important if they choose to seek legal action or a restraining order.

Seek professional support: Encourage the survivor to seek professional support, such as counseling or legal assistance. Connect them with appropriate resources in the community, such as domestic violence hotlines or counseling services.

Remember that every safety plan is unique to the survivor’s needs and circumstances. It is important to involve the survivor in creating the plan and to be flexible and responsive to their changing needs. It is also important to regularly review and update the safety plan as needed.

Question 31

On average, how many times does it take for someone to leave their abuser?

Answer 31

7