Research-backed ways to boost client satisfaction and engagement from the initial session and beyond

Interview with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • Course Description

    Many clients take the first step to see a psychotherapist and do not return after the first session. Why do people disengage so early, when we clinicians have so much to offer? One of the key reasons is that we are too focused on conducting an ‘Intake’ instead of finding a way to Give… we have to find ways to deepen the engagement with our clients right from the first session of therapy. This interview discusses research-backed strategies to improve the client experience of this first initial psychotherapy sessions.

  • Learning Objectives

    Upon completing this course, participants will be able to: List three or more limitations of ‘sterile intake assessment’ procedures on client retention and outcomes; Explain the importance of ‘intent’ in the early stages of psychotherapy and its impact on outcomes; Describe three or more strategies for improving client/therapist rapport during early stages of treatment


    Target Audience and Instructional Level
    This course is intended for psychologists, therapists, social workers, clinical counselors, and addiction counselors. Instructional level: Introductory/Intermediate

  • How To Take This Course

    In order to receive a certificate of completion reflecting the associated CE credit hour, you must:
    #1: Have an active paid Clearly Clinical membership
    #2: Listen to the corresponding course podcast
    #3: Achieve a passing grade on the post-presentation test (the test has up to ten questions and you must earn a score of at least 80%; you are able to re-test)
    #4: Complete the requested course evaluation.

    Course elements (including the course audio, post-test, and requested course evaluation) can be completed on a computer or mobile device via your Clearly Clinical account.

  • Course Format

    This high-quality and interesting course contains a one-hour, non-interactive audio podcast presentation which is available for free via all major public podcast providers. You can also listen to and download the file via our course player.

  • Commercial Support

    There is no known commercial support or conflict of interest for this CE program, presenter, sponsor, instructor, or content. The instructor, Dr. Daryl Chow, mentions his website/book as potential resources to learn more about this topic.

  • Certificate Access Details

    Once you've completed the course, your certificate will automatically populate in the 'Certificate' section of your account; it will also be emailed to you. Access to completion certificate will expire 365 days after issuance. Course certificates will be on file for ten (10) years from date of course completion.

  • Accommodations

    If you have special needs or need an accommodation, please email us at info@clearlyclinical.com and we will do our best to assist you.

Interviewer and Interviewee

Daryl Chow, PhD, PSY

Feedback Informed Treatment Expert

Daryl Chow, Ph.D. is a Senior Associate with the International Center for Clinical Excellence. In his home country Singapore, Daryl worked as a senior psychologist in the Institute for Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, as well as in the Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIP). In addition, he spearheaded and collaborated in clinical researches involving psychotherapy outcomes, effects of training clinicians in Difficult Conversations in Therapy (DCT). Daryl conducts workshops in Australia, Singapore and Chicago on the topics of feedback informed treatment (FIT), clinical supervision, professional development, as well as intensive workshops for the general public and mental health professionals.He is currently based in Western Australia, endorsed as a counseling psychologist and board approved clinical supervisor, working with a group of vibrant private practitioners located in Henry Street Centre, Fremantle, WA.

Please visit Dr. Chow at DarylChow.com, and
The First Kiss: Undoing the Intake Model and Igniting First Sessions in Psychotherapy.

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias, MS, LMFT

Interviewer & Clearly Clinical Founder

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias (she/her) is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and the Founder and President of Clearly Clinical. She has specializations in Clinical Documentation, Best Practice, and Utilization Review, and works closely with clinical teams across the US as a trainer and national conference presenter; Beth was formerly an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University in the Graduate Psychology and Education department. Licensed in California and Oregon, she provides therapy via her private practice to young adult and adult clients, members of the LGBTQ population, and those with addictive disorders. She has two young children, a super cool spouse who helps out with Clearly Clinical's tech, and a rescue dog.

See why we're the country's premier CE provider

  • CONVENIENT: All courses are 1-hour podcast episodes, available on all public podcast platforms

  • AFFORDABLE: We offer quality CE courses through a reasonably-priced membership

  • SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE: We donate to The Trevor Project for LGBTQIA+ youth suicide prevention

  • WOMEN-OWNED: We are founded and run by Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • DIVERSE: We feature women and expert presenters from historically-marginalized communities

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