A "sink or swim" philosophy frequently prevails in mental health settings today. Supervisors are overworked, and social work students and other beginning therapists feel thrown into clinical situations with little guidance. Seldom are they told just where to start and what to ask. This book is intended as a life raft for beginners and their supervisors. It shows them how to organize an approach to the initial phase of treatment, and alerts beginning clinicians to circumstances when they must seek reassurance or information from their supervisor. It not only offers all the necessary tools for garnering information from the client but also provides a framework for thinking about that information and formulating a thorough assessment. Topics include how to conduct first interviews with an adult, a child, a family, and a couple; how and why to take a mental status exam; how to think and ask about a client's medical history; how to take a developmental history on a child; how to determine whether a client might hurt somebody, including the therapist; how to determine whether a client might hurt himself or herself; how to determine whether the client is a substance abuser; how to recognize the signs and symptoms of neglect, physical or sexual abuse of a child; how to evaluate a report of psychological testing; and how to write an assessment. Sample forms and questionnaires, as well as examples of completed assessments, are included; these resources are likely to prove especially useful when the therapist suspects substance abuse, possible violence, or abuse of a child. Where to Start and What to Ask will enable therapeutic neophytes to navigate even rough clinical waters with competence andassurance.