Autism Evaluations:

Building Trusting
Relationships with Parents
Techniques for Interviewing Parents
Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D.

© 2010 Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D. www.autismconversations.com

 Au tis m Eva luati ons:
Building Trusting Relationships with Parents
Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D.

Building trust with parents is a critical part of a

child’s autism evaluation. How is trust established?
What is the best way to invite parents into their
child’s evaluation process?

A trusting relationship begins when parents are in-

vited to talk about their child. Many evaluators focus
on collecting checklist information from parents but
no parent sees their child as a checklist of behaviors.

The face-to-face parent interview is an essential build-

ing block in the relationship between a child’s parents
and the evaluation team.

Here are ten key factors that will help you conduct
highly effective and productive interviews with the
parents of the children you evaluate.

© 2010 Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D. www.autismconversations.com

 The Parent Interview
T e n Ke y Fac to rs
M a r i l yn J. Monteiro, Ph.D.

1. Take your time and meet face-to-face

Think of the interview as a semi-structured conversation
Have the seating arrangement convey this

2. Understand the importance of story telling

Parents need to tell their stories
We need to listen

3. Start with questions about the present

The present provides the natural entry point for this important conversation
Parents are concerned about issues related to their child in the present

4. Listen for themes and concerns:

This gives you cues about the language you need to use when
discussing the diagnosis in your next conversation

5. Include questions about positive attributes

Ask parents to pick three words to describe their child
Learn about what they like the most about their child

6. Ask what the parents hope to gain from your evaluation

Convey that they are collaborative partners in this process
Listen to any concerns they raise about the school program

7. Find out what the parents have read or learned so far about
autism spectrum disorders
This invites them to share their opinions, apprehensions, confusion
Helps establish trust with the evaluation team

8. Offer to explain the evaluation process involving their child

Emphasize the goal of getting to know their child’s worldview or way of thinking
Link that understanding with helping find practical ways to help their child develop the
skills he or she needs

9. Understand the role of the nonfinite grief dynamic

The parent interview provides a place to process this complex set of emotions through sharing stories
Structuring the interview around story telling and positive attributes addresses the grief dynamic in an
indirect but powerful way

10. Give parents behavior checklists

after the interview
When you give parents behavior checklists to complete after, rather than before, the parent interview
you are sending the message that their stories matter and that they are valuable participants in the
evaluation process

© 2010 Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D. www.autismconversations.com

Quick reference
ch ec k list fo r your pa ren t i n te rvie ws
Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D.

4
Check the box when completed

1. Take your time and meet face-to-face

2. Understand the importance of story telling

3. Start with questions about the present

4. Listen for themes and concerns

5. Include questions about positive attributes

6. Ask what the parents hope to gain from

your evaluation

7. Find out what the parents have read or learned

so far about autism spectrum disorders

8. Offer to explain the evaluation process involving

their child

9. Understand the role of the nonfinite grief dynamic

10. Give parents behavior checklists after the interview

© 2010 Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D. www.autismconversations.com