The Child Clinician’s Report-Writing Handbook


Buy It Now!

Report writing guide is vital reference source
(April 2008 Issue)

“The Child Clinician’s Report-Writing Handbook”
By Ellen Braaten Guilford Press
New York, NY, 2007

By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA

Psychologists spend considerable time writing reports, reading reports by other professionals and frequently, supervising the report writing of psychology trainees. Unfortunately, many reports are inadequate, poorly prepared and difficult to understand. This book is one of few that offers advice about report writing, specifically the work produced by child clinicians.

Psychologist Ellen Braaten wrote the book to help child mental health professionals structure the format and content of their evaluations, consolidate multiple sources of information and improve the language of reports. She organized the book creatively by having chapters follow the sequence of a typical evaluation. In total, there are three parts to the book that cover just about every element of conducting an evaluation and reporting the results.

Part I - Questions for Conducting a Psychological Evaluation of a Child or Adolescent, informs us about preparing for a diagnostic interview, obtaining a history, seeking informed consent, clarifying clinical presentation and many other pertinent activities required of evaluators. With regard to specific questions that can be posed to children, parents and teachers, Braaten arranges them cleverly by diagnosis. This approach allows the reader to sample information selectively by area of interest and specialty.

Part II of the book concerns Standard Terms and Statements for Wording Psychological Reports. There is a goldmine of recommendations found here, including tips for what should and should not be in a report, multiple ways of wording diagnostic and evaluative statements and how particular phrases can be linked to clinical disorders. The author also includes an exhaustive list of standardized instruments for child assessment and how best to present norm-referenced test results.

In Part III, Special Circumstances and Useful Resources, Braaten addresses issues such as writing reports for schools, making treatment recommendations and completing written products such as progress notes, discharge summaries, observation reports and functional behavioral assessments. There are sample reports that illustrate all of the concepts contained in the book, as well as useful forms that can facilitate written presentation of findings.

As someone who teaches and advises about professional writing, I welcomed the opportunity to review this book. It is a stellar accomplishment! Braaten clearly has a grasp on the essentials of good report writing and more. Her suggestions for conducting child evaluations are first rate and worthy of consideration by any clinician.

When I showed the book to a colleague, he commented that it might encourage "boiler plated" reports. To the contrary, I believe that conscientious professionals will see that "The Child Clinician's Report-Writing Handbook" promotes thoughtful, carefully formulated reports that are sensitive to each child and family. By referring to this vital reference source, your reports will inform and educate the people who read them.

James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA, is senior vice president, applied research, clinical training and peer review at the May Institute in Norwood, Mass.