Clinical uses of an adolescent intake questionnaire: Adquest as a bridge to engagement

Open dialogue concerning behavioral and environmental risks is key to effective, holistic intervention with urban adolescents. Topics for discussion must include substance use, sexual behaviors and abuse, health concerns, exposure to violence and racism, school performance, and relationships with family and peers. Clinical engagement of adolescents requires focusing the therapeutic relationship on issues of their own choice, at their own pace. This article describes the clinical uses and practice impacts of a comprehensive adolescent self-assessment questionnaire (Adquest). By normalizing sensitive topics and allowing clients to exercise control over the therapeutic agenda and pace, Adquest serves as a "bridge to engagement," a device for keeping the clinical dialogue open and a mode of induction to the client role. For staff, it represents a way of standardizing and broadening clinical assessment, identifying treatment objectives, and framing psycho-educational interventions.