I am not aware of a specific tool, but this may be a good article to read/check citations from and of.

Frühauf, S., Figlioli, P. Oehler, D., & Caspar, F. (2015). What to expect in the intake interview? Impression management tactics of psychotherapy patients. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 34, 28-49.

You may also want to look at the literature on social desirability.

Sorry for the double-answer, but Dr. Barry Farber also does interesting work on self-disclosure to the therapist, and has published an instrument (Disclosure to Therapist Inventory), assessing the extent of disclosure and emotions associated with it, which is currently on its 5th edition.

In practice, the client displays resistance; neither do I know of a precision measuring instrument; but the client may be faced with the initial accusations, with the results at certain scales that evaluate his problem; is the counselor's ability to unmask it. Great attention to the defensive mechanisms used by the client can illustrate certain aspects.

Critical is how the client comes to the counselor: when she/he is not desiring any change in him/herself, anything can happen in the sense of resistance. I myself, first, do not believe I need to know the correct description of the issue. Next I will act naively, as if I belief all what is said. The methods I use do not require me to know much: so the client can keep everything they want to hide to themselves. Look for instance at James Lawley and Marian Way (2018): Insights in Space, clean space methods. There is no room for resistance at all. Since here the client may just waist his/her time and be the only one who knows. Or in my own Social Panorama work (Social Panoramas, 2006). This also leaves no room for any discussions. So beside the motivation of the client, the idea that the therapist/counsellor should know what the issue is, is the other ciritical point. And this transcents culture.

I agree with the point of view described above!

I agree with all of the opinions shared for this question. After reading Mr.Lucas Albert Charles Derks views on this issue, i perceived that it depends on communicative process during counselling and counsellor's skill and expertise and especially his method(belief system) of dealing with clients.

Recently i noticed that graphology could be used to assess clients' predominant tendencies and preferences in life.I applied it to 5 of my students, with whom i have little interaction. Through their writing i guessed some predominant aspects of their lives and to my surprise, these found to be accurate (as per their comments.) Some of the issues which they did not express with their classmates are revealed through this small exercise. I added non-verbal expressions too while considering the results. I must verify it with more number of students to generalise it though. Until then, i cannot generalize these results. But one thing is sure, it could be tested in counselling scenario.

So without revealing the inferences of graphology induced information, i think, counsellor could form series of hypotheses and modify his hypotheses with each session and when the hypothesis(final reduced hypothesis) can not be changed, the counsellor could get a specific intervention to apply to the client.

Whomsoever reads this comment of mine, kindly correct, edify, if this view is correct or suggest if something else needs to be added in this regard .

Thank you so much reading this comment.

Regards

Dr. Deepthi Balla

I believe that anybody who walks in for counselling is brave, yet vulnerable. I respect that and therefore am prepared for some amount of resistance. If I am truly empathetic then my compassionate acceptance should be enough to help the client give up the resistance, after all, all of us would like others to change even when we know deep down that change has to start from me....

This sounds unusual. Does the question have anything to do with legal issues or having the therapist testify? Resistance can be in the service of the ego. However, in the way the question is phrased it makes me wonder what is suspected. An MMPI-2 can usually can detect malingering if that is what is being asked about.

As a clinician and w/ client permission I invite significant others into a client's session. This is especially pertinent when working w/ SUD. And I have also had success by asking the client what significant others might tell me if they were in the room w/ us. It is a form of indirect vicarious reasoning. Invariably, I've found the client then to be more honest.

Rich

Depends on what secondary gain, if any, exists for the client.

From body language & eye contact

Thanks for your interesting question. I don't know of any culture-free psychological measurement for your purpose.

In your situation, I'd take an alternative route; that is, I'd conduct a good clinical interview and/or ongoing therapy sessions to discern and assess the client's motive, motivation, etc. based on my behavior observation of the client, knowledge of his/her cultural background, personality make-up, issues, needs, and strengths, etc. In addition, collateral contacts with informed consent can sometimes provide good information that I can't get from the client.

I agree with Dr Cheung but not collateral sources unless this is a forensic eval or one for social security disability.