Unlock the full potential of the Gordian Strategic Interviewing Model in our ultimate advanced refresher training. Develop expert ability to recognise linguistic markers of the cognitive styles and patterns in the model by enhancing your forensic interviewing approach and your detection of linguistic behaviours. This training will advance your therapeutic analytical skills to understand what clients are really telling you—and what they’re not.

Deborah Biderman’s wealth of experience as a trainer and assessor at IAP and supervisor, will assist you to deepen your understanding of the model’s crucial cognitive styles and patterns. Master’s student in Communication, Behaviour, and Credibility Analysis, Amanda Barber, brings a leading-edge academic background in strategic interviewing, forensic linguistics, and behaviour analysis, to home your interviewing and analysis craft.

This comprehensive training is designed to tangibly develop your therapeutic expertise and ability to rapidly and accurately, detect and discern hidden information in what your clients say and to enable you respond effectively and strategically in a clinical setting.

Overview

Time Allocation and Session Breakdown

• Total Duration: 2 Hours
• Facilitators:
  • Deborah Biderman: Focuses on cognitive styles, Gordian checklist, managing therapists’ assumptions, and model consistency.
  • Amanda Barber: Leads advanced analytics, objective interpretation, forensic interviewing and linguistics tips, and validity logic.

Workshop Structure

1. Introduction and Objectives – (5 minutes)
2. Led by Deborah and Amanda: Welcome, objectives, and agenda to set expectations and outline goals. Safe and Inclusive Environment: Set guidelines for open, respectful interaction. Real-Time Feedback and Q&A: Both facilitators provide on-the-spot feedback during activities for practical reinforcement.
   • Note invitation to complete research study at the end of the training for additional CPD point.

Part 1: Refresher on Gordian Cognitive Styles and Patterns – (35 minutes)

• Led by Deborah (25 minutes): Concise review of cognitive styles, patterns, and distortions on the Gordian checklist, including varied manifestations with practical relevance.
• Interactive Examples (10 minutes): Group discussion with quick case examples, to help participants identify variations in cognitive styles.
  • Learning Objective: Recognise and differentiate cognitive styles and distortions, considering context-specific manifestations.

Part 2: Analytics and Interpretation – Beyond the How Question – (30 minutes)

• Introduction to the How Question (10 minutes) – Led by Deborah
  • Importance of effective how questions in guiding strategic interviewing, with examples of strong and ineffective how questions.
• Advanced Forensic Analysis Techniques (10 minutes) – Led by Amanda
  • Amanda discusses the dynamic nature of communication in forensic interviewing, including how question framing impacts responses.
• Scenario Analysis (10 minutes) – Facilitated by Amanda
  • Practical exercise: Participants analyse statements initially without context, then with full context to discuss how interpretations change. Ending with reflection on shifting perceptions.
  • Learning Objective: Strengthen analytical adaptability and recognise context’s influence on interpretations.

Part 3: Managing Bias and Ensuring Consistency with the Model – (20 minutes)

• Bias Recognition and Adherence to the Model (10 minutes) – Led by Deborah
  • Common bias traps and emphasis on sticking to model markers.
• Examples in Group Supervision (10 minutes): Deborah and Amanda share examples to illustrate bias influence and objective assessment.
  • Learning Objective: Develop awareness of personal biases and reinforce adherence to model consistency.

Part 4: Advanced Forensic Analytics and Validity Assessment – (30 minutes)

• Logic Devices and Validity Assessment (15 minutes) – Led by Amanda
  • Amanda introduces tools for assessing statement validity, distinguishing between helpful and unhelpful information. Links examples back to cognitive styles and distortions to demonstrate logical application.
• Interactive Group Exercise (15 minutes): Amanda facilitates an exercise for participants to assess the validity and logic of statements using cognitive markers.
• Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways: Final summary of key points and encouragement to apply workshop insights in practice.
  • Learning Objective: Equip participants with advanced techniques to evaluate validity and apply structured logic to therapeutic analysis.

Research Invitation:

Participants invited to participate in research and a brief explanation of how to undertake the questionnaire provided by Amanda.

Note: Post-workshop feedback requests will be sent via email, allowing the full two hours for content delivery and practical engagement.