The Identity in Context Interview

The Identity in Context Interview is a brief, phenomenologically oriented assessment tool designed to help clinicians understand how clients define their identities and how identity-related experiences shape their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Rather than cataloging identity categories for breadth, the interview prioritizes depth by exploring which identities feel most salient, how clients experience being treated across settings, and how repeated interactions with others and institutions influence expectations, self-perception, and coping. Through open-ended questions, the interview supports culturally responsive case conceptualization by situating psychological distress within clients’ lived sociocultural and systemic contexts. The interview is free for clinical and training use, though it should be cited when used in teaching, supervision, presentations, or scholarship. As a qualitative, clinician-administered tool, it is not intended to replace structured diagnostic assessments, and its usefulness depends on clinician skill, cultural humility, and the client’s capacity for reflection.

Suggested APA citation:
Steele, J. M. (2025). Identity in Context Interview: User manual. https://www.janeesteele.com/identity-in-context-interview