Administering the Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination SMMSE

This video demonstrates how to administer the Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) in a counseling setting. This type of exam is also referred to as a Mini-Mental Status Exam.

[@tammywitzke6642]

i really like how comfortable Dr. Grande makes clients feel during assessments. There is no pressure to perform.

[@katherinebeck593]

This was very well done, and shows how to keep your composure in an interview and remain non judgmental.

[@kyarapanula1002]

Unconditional Positive Regard has a spot even in assessment!

[@kelly4321]

This was a good showing about how an assessment should be conducted. It is good to remember to be neutral with tone and affect, and to not give any more to the client so they feel comfortable and not like they are doing something wrong or right. It shows how it is important to remain on topic and keep going even if the client isn't doing exactly what the instructions said. Good video to follow with mannerisms if a counselor was going to give assessments for the first time.

[@bethanyelstrom3566]

The pace of this assessment was more consistent than the previous assessment. The counselor's instructions were very clear and precise. This is a great example of what we could see during an assessment and not everyone is going to get all the answers correct. The important thing is to keep moving forward with the exam.

[@melissaclendaniel9811]

+Bethany Elstrom I agree, even though this is the same assessment we saw earlier, this session was more concise and deliberate in its delivery. I agree, it is important to move forward with the assessment.

[@MyDonh]

Dr. Grande spoke in a very calm and monotone fashion enunciating his words clearly so that the client fully understood the instructions.

[@veronicabetz9452]

Great review of how it should be done. Dr. Grande spoke clearly and concisely as he administered the test.

[@heather7927]

I appreciated in this video how Dr. Grande began the session by asking the client to try and answer them the best that she could. I liked the answers she provided such as saying beach season when he asked the season. I liked how when she responded Dr. Grande did not react to anything he stayed neutral and unaffected by her answers. When she said it was hard he didn’t comment. He then thanked her at the end. I think these are all useful in watching and observing. It’s harder then he makes it seem.

[@jazzynovy5400]

This was a good video to see how to administer a SMMSE to a client who may have cognitive deficiency. Dr. Grande did a good job with keeping his composure and neural even when the client did not follow the directions/answered incorrectly.

[@aliciazahn1718]

Dr. Grande kept a very consistent tone and pace. That is essential considering you do not want to tip you client off to how they have performed. It could be disheartening if the client gets the sense he/she is doing the test "wrong."

[@michellerobinson968]

+Alicia Zahn As a counselor we must display a neutral response and at times it can be challenging.

[@kimberlykelly386]

+Alicia Zahn I agree. I wonder how he would (and we should) respond to client's who ask how they did?

[@runner000777]

+Alicia Zahn Exactly!!

[@CandyKaneLane]

This video was a good example of what it would look like to administer the test to a person who is cognitively impaired. I like that Dr. Grande remained neutral with facial expressions and did not correct the client on her mistakes, it allowed her to be honest and complete the test without feeling bad about herself.

[@jazzynovy5400]

+Candace Fernandez I agree. Dr. Grande was very patient with the client and kept his composure.

[@amandagerrick5004]

Watching how you administered the test was a good review of what we had role played in class.

[@reginaames3038]

Great to see Dr Grande administer the standardized mini-mental state examination, he is very clam and neutral regardless of how she acts or responds.

[@brittanyvodzak9198]

After watching this video I have a better understanding of how to act when administering an exam to a client. I will want to have a neutral expression and keep on track with the questions. I also liked how this showed how to work with a client who might be struggling with the exam.

[@rachelfoster5463]

Dr. Grande did a great job keeping his expressions neutral. "Alice" was clearly having a difficult time, but he remained consistent and calm. Dr. Grande never showed surprise or confusion on his face.

[@aliciazahn1718]

+Rachel Foster You're right, even when she was saying how hard the drawing was.

[@bethanyelstrom3566]

+Rachel Foster During assessments it will be important for me to ensure I keep my poker face. I want to make sure that I do not embarrass the client if they can not perform a task.

[@sherrietilghman2745]

Yes, that will come after when we get more experience

[@runner000777]

Great Video! I love this assessment and test SMMSE. Cognitive exams are always interesting to administer!

[@jpincinjr]

This was done very well. Dr. Grandemaintained his composure even when the client got some items incorrect and did not show any judgment or partiality.

[@janicedixon2051]

From all the practice I got in class and after seeing this video I think I did a decent job administering this assessment during my role play.

[@melissaclendaniel9811]

This video was helpful to see. I felt that it really showed what it would look like if a client did show impairment on the assessment with how neutral Dr. Grande's expression remained through the session. In addition, I noticed how Dr. Grande did not linger or address any missed questions, he moved on to the next without giving an indication that the answer was incorrect. I think that this is important to show students how this situation should be handled and that the difficulties could be addressed when the scores were shared with the client.

[@michellerobinson968]

This video showed a client with significant impairment. I appreciated the monotone affect Dr Grande had as it is important to stay at a constant pace and show no expression or reaction to the client's responses.

[@thecorgisquad9861]

+Michelle Robinson The client definitely struggled with a lot of the items on this instrument; well played Renee! It was helpful to see someone taking the instrument and not passing it with flying colors.

[@rachelfoster5463]

+Michelle Robinson I also noticed how Dr. Grande kept a neutral expression throughout the entire assessment. As a counselor, it is important to be neutral when administering an assessment to a client because you do not want to nonverbally indicate how they are doing.

[@virginiamurrey9139]

While practicing administering this exam in class I was really nervous, because it was my first time practicing with a test like this. Seeing this video encourages me that the more I practice, the more confidence I may build.

[@rosasutton8472]

Thank you for this video. It was, indeed, a very good demonstration of the patience, understanding, and nonjudgmental composure that a counselor must maintain at all times.

[@scottmartin7764]

I completely agree this was a great demonstration of the patience, understanding and nonjudgmental composure that a counselor needs to maintain at all times, and Dr. Grande really knocked it out of the park with this client.

[@danielleduboski151]

I agree as well. This video is a great demonstration of how a counselor needs to stay neutral during the process.

[@Mjthfdj]

This was a good counseling demonstration on how to administer the SMMSE. Good video.

[@angelinastanton7996]

After watching the video, I feel more confident in administering this test to a client.

[@ushalincoln9224]

This was a good review of the activity of when we used this assessment in class.

[@carolkirby5869]

Dr. Grande does very methodically deliver this exam. He also maintains a very nonjudgmental posture that does not tip his hand on her performance.

[@michelemunday261]

Agree, he keeps his composure very well and never acts like a question is not being answered appropriately.

[@kyarapanula1002]

Even down to not responding when she said, "This is really hard!"

[@jacklinskibicki6098]

This video clearly demonstrated how to administer a SMMSE, but also portrayed how to interact and engage with a client that may struggle or have difficulty in certain areas of this exam.

[@brittanyvodzak9198]

+Jacklin Skibicki I also liked how this video showed how to work with a client that might be having difficulty.

[@monicaperry13]

This was a good reinforcement of the exam that we administered to each other in class.

[@alexdeloach6472]

I agree. I like that we are able to watch how they are administered and role-play in class.

[@thecorgisquad9861]

At first the monotone bothered me a little bit, but then I realized that it is imperative to maintain this neutrality so the client doesn't infer anything about how they are performing. His pace and expression were consistent.

[@mandabear52289]

+Jessica Muzzin I agree you don't want your clients responses to be influenced by your reactions to their answers.

[@loriwardwell2957]

Good review and example of how to stay steady and carry on an interview.

[@briannagoitiandia9833]

I agree that it is helpful that he continued on with the questions even when the client did not answer properly such as "beach season"

[@mandabear52289]

I understand the reason for the monotone and not reacting one way or the other to the clients responses. I think I would find it very hard though as I would want to provide encouragement especially if I saw them getting frustrated.

[@CandyKaneLane]

+Mandy Moore I agree, some sort of affect would be great, at least to allow the client to feel comfortable, however, on the otherside, by providing facial expressions and anything other than a calm, monotone demeanor, it could alter the way the client is feeling and/or responding to questions.

[@johnharrisjr2808]

I think Dr. Grande did a good job of of maintaining a neutral facial expression regardless of the response given by the client.

[@angelinastanton7996]

I agree that his facial expressions were very appropriate. I may have trouble holding a neutral face with clients sometimes.

[@zureezee1887]

I think this test is easily to administered to an agreeable client but may not be effective with a combative or psychotic client, but it is a good gauge to test where the client is at.

[@lizconnor1820]

I agree, someone who is disagreeable, not in the mood to answer those questions, or psychotic may make administration of the assessment difficult. It would be hard to maintain the same composure that he has in the video when that occurs and would probably be best to just end the assessment if you aren't getting anywhere with them.

[@rhondabaileyyy]

Great demonstration

[@sherrietilghman2745]

The mini mental can be lengthy and will need concentration on the counselor and clients part

[@kimberlykelly386]

I noticed that Dr. Grande clicks his pen when he asks the client to identify it. Assuming that's purposeful, I think that could help eliminate any question the client might have about pen vs. pencil. So, in this example, she still identified it as a pencil.

[@jpincinjr]

That's such a geat point! I didn't even notice that. This could definitely help the client understand without simple confusion.

[@kyarapanula1002]

In my mind, that was so she didn't see the tip of the pen (versus the tip of a mechanical or wooden pencil)....I wonder what the does to the client, though!