When a client attends for a face to face counseling session for the first time, advisers can be handicapped by not having any background information about the client.
People tend to start talking about a particular problem they have.
Therefore an adviser must pick up information about the client as they go along. If, for example, a client starts talking about the problems they are having at work, it may be difficult to find out all the other background information the adviser may need. A few counseling sessions may be held, discussing one particular area the client has highlighted. The adviser and client have built up a close relationship, but important personal details may still not be known. An initial computer interview held just prior to the first counseling session would eliminate these difficulties.