Communication is the foundation of every relationship. How individuals perceive theirconnection with their mental healthcare providers significantly influences the success oftheir treatment relationships (Finlay & Lyons, 2002). Many mental health professionals lackspecialized training in the field of intellectual disabilities (ID), including a lack of training incommunicating with patients who have limited expressive language skills. Although, inmost educational programs, the mental health assessment of patients focuses on history-taking, the mental status examination and the interview process, if an individual is nonverbalor has limited communication abilities, then the clinician may lack confidence in inter-viewing him or her.