Sentio’s Free Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS) Videos

Open-source video stimuli for therapist training, research and practice

Sentio University created these free, open-source video clips as educational versions inspired by the Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS) test developed by Tim Anderson and colleagues. The purpose of this page is to make video practice materials available to therapists, students, supervisors, educators, and training programs anywhere in the world. These clips can be used to practice therapist responsiveness, empathy, warmth, emotional presence, alliance-building, rupture-repair, and other interpersonal skills.

The original FIS method asks therapists to watch brief video clips of simulated clients in challenging therapy moments and then respond as if they were the therapist in the room. The therapist’s response can then be reviewed, reflected on, practiced, or rated using FIS-informed criteria (see end of page for recommended readings on the FIS method.)

These Sentio clips are not the original FIS materials and are not a substitute for formal FIS research procedures, scoring, or certification. They are open educational practice materials designed to make this kind of therapist skill practice more accessible.

How to use these clips

Watch each clip as if the person in the video were your client. When the clip ends, respond out loud as the therapist. Try to answer naturally, in the moment, and to the best of your clinical ability. You can use these clips for self-practice, classroom teaching, supervision, deliberate practice, peer consultation, or therapist training.

Useful reflection questions after each response include: What was the client needing, asking for, or testing in this moment? Did I respond directly to the interpersonal challenge? Did I communicate warmth and empathy? Did I support hope or collaboration without becoming defensive or overly reassuring? What would I want to improve in my next response?

Instructions for Sentio students

Please watch all eight clips below, one at a time. After each clip, record yourself responding as the therapist. Your response should be what you would actually want to say to this client in that moment. Your recording should show only you responding to the clip. You may use Zoom or any other app that creates a video file with your face and voice clearly visible/audible. Responses are typically between 20 and 90 seconds long. When you have completed all eight responses, upload your video file or files to the folder specified by your Sentio instructor or course instructions.