One of the cornerstones of sustainable and successful practice within social work is use of self (Dewane, 2006). The social work profession uniquely employs the person of the therapist and his or her experience to create a successful helping relationship and is integral to the experience of seeing a social worker. However, it is also important for professionals to give thoughtful consideration to how they will use and disclose themselves (Henretty, J. R., & Levitt, H. M., 2010). Henretty encourages intentionality in the therapist’s use of self, articulating that nondisclosure cannot be the copout and that intentional ways of self-disclosure must be thought through now. This intentionality that Henretty encourages is effective when therapist …show more content…
The intersection of multiple target identities has caused me to believe strongly in the power of agency and progression. Observing the impact of these target identities on many individuals and their choices to overcome convinced me that anyone can overcome barriers in their lives. The human spirit is so resilient that anyone can master anything if only they condition themselves to believe and persevere. The idea guides my attitude towards relationships, I consistently search for ways to help friends realize their resilience and overcome personal obstacles. This assumption produce an insistent approach when dealing with populations with similar target identities. When with clients, I intently search with them for their capacity to better themselves at whatever level possible and then encourage them to act upon that capacity. Expression and use of this belief with a client is a modality use of self that must be balanced in order to work well within the therapist-client relationship (Dewane, 2006). The belief that I maintain that growth and betterment is possible for everyone is one that I apply in my professional life via the employment of
Weick (1992) states “every person has an inherent power that may be characterized as life force, transformational capacity, life energy, spirituality, regenerative potential, and healing power, which is a potent form of knowledge that can guide personal and social transformation” (p. 24). No matter the crisis or oppression, it needs to be brought to client’s realization that they are strong, resilient and can overcome. They may not be aware of this inner power due to the constant stress and overwhelming sense of impending doom in their lives, but with the help of the strengths perspective, we can assist clients in realizing that they have strengths as well as weaknesses. Clients want to know that they can rely on social workers to provide adequate resources and respect their current situation, no matter how difficult it may be. Clients want to know that we can empathize with their situation and provide support, care and concern for the issues they are going through; they need to know that we will help them achieve their goals and not give up on them as many may have before in their lives. Saleeby (2013) states “your cli...
The article discusses the therapeutic process and significant events in the client’s lives. The article aims to determine whether self-reflection
I come to Fordham University with expectations of completing my Masters of Art degree in Social Service. As a single parent, I have faced many challenges raising my special needs child. My innovation to help disadvantaged children with social and emotional problems encompassed me to continue to pursue a career in the Social Service Profession. This will increase my chances of being a successful Child Therapist. I am aware, prepared and committed to devoting my time towards my studies at Fordham University as well as taking advantage of all the necessary resources that Fordham University has to offer. My personal, academic and profession experience has given me the opportunity
My learning experience within inter-professional was very productive. I personally learned about working in collaboration with other professionals. My first impression was the first seminar which took place in the auditorium with a group of students from different professionals in health care sector. The actual seminar was a very good preparation for me and everyone who is in health professionals. The seminar gave me a very understanding of my future practice. It prepared me well on what to expect as I was not aware of the purpose of mixing different students from different professionals. The outcome of the seminar gave me a clear understanding and gave me opportunity to meet other student. During the seminar, I learned the best way to work
They argue that therapists should consider their own motivation to self-disclose and set boundaries. The therapists should never put their own needs above the client. They make sure to point out that self discourse alone cannot affect the outcome of treatment. Self-disclosure is effective only if it is used appropriately and only if it is used when it is necessary. The amount of information disclosed and when it is disclosed is also important. Therapists should draw a clear line with the amount of intimacy to include in their therapeutic disclosure to ensure that no inappropriate boundaries are crossed. The authors suggest two rules of thumb to follow when disclosing information which include: (a) “Why do I want to say what I am about to say” and (b) “What will be the likely impact of the client” (p. 567).
People inherently have the power to solve their own problems and come to their own solutions. Clients are expected to play and active role in their own change by being open to expressing their problems,creating goals and ultimately evaluating their progress. Clients often use stories to explore their problems in preparation for deciding which goals they want to set and subsequently accomplish. Each client has specific issues and life experiences which the goal should reflect. Clients are expected to put great effort into discovering a desire that the client has deep convictions about and will commit to putting in the work it takes to change behaviors that are no longer working in their life. When the client discovers what they want to be changed it can become their goal. The goal needs to be important to the client and not something that someone else wants them to change. When ...
...ment. The therapists would seek out all strengths they use to effectively deal with their life, while building upon their assets they already posses. The Hoovers may have “strengths and positive human qualities that are often unrecognized, unnamed, and unacknowledged, both in therapeutic and school settings” (Bernard, 1991). Teaching each individual techniques that identify strengths in themselves as well as using positive language to reframe how how they see their current circumstances will promote a more resilient perspective for the Hoovers. Also, an optimistic thinking style when life problems arise will increase the chances of a successful outcome. Richard Hoover shows that he is capable of this but anger and frustration impede further attainment of this techinique. The positive psychology approach would be usefull when working with each person, individually.
Therapy Analysis The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficacy of my work as a co-therapist during the fifth session with the simulated couple Katy and Michelle. I will discuss our therapy agenda and the goals we hope to attain during the session. It is prudent to begin by giving a brief outline of the couple’s present problem and the patterns of dysfunction that I have identified within their relationship. In my opinion, it is the therapist’s job to recognize patterns and behaviors that disrupt the intimate bond between the partners.
This week at my internship I joined a majority of the staff attending a training called Bridges Out of Poverty and Effectively Living and Working within a Diverse World. The training also had an emphasis on ending sexual and domestic violence. It was a great training that lasted two days and was presented by Jodi Pfarr of Minneapolis, MN. She was an excellent speaker who held my attention the whole time. She also had the participants split into groups and discuss, which allowed me to hear about real-life experiences and hear from people of other counties. In evaluating myself this week, I would say that I did well. I was on time for the meetings and presented myself in a professional manner.
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
Within Gestalt therapy, “the initial goal is for clients to expand their awareness of what they are experiencing in the present moment. Through this awareness, change automatically occurs” (Corey, 2013). This philosophical foundation aligns with my beliefs that people possess the ability to make their own changes when they are fully aware of their circumstances. Additionally, my concept that people, who accept outside sources without sifting through beliefs and standards that may be applicable in their lives parallels with Gestalt’s contact of introjection. People within this stage, willingly assimilate what the environment is feeding them, without dissecting what they need or want (Corey, 2013). Nonetheless, Gestalt’s unfinished business correlates with my opinion that unresolved issues can linger and clutter the present moment, resulting in maladaptive behavior and thinking. When emotions are not fully experienced, “they linger in the background and are carried into present life in ways that interfere with effective contact with oneself and others” (Corey, 2013). Within a counseling context, my beliefs that there should be a partnership between the client and therapist is one of the main goals in Gestalt’s therapeutic process (Corey, 2013). Similar to my idea that the counselor is more of a facilitator to help clients
In social care, we work with some of society’s most vulnerable people. For a practitioner to best support an individual they must first be able to care for themselves. It is important to be aware of who we are, our strengths and our areas for improvement. This can directly affect the relationships and experiences we have with ourselves, clients, and our peers in social care practice. For this assignment, we will look at the importance of ‘the self’ and personal and professional development in social care.
Standard 2: Self-Awareness of the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice explains the importance of self-awareness in Social Work practice in. It reads,
Psychology deals with the study of mental processes and a variety of behaviors. In order to fully comprehend ourselves, we need to understand the causes of our behaviors and our outlook on life. Habits and behaviors have positive and negative effects in our life. When we know ourselves and learn about our unique personality, we can develop and pursue goals. Psychology also helps us to understand other people and the differences of people. Gaining this knowledge can improve the relationships and enhance our communication skills. Throughout the psychology course I gained knowledge in various areas, and the topics that impacted me the most included: the introvert, anxiety disorders, stress management, self discipline and how to develop strong relationships.
In addition to recognizing the importance of work-life balance, the program also helped me nurture skills that are crucial in the promotion of an effective balance between work and other aspects of life. As I was going through the program, I was able to balance my commitments in the program with my personal life. This helped me to reduce stress and so I approached my responsibilities positively and with great energy. Furthermore, valuable tips on how to maintain proper work-life balance including the need to exercise and meditate, not to seek perfectionism, to always have a schedule and adhere to it, and ensure I stay healthy.