Egan Chapter 2

While reading chapter 2 and this week article, I noticed how it related to the articles from last week readings. In chapter 2 of the Egan’s text he discussed the helping relationship and the values that drive that relationship. In this chapter he addresses how the helper should behave towards the client and how important the helper and client relationship is. Just like the helper and client relationship, values also play an important role in the helping process. There are five values presented to us in the chapter; respect, empathy, proactive appreciation of diversity, self-responsibility together with client empowerment, and bias toward action. These five values along with many other values help guide decision making. It also helps drive and build the helper and client relationship. In the article conducted by O’Leary, Tsui and Ruch, they discuss the boundaries of social work relationships. They state that the social work relationship is both professional and unique. It is shaped based upon collaborative interaction and is created by mutually agreed-upon and context-specific set of boundaries (O’Leary, Tusi and Ruch, 2012, p.16). O’Leary et al. also stated that working

I feel like these two statements are very important when trying to establish a helping relationship with the client. In my opinion both statements purposed true and valid explanations of the relationship, values and boundaries of a helping relationship. In order for a client to open up to a social worker or a helper in general the two must build a working alliance or collaborative relationship in order to achieve desired outcomes. Helping a client achieve their desired outcomes is a process that both the helper and client work through together. Outcomes are formed based upon the quality of both individual’s