Session 6

Question 1

What do we do when beginning with a client?

Answer 1

Explain the nature of the helping process

Define the client’s role

Obtain informed consent

Discuss limits to confidentiality

Attend to facilitative conditions

Use empathic communications

Choose words carefully and strategically

Question 2

What questions do you ask when you are considering self-disclosure?

Answer 2

Is the client trying to assert control? Why?
What do I imagine will happen if I don’t answer the question directly?
Do I have questions regarding the client’s motivation?
How can I best address what I suspect might be the underlying concern?
Is the client being sociable?

Question 3

The purpose of relating authentically is to facilitate _______ of clients, not to demonstrate one’s own _______ or ________” (p. 114).

Answer 3

growth

honesty or authenticity

Question 4

When is it appropriate to relate assertively?

Answer 4

When clients are contemplating actions that are unlawful or dangerous
When such actions conflict with the goals and values a client has expressed for him or herself
When making a firm request (p. 125)
When maintaining focus and managing interruptions

Question 5

What can good boundaries communicate?

Answer 5

• helps clarify the social worker and client relationship is not a social one
• helps clients focus on issues and needs they came to seek help for or need help with
• exist so when they are crossed meaningful discussions can be had
• react to clients authentically and kindly without blurring the lines

Question 6

Cameron & Keenan (2010) What is the “common factors” model and why is it important?

Answer 6

• an approach that offer social workers a simple, coherent, and accessible way to conceptualize their practice and assess appropriateness and effectiveness of their work
• consistent with social work values and ethics
• conditions and processes drawn from a range of practice approaches that have been associated with positive client outcomes

Question 7

Cameron & Keenan (2010) What does it assume about the organizations within which social workers practice?

Answer 7

add

Question 8

Cameron & Keenan (2010) What does it tell us about what is required for change to take hold?

Answer 8

• use a number of proven practice methods for its achievement
• more explicit constellation of factors associated with positive client change
• change as part of a larger system (factors of the system)

Question 9

Paraphrasing

Answer 9

Using “fresh” words concisely to focus on cognitive aspects of the client’s message
Helpful when the social worker wants to bring focus to an idea or situation

Question 10

Reflection

Answer 10

A form of paraphrasing that brings focus to the emotional (or affective) part of a communication
Simple reflections restate simply
Complex reflections reframe or amplify intensity of expression
Double-sided reflections convey ambivalence

Question 11

Closed-ended questions

Answer 11

Seek a yes or no answer
Focus attention on essential information to be gleaned
Frequent use can take on the flavor of an interrogation

Question 12

Open-ended questions

Answer 12

Leave the client free to express what seems most relevant and important
Avoid asking why, which implies a search for motivation
Increase the breadth of information gathering

Question 13

Seeking concreteness

Answer 13

Gains clarification when you may not understand
Checks out perceptions
Unpacks words that are vague or fraught
Elicits specific feelings
Focuses on the here and now
Elicits details related to the client’s experiences or interactions
Is helpful when there is a need to slow down a client’s story or explore meaningful gaps in it

Question 14

Summarizing responses

Answer 14

Highlight key aspects of discussion
Make connections between relevant aspects of lengthy message
Review focal pints of a session
Recapture highlights of a previous session