Shulman Sessional Skills Flashcards
Tuning In
Tuning into self: intellectually - have I worked with a population that this organization serves before?
affectively- Where is my head at as a social worker? How do I feel about work/or other life stressors?
Tuning into client:
Intellectually - Apply Erikson’s Developmental Stages - what stage are they in? Any other things you know from research about this particular population?
Affectively - try to imagine what the client MIGHT be thinking
Clarifying Role
Introduction - Intent to define your role and reassure the client of what you can and can’t do
“Hi I’m Jessica Walsh a Social Work Intern at Baylor University… I’m here to try to understand students, support them, and share resources.”
Clarifying Purpose
What is the purpose of THAT specific meeting: “Today, I’d like to talk about what brought you in and see if there are any resources available to you that are a match. How does that sound?”
Confidentiality
Intent: confirm the client understands the terms of confidentiality
“Before we get started, I do want to share that everything we discuss today will be confidential, with two exceptions - the first is I feel that you are a danger to yourself or if someone else is in danger. In those cases, I would need to connect with somebody who can come help us with that. How does that sound?
Reaching for Client Feedback
Intent: understand why the client is here today? “What brings you in today? … So, what’s going on? Tell me what’s going on?”
Focus Listening
Intent: help confirm to the client that you are listening and understanding- Synthesizing what they are sharing
Pulling something from what they had mentioned earlier and connecting it to what you
Partializing concerns
Intent: pick at starting point for contracting - understanding what is most pressing
“I want to help you get the support and services you need as much as I can, of all that you’ve mentioned …what feels the most pressing right now?
Summarizing
Intent: to stay on track with the client - confirm you aren’t missing anything
“this is what you have mentioned so far (Or this is what we reviewed in session…” is that what you said or is there anything missing?
Contracting
creating a statement of understanding and agreed upon work.
“From what we’ve discussed, you would like to work on Frist and that … “
Affirming Agreement
Intent: confirm client buy in on what we are contracting over. “How does that sound to you?”
Containment
Intent: Holding back our initial thoughts and reactions in order to allow the client to express themselves fully.
It doesn’t look like anything… just not responding or jumping in the conversation, or holding back a facial response
Questioning
Intent: to assess and get data - No yes or no questions, dig more
“What would that look like for you? Tell me about…….”
Reaching Inside of Silences
Intent: reach to understand the experience of the client
“I’ve noticed you’ve been silent for a bit, what’s going on?”
Reaching for Thoughts
Intent: to learn what they think about something
“What thoughts come to mind when…?
“What do you think. about…”
“What are your thoughts on…”
Connecting Process and Content
Intent: to draw attention to a shift in behavior while addressing content (identify the elephant in the room)
“When I mentioned this, you seemed to withdraw… tell me more about that”
“When you mentioned (A) you brightened up… tell me more about that”
Reaching for Feelings
Intent: Requires an emotional response - requires vulnerability
“How did that make you feel?”
“What feelings come up when ….”
Holding to Focus
Intent: to hold people to what they have contracted to. If appropriate, can give them a chance to recontract
“I see this has really impacted you, and i want to get to that, but before we do I want to go back to (the other topic) to make sure we’ve addressed it fully
Supporting the Client in taboo Areas
Intent: providing support to a client when they are feeling shame over something
“I want to thank you for sharing that with me because it appears to me that it might have been hard for you to bring up. This is a safe place and let’s stay with that thought and talk about it.”
Dealing with Authority Theme:
Intent: help the client understand that we are all different and that I as the therapist will need help understanding their experience
“Even if I was (a mom, wife, student) every person’s experience is unique and individual to them. I’m really interested in learning about and supporting you in YOUR experience. YOU are the expert on your life, and if I’m ever not understanding, please tell me and help me understand more fully.”
