Becoming A Helper Chapter 1 Are the Helping

Becoming A Helper

Chapter 1 Are the Helping Professions for You? © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

What Are Your Needs as a Helper? Typical Needs and Motivations of Helpers: – To make an impact – To reciprocate – To care for others – To work on your personal issues (self-help) Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (1) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

What Are Your Needs as a Helper? Typical Needs and Motivations of Helpers (cont. ): – To be needed – To gain recognition and acquire status – To provide answers – To gain and maintain control Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (2) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Portrait of the Ideal Helpers who make a significant difference: – assess their personal strengths and weaknesses. – emphasize the quality of therapeutic relationship. – demonstrate curiosity and openness to learning. – have developed good interpersonal skills. – recognize that change requires hard work. Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (3) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Portrait of the Ideal Helpers who make a significant difference: – welcome and understand diversity. – are committed to being social justice advocates. – are aware of personal problems and their influence on interactions with clients. – have meaningful relationships with others. – are committed to self-care. Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (4) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Portrait of the Ideal Helpers who make a significant difference: – are resourceful and flexible in applying strategies for change. – question life and engage in self-examination. – have a healthy sense of self-love and are not selfabsorbed. Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (5) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Helper Profile Summary Helper Role not for everyone: • • • High Self-awareness High Socio-emotional IQ Pro-social/Like people (even if introverted) Good Communication and Emotional Skills Nonverbal Attunement © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Overview of Helping Professions Social work: LCSW College counselor Couples and family counseling: MFT Clinical and counseling psychology: What is the diff between two? Clinical mental health counseling Psychiatric Nursing Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (6) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Areas of Focus Hospital/inpatient Community MH Pediatric vs Adult Setting School-Based Group Therapy Private Practice Neuropsychology Health Psychology Developmental Psychology Indust/Organiz Psych © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Overview of Helping Professions School counseling Rehabilitation counseling Drug and alcohol counseling Paraprofessional and human services work Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (7) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Factors in Choosing a Career Path Recognize that choosing a career path is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. In choosing a career, consider the following factors: – – – self-concept motivation and achievement interests abilities values Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (8) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Factors in Choosing a Career Path Some work values for you to explore include: – income – family relationships – power – serving people – prestige – adventure – job security – creativity – achievement – inner harmony Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (9) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Factors in Choosing a Career Path Work values (cont. ): – interests – continued learning – teamwork – structure and routine – intellectual challenge – independence – competition – responsibility – advancement – variety Becoming A Helper - Chapter 1 (10) © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Know Thyself: Essential to effective relationships © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Therapist’s issues Countertransference: typical part of therapeutic relationships – Client’s problems : can trigger unresolved trauma in Therapist Example: A client has been working with a therapist for years and starts to discuss her wish to give up on her marriage and physical custody of her kids. The therapist she is seeing has history of parental abandonment. How might therapist’s experiences affect therapy process? © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Therapist’s Issues Countertransference: – Therapist recently lost her parent to chronic illness. She had significant unprocessed feelings of abandonment, righteous anger, and disorientation, all of which she ignored. Her ongoing adolescent client recently lost his father suddenly with whom he had an estranged relationship. If her feelings go unprocessed, what is likely to happen in the grief-work with her adolescent client? © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Help for the Helper Individual Therapy: requirement for licensure in clinical psychology, marriage family therapy (approx 1500 hrs) – Promotes self-awareness – Promotes psychological growth, maturation, resolutions – Ongoing care to prevent burn-out © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Working with Family of Origin Issues • Explore attachment and relationship dynamics with original family • Sets rules for family structure, Roles (How to love, care, express) • Taught you how to cope with conflict (avoid, dominate, assert, deny, problem-solve) • How do they influence your life (values, beliefs, career choices) • Can hinder work with clients if unprocessed: • Conflict Abandonment Trauma © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc. Negative affect

Genogram Work Pathway to exploring Family of Origin Issues – Graphic representation of family structure – Tells the family story – Very effective tool with therapists in training © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Therapist’s Values Part of Therapist’s Training involves clarification of their own values and beliefs. – Why? How can you help those who differ in values with you? What if you are treating a client that is considering an abortion and you oppose it? What if your client is undocumented and you believe undoc immig should be deported? Your client begins to recognize her homosexuality and therapist believes homosexuality is immoral? © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Values in Helping Role Therapist are in powerful, influential role Clients are vulnerable and potentially impressionable Unethical to use therapy to impose own values onto clients. Effective Therapy: clarify and explore Client’s beliefs and values without judgement © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Therapist’s Values Is it really possible to not impose therapist’s values on therapy process? – Therapist determines what to focus on as a priority – Clients are impressionable and looking for direction – So, must we only choose clients who are similar in values to us? © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

How to resolve value conflicts? Seek Consultation, Document Court Cases – Ward v. Wilbanks (2011): A grad student dismissed from grad program for refusing to tx gay client. Upheld by courts. – Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley: Grad student refused tx to gay ct, attempted conversion tx. Student dismissed, court supported. © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Value Laden Issues Lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender Religion vs Atheism Abortion Family Values vs. Individual Sexuality, Casual Sex Gender Role: what it means to be male/female End of Life/Physician Assisted Suicide © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.

Self-Awareness Group Exercise Divide into groups of 3 or 4, designate client, therapist, and observer(s) – Instruction: (Take turns with roles) Observer: How effective was therapist in clarifying client’s perceptions? What helped or detracted? Therapist: goal is to explore the events in client’s life that has shaped their goals, values, and world view. Client: What are major turning points in your life? How did it shape your values and beliefs What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses. How might they impact your relationship with clients? © 2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.