HS Worksheet # 3 Professional Roles in Relationships
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Apr 3, 2024
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Helping Skills Worksheet # 3: Professional Roles in Relationships (20 points)
Adapted from Chapter 4 Skills for Building Collaborative Relationships. Brew, L., & Kottler, J. A. (2016). Applied Helping Skills (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781483375700
Think about the most powerful and influential relationships you have ever experienced. Aside from your parents, who were the teachers, coaches, and mentors who made the greatest difference in your life? (2 points)
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Two influential relationships that have impacted my life are my High school English teacher, Mrs. Johnson and high school volleyball Coach, Coach Thompson. As you reflect on these relationships, now consider: What was it that these powerful individuals did that helped you the most? (3 points)
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My high school English teacher, Mrs. Johnson. Her passion for writing and her ability to engage her students in important discussions created a great learning environment. She encouraged me to think critically, write with clarity, and explore different perspectives. Her guidance not only enhanced my writing skills but also introduced me to my lifelong love for literature. -
Coach Thompson, through his unconditional support, he taught me discipline,
dedication, and the importance of teamwork. Under his guidance, I developed
leadership skills and learned to push beyond my limits. -
Many of my teachers, and coaches have played an important role in shaping my life. Their dedication, knowledge, and unconditional support have left a mark on my life, and for that, I am very grateful.
Probably some of the following attributes played a prominent role:
You felt safe. You were allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. You were not manipulated, abused, or taken advantage of. You felt essential trust.
You felt respected. You were treated with essential kindness and caring. Even if the mentor was a strict taskmaster, you still felt that this structure was enforced for your welfare.
You felt valued. You were treated as if you were important and as if what you thought and felt and did really matter.
You felt understood. It was clear to you that this mentor heard you, responded to your needs, and demonstrated high levels of empathy.
Now think about a person who had a strong positive impact in your life. How was that person with you? What quality or behavior of that person meant the most to you? How did you feel about yourself with this person? (5 points)
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There have been many people who have had a positive impact on my life, but
there is one person stands out above the rest. My grandmother. She has been with me since I was a child, and her presence in my life has been truly life changing. The quality that meant the most to me was her support and belief in me. No matter what I did or what challenges I faced, she was always there cheering me on and reminding me of my potential. She never doubted my abilities and always encouraged me to dream big. With her by my side, I felt invincible and capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. Her belief in me gave me the confidence to take risks and step out of my comfort zone. It was through her encouragement that I discovered my like for writing. She taught me the value of determination and hard work, and her constant presence in my life made me believe in myself. I am forever grateful for her impact on my life and the love and support she has shown me.
These are the qualities that helping professionals try to exhibit, in genuine and caring ways, with clients. For some clients, having a therapist who is fully present, and understanding is all that is needed.
Some approaches to therapy, especially the brief and cognitive therapies, construct relationships that are based on a collaborative model. Partners in this process both work together to sort out what is going wrong, and then put their heads together to figure out what can be done instead. The role of the helping professional is structured more as a consultant.
With some clients and in some situations, this approach really helps clients to become more objective about their situations. This might be enough. At other times you may need to slow down to find out what’s missing before you can get back to solving the problem. It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of our role as a source of support in clients’
lives. Apart from anything else you do, any interventions you use or any techniques or skills you
employ, standing in a person’s corner provides immeasurable benefits. Clients too often feel isolated and alone in their pain. They lack confidence. They are dispirited and demoralized. They feel little hope for the future and sometimes want to give up.
One of the most important things we can do to help clients is offer consistent support for their efforts to change. We communicate, as strongly as possible, the following messages:
“I am here for you.”
“No matter how bad things get, you can always count on me.”
“Even if I don’t approve of some of the self-defeating things you do, I still support you as
a person.”
“I am utterly reliable and dependable.”
“I will never take advantage of you or deliberately do anything to hurt you.”
“I have no vested interest in the choices you make; my only job is to help you to get what you want.”
It feels wonderful, more comforting than words can ever describe, to be involved in a relationship with a professional who is completely trustworthy and supportive. We inspire faith.
We teach people that it is indeed possible to be involved in a relationship with someone who will cherish you. Although our commitment is professional, we hope our clients will become so used to this sort of relationship that they will expect support from others in their lives. When you meet with your client, you will feel and exhibit the following characteristics:
Be confident
. Your client needs to have confidence in you, and that cannot occur unless you have confidence in yourself. You may feel like you still have so much to learn, even after receiving your degree, and you do—that learning never ends—but regardless of where you are in your program when you see your first clients, you still know more than they do about therapy. Be flexible
. Any opinions you have formed about your client should change easily with new information. Your preferred way to work may not work with one particular client. You must be flexible enough to try something different. You may set goals that later seem inaccurate or inappropriate as you develop your relationship with your client. You must be willing to adjust the goals negotiated with your client
Be assertive
. You must set boundaries for appropriate behavior in therapy, especially with couples, families, and groups. You must almost always end your sessions on time, even if your client was late. You must sometimes assert yourself by confronting your clients. Finally, asserting yourself is an excellent way to model this important life skill to your clients.
Be nonjudgmental
. You will find that being nonjudgmental can be difficult at times, especially when your values are substantially different from your client’s. If you are aware of your own values and biases, you will be better prepared to handle all kinds of client issues. Furthermore, realize that values are not necessarily objectively correct or incorrect; rather, values are things we decide are right for us. Accept that clients are ultimately responsible for their own lives. Your job is not to make decisions for or judge the client. Instead, your job is to provide a supportive and fostering environment. You must trust that the client has the ability to find his or her own solutions in a way that is best for him or her.
Be focused
. It’s a good idea to take a deep breath before beginning. If your mind is wandering about what you’ll eat for dinner or your last client, you aren’t really fully listening to your client.
This is a skill that can be difficult to learn at first, and as you encounter personal problems while
trying to do therapy, focusing can be quite difficult. However, you must work to develop your ability to give your attention fully to the client. Be caring and compassionate
. You may like your client; you may not like your client. In either case, you must care for your client and be interested in his or her welfare. When you care
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deeply for your client, your attitude comes across, and the client feels valued. Clients who feel valued also feel safe and can explore unpleasant aspects of themselves. Rate yourself on a scale from 1-5 (1 = “I need to gain this skills” to 5 = “I have this skill perfected”) for the helping skills advanced characteristics: confidence, flexibility, assertiveness,
nonjudgmental, focused, compassionate. Clarify the reasons for your rating on each skill.(10 points)
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When it comes to the helping skills advanced characteristics, I would rate
myself as follows:
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confidence : 4
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flexibility : 3
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assertiveness : 4,
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nonjudgmental : 5
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focused : 4
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compassionate : 5
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I believe I have a high level of confidence, I am comfortable in my ability to
offer assistance and support to others. However, I have room for
improvement in terms of flexibility. While I try to adapt to different situations
and varying needs, there are instances where I could be more open-minded
and receptive to alternative perspectives. As for assertiveness, I feel
confident in expressing my thoughts and opinions while being respectful of
others. I have also cultivated a nonjudgmental attitude, which allows me to
create a safe and accepting space for individuals to share their experiences
without fear of criticism. Moreover, I consider myself to be highly focused, as
I am able to concentrate on the needs of others and provide undivided
attention. Lastly, my compassion is a skill I have developed over time,
allowing me to empathize with others and provide honest care and support.
These ratings are based on self-reflection and opinions received from people I
have helped, and I continuously try to improve and refine these skills to
better serve those in need.