Ch. 7 pitfalls
- 1. SWK 501 Ch. 7 – Common Errors & Pitfalls in Direct Practice
- 2. Pitfall #1 - Advice Giving • DO NOT TELL THE CLIENT WHAT TO DO!!! • Ethic of “self-determination” is intended to empower the client to make his/her own decisions for the better! • However, ONCE a client has made decisions to move in the right direction, giving advice about how to read the goal can be helpful!
- 3. Pitfall #2 – Inappropriate Use Of Humor • How clients may use humor… or laughter • How to appropriately use humor
- 4. Pitfall #3 - Interrupting the Client & Abrupt Transitions • While the social worker needs to ask many questions, it’s important not to interrupt and give the client time to finish • IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU (the social worker)… IT’S ABOUT THE CLIENT!!
- 5. Pitfall #4 - Inappropriate & Irrelevant Questions • Should not be curious or inquisitive if it’s not RELEVANT • Problematic questions include: • Leading/Suggestive • Assuming • Controlling/Intrusive • Tangential • Pseudoquestions
- 6. Pitfall #4 - Inappropriate & Irrelevant Questions • Problematic questions include: • Judgmental • Attacking • Stacking • Shotgun
- 7. Pitfall #5 - Judgmental Response • How is the skill of “confrontation” different than coming across as “judgmental”???
- 8. Pitfall #6 - Inappropriate Self-Disclosure
- 9. Cautions about Self-Disclosure • Perceive the social worker as a friend and expect mutuality in the relationship. • Feel compelled to "help" the social worker. • Feel as if the social worker can't help because the social worker's own life issues are so distracting. • Use the information shared by the social worker in a self- serving or manipulative way. • React negatively and feel cheated out of his or her opportunity to disclose.
- 10. Pitfall #7 - Premature Confrontation • Must be planned and purposeful • Should be a therapeutic intervention, not a social interaction (like you would with family or friends)
- 11. Pitfall #8 - Overwhelming the Client with too much or Irrelevant Information “Is the client ready to hear what I’m sharing??” Less is more…
- 12. Pitfall #9 - Premature Problem Solving • Tendency to use experience and problem-solving skills too soon rather than allowing the client time • May miss critical information or the “root” of the problem/s presented
- 13. Pitfall # 10 - False Assurance/Minimizing Problem • How does this differ from using the Strengths Perspective? • Sympathy versus Empathy – what do these look like?
- 14. Learning From Mistakes • Social Work “PRACTICE”… means we will make mistakes along the way!! Acknowledge, apologize, correct, and learn!!
- 15. Social Worker Recovery Statements • I can tell my comment about upset you; that was not my intent. • You look upset by what I just said about your ; let me try to say it in another way. • Sorry, that came out wrong about your ; what I meant to say was . . . • That was rude; I can tell I hurt your feelings when I said . What I should have said was . . . • That came out all wrong. I sometimes put my foot in my mouth. I will try again. • Oops, that was out of line. • You are right to be confused by what I said. • I will rephrase that. • It doesn't sound the way I had intended; I apologize. • I regret the way that sounded. You are right to feel .
- 16. Summary • Be aware of possible pitfalls – repair any damage to the helping relationship along the way • Learn from mistakes and integrate into whole helping relationship – current and future • Focus on the helping relationship in its entirety, not just a pitfall or error