Jimilia Brown
According to the textbook assigned readings, establishing a therapeutic relationship (rapport) with a client requires specific skills to move the process forward (Hepworth et al, 2017). How would you work to avoid any barriers to communication? What role does culture play in this step of the therapeutic process? Explain some effective physical attending behaviors that will help the process move toward positive responses or interventions with the client?
Professor Smith and Classmates,
The textbook explains that achieving rapport enables clients to gain trust in the helpful intent and goodwill of the social worker, so that they will be willing to risk revealing personal and sometimes painful feelings and information (Hepworth, Rooney, et al, 2016). The way that I would work with clients to avoid any barriers to communication is to first and foremost greet them warmly and introduce myself, utilize the “warm-up period”, be sure to stay abreast on many cultural factors including language differences and cultural traditions. Culture plays a vital role in this step of the therapeutic process. Understanding one’s cultural background will assist with also understanding why the client may think or behave as they do, and it will help in being able to know which route to take that will be beneficial to the client. Some effective physical attending behaviors that will help the process move toward positive responses or interventions with the client would be respecting clients’ dignity and worth, uniqueness, being punctual, attending to the client’s comfort, listening attentively, remembering the client’s name, make eye contact, be present and engaged, and be cognizant of my nonverbal communication.
Jimilia
Reference
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Godfried, K. (2016). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.