HSE 6-1

· I like the strengths-based approach. A human service professional can use the strengths-based approach in pretty much any setting. Say a counselor was counseling a client instead of focusing on the wrongs or weaknesses the counselor would center the discussion on the strength and positives. I think this approach is motivating and allows someone to see the best in themselves. This approach looks beyond labels and finds success. 

· After reading through the theories, I choose Autonomy because I feel like it fits perfect with choosing a treatment facility for my final project. Autonomy is commitment to respect a client’s right to define his or her own problems, help choose interventions, and help evaluate successes and satisfactions. Helpers who provide the client with autonomy foster self-determination and support client independence. An example is, when working someone who is trying to recover from whatever their addiction of choice is, you don’t want to overwhelm them, you want them to be in charge, per say. So, with respecting the clients right to define their own problem, it makes them feel like they’re in control, so you are more likely to get further with said person.

· Beneficence is one of the many theories that a professional may use to help in the client's best interest. It is also defined as act of charity, mercy, and kindness with a strong implication of doing good to others including moral obligation (Beneficence and the professional's moral imperative, 2010). Professionals use this theory when helping a student that comes from a low-income family help with resources like scholarships. When a student is wanting to go to college and their family is classified as low income and financial aid does not cover the cost, they look toward resources that can help. A human service professional can suggest scholarships that pertain to their family needs and help the client through the journey. An ability for human service professionals is to know the culture of the families they are working for an advocate for a student to get the help they need to attend school. 

· I feel this theory is a very positive one that will truly help a client find their inner strength as well as finding their self-worth. By focusing on the positive characteristics and the client’s ability to be successful it makes it easier for them to approach the problems they are now facing. Taking a step back from one’s self and viewing the situation with a fresh pair of eyes makes the view much clearer when dealing with problems you don't want to see. Assisting a client in remembering who they were before this issue occurred may be the only help one needs in finding their way back on track. The strength-based approach I feel can be used in any type of setting. Drug addiction, financial issues, grieving, children in school, or even college student, or just simply the struggling parent. In any difficult situation it is easy to lose yourself. We tell our children "don't give up try again you will get it" but far too often we see parents struggling with following their own advice.

 

· Reading through all the theories I think the best one that would really help the client is client beneficence. Beneficence is when you help in the client's best interest. It is all about doing what would put them on the road to success, trying to do what would really help them, and not hurt them or put them in an even worst situation than they are already in. I am doing my project in the mental health field and I believe if the human service personnel were to use this, they would try to help the client by supplying them with all the things they need to be able to take care of themself at home. such and medicine, a person to call when they need help. They would meet with them and check on them every now and again. They would set them up with financial help if they need it.

· Reading through the different theories/approaches a professional could make when involved with a client, I personally decided on the problem-solving approach. As a human service professional, the critical point to remember is that the client is an individual who consists of psychological, social, economic, educational, vocational, and spiritual dimensions and possibly will have needs in many of those areas (Woodside 2019).I decided on problem solving because I feel that while the client is sorting out ways with the helper regarding their issues, this approach could also be so empowering for people. When the client figures out solutions to their own problems that will be effective, it could be empowering for them which can make them want to get treatment. Specifically speaking, there is this stigma that talk therapy is supposed to "fix you" and that it's a therapist’s "job", however, it's really up to the client to heal and fix the issues by using skills and being receptive during sessions. There are 5 ways to think about client situations, there are lifespan problems, situational problems, hierarchical needs, wellness and strength-based perspectives, and environmental influences (Woodside 2019). By problem solving, you're having the client work with the helper which may not seem like actual work to the client. Also, the helper could empower and validate the client by confirming effective methods to use and discuss how the solution can be effective for the client. Problem-solving helps open up the client’s mind by creating solutions and discussing effective ways they can apply to their situations after services/sessions end. Clients will be able to feel empowered by effectively solving a problem themselves. They also may feel stronger/more confident in themselves that they seek out other services as well.  Understanding the client is critical to any study of human services (Woodside 2019).More information to support my choice of theory, in an article from 2019 there was a study done on active duty members in the military who went through a PST program/workshop, a program developed for service members whose needs were appropriate for a prevention or resiliency based group. The Department of Defense (DoD) identified problem-solving training (PST) as a promising prevention/early intervention for mental health disorders based on improvements in psychosocial functioning. In result, the service members showed the post-PST group improvements in depressive symptoms, distress, resilience, and social problem-solving. The method was accompanied by the ratings as worthwhile enough to recommend to others. (Cooper & Bates 2019). 

· One theory that I strongly agree with and that has a huge impact when it comes to human service professionals is Bronfenbrenner and his theory on environmental influences. He believes that the environment influences a child's growth and development. This included situations such as family, childcare, neighborhoods, and global changes (Woodside and McClam, 2019, p.206). It is also a good theory to use for adults as well. You can see how certain things affect the individuals. In order to properly help someone, you need to look into all the parts of their environment and not just some of it. When it comes to human services, professionals have to really look into a client's environment. The environment has a huge impact on not only a child but an adult. "Studying the impact of the influences on the client allows the helper to better understand the reality of a situation" (Woodside and McClam, 2019, p.206). The helper can help the client get better resources and accurate ones by digging deep into their environment. They can see if they will need long term care such as housing, therapy, or income assistance. When you use it with a child, you can look at the challenges that they will be facing. It also helps the helper break down which influences are more of a factor than the other, that way they can plan an individual’s help around it. Just like Bronfenbrenner believed, the father away from factors, the less of an influence it is (Woodside and McClam, 2019, p.206). That is also a big thing for human service professionals as well. They are trying to help individuals get away from those influences so they will have a better outcome. 

                                                                            References

· The theory I have chosen to discuss is the strength-based approach.  To help a client grow and change, a helper will “refer to the positive characteristics, abilities, and experiences of the client” (Woodside & McClam, 2019).  By facilitating the client to build upon their strengths the client will be able to view their problems, and how they can overcome them by remembering successes they’ve had in the past and focusing on being hopeful to overcome current challenges. One way a human service professional would apply the strength-based theory is with children going through academic struggles.  A school counselor would help identify the personal strengths of the student, providing them with positive encouragement on how they’ve been self-determined up to this point and made it this far.  Another part of this theory is setting goals for the student.  Goals will give the client purpose and a vision for their future.  Helping a student set goals that are obtainable, providing them with support in their aspirations can empower the student (Pattoni, 2012).

 

 

· After doing my reading, I thought the problem-solving approach was a great example for certain clients. With this approach, it helps the client and the helper find the problem in an organized way, and then helps the client prioritize the problems by major to minor, therefore helping the client refrain from making impulsive rational decisions (Woodside, 2018).An example of this approach would be a client coming to a substance abuse rehabilitation center. Upon meeting with the intake director, they decide what needs to be approached first. The intake director may have the client tell what their major concerns are, such as substance abuse problem, no money due to addiction, homeless, etc. The intake director may ask the client what they think the most important problem would be to address, giving the client a chance to gather their thoughts and present what they feel like the main issue is. The director may then give their input, suggesting that the most important problem to address is substance abuse, getting into treatment, after beginning to work a program other thing will fall into place, job, place to live, etc. The intake director can reassure the client that addressing the first problem will help the other problems fall into place and that there are additional resources that can be given for the other problems the client is facing.

· This approach focuses on providing more services in a community-based setting and less in institutional ones and is helping serve clients in a least restrictive environment. Bringing individuals, agencies and the community together as the decision-making team with the central focus of meeting the needs of the client. Community-Based Corrections Approach attempts to accomplish many goals. These goals include easing institutional crowding and cost, rehabilitation, and community reintegration. A probation officer is expected to provide services to a probationer in a structured, team-focused, and creative way. This approach can be an effective way of helping offenders and families involved in the criminal justice system learn to develop problem-solving skills, coping skills, and self-efficacy. This important component ensures the safety of the public and helps prevent recidivism.

 

· Our textbook talked about many different theories that human service professionals use when working with their client. The theory that I personally enjoy and think about is the working to the client’s beneficence. Beneficence is when you help in the client’s best interest. When I say client, I mean whoever actually needs the help. Whether it be a child, a wife being abused, you give to their needs not the jobs or parents or significant others. For example, a child is being not being neglected at home, but he may not be taken care of the way he should be. A CPS agent comes into play and removes the child from the home for the time being. The parents might want the government to give them money to support him, but because they don’t have jobs, they choose to remove the child from the home until the parents get their act together. This is what the child needed. maybe not what he wanted, but what he needed.