Clinical I DB. Week 6
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ClinicalINatureoftheClient-WorkerRelationshipDBResponses.Week6.docxDo you agree or not, and why?
Student 1. D. Rodriguez
Characteristics of a client worker relationship are essential and consists of the worker’s disciplined use of self, accepting the client’s worth, nonjudgmental attitude toward the client, appreciation of the individuality and uniqueness, respect for the right to self determination, adherence to therapeutic rights to confidentiality, realistic and unrealistic components of the relationship. It is important for the worker to understand these characteristics to maximize the client’s ability to engage in the process. This all depends on the clients motivation and what is expected of the client, along with experiences, background and their current life situation. Gathering information during the first couple of meetings with a client can give the worker an idea on where the client is and where the worker should meet the client to begin working on the client’s needs and goals. Personally while engaging a client during intake is rough. It is a long process full of personal questions and documents to sign. I ask all the questions but I know that the client just wants to be done with this process and is not answering truthfully or at this moment do not feel like sharing all this information with a stranger. I believe that during their first week in a new facility with rules the client is vulnerable. I do my best to reach out to the client as much as possible without overwhelming him or her. So far this has worked out for me because after this I can sit down with a client and have in depth conversations about their history, am able to identify what their needs are and what goals we would be working on.
Student 2. G. Marcano.
According to Goldstein Chapter 9, the primary focus of the relationship is to achieve resolution for the goals of the client. The relationship focuses on the client’s needs not the workers. It is an intimate relationship with a connection. The worker has to be an active participant in the relationship and be aware of her or his thoughts, feelings, emotions and reactions at all times. It is crucial for the worker to meet the client where they are act and exhibit non-judgement and respect for the client’s right to determain their own lives. Confidentiality is crucial for a professional relationship full of trust. This reciprocity is part of the working alliance. The worker should be aware of transference, which involve inappropriate responses stemming from unresolved past conflicts. In turn, the worker should also do their best to be aware of any counter-transference which involve the same type of inappropriate responses from the worker to the client. The mutual relationship should motivate the client and analyze expectations from the unrealistic to the realistic. Their has to be respect and awareness for the client’s individual values and background. There is a holistic approach that takes into account the environment and resources and managing what can be managed and recognizing what cannot be changed but adapted to.
Within my department which conducts early intervention for HIV, these dynamics of the worker/ client relationship interplay. In my role as a health educator I facilitate recovery groups with a sexual health focus. The main goal is to provide accurate information for the clients to protect themselves accordingly. We have to take into account each individuals right to agency. Each individual has their own unique circumstances and have to decide on whether abstinence, condom use, or pre-exposure prophaxis works for their lives. We have to be conscious of the feelings and emotions in the room and recognize when our subject matter is triggering. We never know who might be positive, has lost a loved one to AIDS, or is struggling with something else entirely that is sexual health related. We have to be mindful of our language to ensure that it is inclusive and interpreted as non -judgemental. Confidentiality stays in the room and we have to remind those engaging that it is a safe place.
During our one on one sessions, special attention has to be placed to the affect, and body language of our clients. We have to gage the reaction to our intake questions that can often be personal and possibly triggering. Confidentiality is extremely important. Legally, it can have detriments to our agency if we break confidentiality. Personally it can violate trust for the client. Tests results, risk factors, and histories are completely confidential. We must do all that we can to foster this trust with our clients so that we can be effective. Non judgement is an intrical part of our program. When people are discussing their sexual histories, sexual acts, sexual identities, and or sexual orientation that have to be made to feel that they are in a safe space to tell the truth. Clients also have to be made to feel that they are free to disclose how little or how much makes them feel safe. We have to be aware of transference and countertransference to accurately gage what happens in the one on one relationships with clients.
