One of the theories that human service professionals use while
working with a client is Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This
theory is a pyramid of the needs of individuals that identifies lower-
order needs such as food, clothes, safety and the higher-order needs
such as social relationships and self-esteem. One example of how a
human service professional might use this theory would be in a
situation such as domestic abuse and neglect. In this case, many of an
individual's needs are threatened including your physical needs,
safety, social and self-esteem. While treating a client, they would
address the self-esteem needs first by giving the client recognition for
getting out of the situation, then addressing the social needs, then the
safety and physical needs.
