Becoming a helper
Psychosocial tasks: Erik Erikson
-Considered "the father of lifespan development"'; does not end in adolescence (Freud) -Identified core developmental tasks, or psychosocial tasks, for each of the eight stages from infancy to old age -Believed that people need to master the task of each previous stage in order to progress to the next
Dealing with Value Conflicts
-Referral is not an answer to resolving value conflicts -when dealing with value conflicts; seek consultation or supervision
Values and the Helping Relationship
-Values can significantly affect many facets of the counselling relationship -counsellors are expected to respect the rights of clients to hold their own views -effective helpers must learn to work with clients with diverse worldviews and values -your task is to help clients explore and clarify their beliefs and values; must avoid imposing their own values on clients -ethical bracketing; helpers must learn to separate their personal values from the counselling process
Helpers who make a significant difference
-assess strengths & weaknesses -emphasize therapeutic relationship -curiosity & openness to learn -interpersonal skills -hard work -understanding diversity -social justice advocates -awareness of personal problems & influence -meaningful relationships -self-care -resourceful & flexible -self-examination -self-love but not self-absorbed
multicultural perspective
-cultural competence vital for changing demographics -professional codes call for diversity perspective -self aware of own biases, values, attitudes towards multiculturalism
Family of origin issues
-currently influencing -hinderance -affect on family -influences of family structure -unhealthy coping
multicultural competence; skills and interventions
-engaging with individuals outside the office -actively engage in professional and personal growth activity -continuous education, consultation, training -
multicultural competence; beliefs and values
-familiarity with your own culture and ability to identify basic assumptions -not allowing bias, values, problems to interfere with counselling culturally different clients -welcome diverse value orientations
overcoming cultural tunnel vision
-inexperienced counsellors may transfer values and biases onto client -culturally encapsulated counsellor exhibits characteristics common to tunnel vision -mininterpret patterns of behavioiur
serving people with disabilities
-operate on the assumption that people with disabilities are capable or potentially capable -interventions may involve political advocacy to eliminate policy barriers that prevent individuals from accessing society's benefits -strength based approach beneficial -assume people with disabilities have the right to control their own lives -efforts should be made to assist clients with finding the resources they need
social justice competence
-oppression and social inequities operate on individual, societal, cultural levels -reflect on race, ethnicity, oppression, power, privilege -awareness of privilege -evaluate inappropriate therapeutic practices -learn indigenous models of health and healing -social injustices on global implications -implement comprehensive mental health intervention programs for marginalized groups -collaborate with others to provide culturally appropriate interventions -advocate for social change
Ethical Dimensions in multicultural practice
-risk of unethical practice -negative impact of microaggressions & political & racial microaggressions -broaching behaviour is instrumental in establishing a working therapeutic relationship
examine assumptions
-self disclosures -nonverbal behaviour -trusting behaviour -self-actualization -directness and assertiveness
Individual and group counselling
-supports growth & development -remediation -self-care
Genogram
A family diagram that depicts each member of the family and shows connections between the generations. work provides a structure, or frame, for family stories of emotional significance. effective psychosocial tool in counsellor training
Countertransference
Circumstances in which a psychoanalyst develops personal feelings about a client because of perceived similarity of the client to significant people in the therapist's life.
personal transformation
Demands an awareness of how you dealt with developmental tasks in the past and how you are now addressing these issues. by drawing on your own life experiences, both past and present, you are in a better position to appreciate the struggles of your clients, which enables you to intervene more effectively with them
Functional families
In functional family units each family member is allowed to have a separate life as well as a shared life with the family group. different groups are given room to grow. change is expected and invited, not viewed as a threat.
Nonlicensed human services worker; paraprofessional
May have graduate degree, an undergraduate degree, an associate of arts degree, a certificate of competence in some aspect of human services or formal training from experts in the field.
General human services workers
Paraprofessionals who have education and training at the undergraduate level. These generalists have a variety of job titles, community support worker, human service worker, social work assistant, alcohol and drug abuse counsellor, mental health technician, child care worker, community outreach worker, residential counselor, client advocate, crisis intervention worker, community organizer, psychiatric technician, church worker, case manager.
significant court cases on value conflicts
Ward v. Willbanks Keeton v. Anderson- Wiley
couples and family therapy
a specialization primarily concerned with relationship counselling. -assessing and treating clients from a family perspective
Counselling Psychologist
assists relatively healthy people in solving developmental problems and functioning more effectively -help clients find information to make better personal, educational, and occupational choices
family secrets
can influence the structure and functioning of a family. secrets can be particularly devastating because that which is hidden typically assumes greater power than that which is out in the open. Generally, it is not what is openly talked about that causes difficulty in families but what is kept hidden
disfunctional families
characterized by closed communication, by poor self esteem of one or both parents, and by rigid patterns. rules serve the function of masking fears about differences.
Choosing a Career
consider: -self-concept -motivation and achievement -interests -abilities -values
gift
each stage of life has its own unique gift to contribute to the world
family rules
families have certain rules governing interactions. These family rules initially assist children in handling anger, helplessness, and fear. they are intended to provide a safety net for children as they venture into the world
clinical psychology
focus on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment procedures of mildly to severely disturbed persons -interview clients and write case studies
Tranference
generally has roots in a clients unresolved personal conflicts with significant others, because of these unresolved concerns, the client may perceive the helping professional in a distorted way, bringing past relationships into the present relationship with the counsellor
systemic perspective
grounded on the assumption that how we develop can best be understood through learning about our role and place in our family of origin
cultural values and the helping process
interventions based on western assumptions may be incongruent with some clients values these interventions may perpetuate injustice and institutional racism helpers must adapt their practices to better suit the clients worldview, life experiences, and cultural identity
Paraprofessional helpers
perform some of the helping services licensed mental health professionals traditionally provided, but engage in broader roles such as advocacy and community mobilization
Work Values
pertain to what you hope to accomplish through your role in an occupation. work value are an important aspect of your total value system. Recognizing those things that bring meaning to your life is crucial to finding a career that has personal value to you
psychosocial theory
provides a conceptual framework for understanding trends in development; major developmental tasks at each stage of life; critical turning points or developmental crises; critical needs and their satisfaction or frustration; potentials for choice at each stage of life, and the origin of faulty personality development, which lead to later personality conflicts.
people with disabilities
recognizing the potential of people with disabilities is critical ' the environments itself and others neg. attitudes may be the real handicapping conditions persons with disabilities are the most disenfranchised group in almost every society persons with disabilities are often unemployed and underemployed, and many live in poverty psychosocial issues are more often reported then physical barriers as impediments in living with a disability
family structure
refers to the social and psychological organization of the family system, including factors such as birth order and the individuals perception of self in the family context.
impact of professional practice
resurfacing of old wounds
family of origin
some programs in martial and family therapy require students to take a family or origin course. the assumption is that future practitioners need to know how their own family of origin influences them presently before they engage in professional work with individuals, couples, and families
What are your needs as a helper
to make an impact, reciprocate, care for other, work out personal issues, to be needed, gain recognition, status, provide answers, control
The value of self exploration
transference & countertransference
Crisis; Erickson
turning point in life