Module 5: Empowerment Flashcards
(23 cards)
Clients in Denial
Do not perceive themselves as having a problem even though their behavior is a problem for others in their life
Strategy: get clients to look at their situation and its consequences. Provide information and feedback
Involuntary Clients
Can resent being forced into counselling. Resist change because feelings about being forced have aroused defenses
Strategy: Explore feelings and concerns openly, show empathy, self-disclose your own responses to being forced against your wish
Burnt out Clients
Due to previously unsuccessful attempts at change. May lack self esteem and doubt their own capacity, skills or energy to change.
Strategy: explore and assess reasons previous action plans failed. Positive asset search.
Ambivalent Clients
Can be undecided about altering their lives and resisting any shifts in behavior or lifestyle
Strategy: show empathy, avoid arguing or convincing in the favor of change, help client to identify obstacles and barriers
Energized Clients
Motivated clients who are actively seeking to change but need help to maintain the movement of change
Strategy: provide positive reinforcement and couragement. Assist with planning and goal setting, identifying and dealing with potential obstacles
Empowering Activities
- Motivating
- Confronting
- Re-framing
- Goal Setting
- Action Planning
Motivating
To extent to which clients are willing to involve themselves in the change process factors
The concept of secondary gain
Motivating-Internal pressures and drives towards reaching a goals
Foundation of Empowerment
The belief that clients are capable of change
Confronting
A way of directing client’s attention to aspects of themselves or behavior that they might otherwise overlook
Tool for higher understanding, deepens trust when used sparingly
Principles for Effective Confrontation
- Relevance
- Client Receptivity
- Contracting
- Specificity
Relevance
Confrontation should serve the goals of counselling and lead the client to improved ways of behavior, thinking and feeling
Client Receptivity
Timing must be appropriate to minimize defensive reactions. Use confrontation when clients are best positioned to take advantage of it and use it to motivate them to change
Contracting
The process of contracting can be used to increase the client’s acceptance of confrontation
Specificity
Needs to be specific without attacking the personality of the client.
Reframing
A skill to help clients shift or modify their thinking. Suggests alternative interpretations or new meanings. Empowers clients by focusing on solutions and redefining negatives as opportunities or challenges
Goal Setting
Drives direction, defines roles, motivates, measures progress
Outcome goals
What the client hopes to achieve
Process goals
Tasks clients and counselors undertake to achieve the outcome goal
Effective goals can be measured
Progress can be evaluated in some way. Clear goals sustain enthusiasm. Goals should quantify progress where ever possible - how often, how much, how many times
Relationship between goals and action planning
Problem exploration leads to Goals which lead to Action Planning
Goals represent outcomes
The action plan involves developing strategies to help clients get where they want to go (to the outcomes)
Action Planning 4 Steps
- Identifying alternatives: List the range of alternatives to deter impulsive action on the first available alternative.
- Choose an Action Strategy: Allows clients a change to evaluate the alternatives and make informed choices
- Develop and Implement Plans: This involves the steps of sequencing the plans, developing contingency (backup) plans, putting the plan into action, evaluating
- Evaluate Outcomes: recognizes and confirms successes as powerful motivators but also serves to detect problems with goals as they arise.
Concrete goals
What you wish to achieve realistically
