Callie
Client Paper
BSHS/305
Dr. Elizabeth Brooke Morford
November 2, 2004

Clients that who receive assistant from human service professionals can be an individual, family or even group or community. As humans we are all faced with problems but as individuals we handle them differently. Human service professionals are there to help clients navigate through those problems, by using skills and resources at their disposals. These problems range from once in a lifetime changing event like a car accident which causes physical and cognitive disabilities. Some individuals are plagued with addictions to substance like illicit and prescription drugs and alcohol.
Families that receive services deal with some of the problems that were previously mention but the affects causes strain on the family unit. They also deal with conflicts amongst them because of personality differences. When it comes to problems in a group dynamic these problems can include cultural differences. Mental health issues is an issue that affects the individual, the family and group dynamics.
Human Service Professionals are taught that the first step to helping a client is finding out what the problems are. There are four ways the professional can evaluate the client’s problems. 1) Developmental problems are defined as something that has happen over one’s life. 2) Situational problems are when the client has been put in a situation that has cause a problem in their life. Examples of situational problems are: Accidents or divorce or any major changes in life. 3) Hierarchical needs are when the client is having a problem meeting their basic needs. Basic needs being food, shelter and medical care. . 4) Societal change would describe a client that has been taking out of their comfort zone or uncontrollable social changes. Example: A client gets married and moves to another state and the only person they is their new spouse. Human Service Professional can also use the client’s environment as a way to evaluate the problems they face. Even though societal and hierarchical can change a client environment, what is it about the new environment cause problems beside it’s something new. With the exception homelessness of course.
The Helping Process can happen in any setting that client feels comfortable or can accessed, whether in an office, home or community. The essential part of the helping process is the Helping Relationship. Which is a relationship that is different than others relationships. This because one person (human service professional) focuses on the others needs and setting aside their own. Also the human service professional expressing no opinions or judgements. Like any relationship each person contributes something including attitudes, feelings and experiences. The client bring their problems, needs, strengths and what they expect to gain from the relationship. The helper (human service professional) brings their training, knowledge and skills to help with working through the client’s problems.
According, An introduction to human services (7th ed). Client and helper relationships have a few distinct characteristics: First, helping relationships are brought together for an agreed-upon purpose and are goal oriented. Second, a helping relationship happens within a time period which usually means that is occurs over several sessions, depending on the problems and issues that the client faces. The relationship ends when the expressed goals are accomplished. Third, the helping relationship carries authority. Meaning that the helpers knowledge and skills that allows them to work with the client toward resolving the problem. Finally, this relationship is for the client. The client is the focus always, their strengths, problems and concern are reason the relationship exists.
There are five stages of the helping process is Preparation, Client Arrival, Exploring the problem, Intervention Strategies and Termination. Before the initial meeting between the client and the helper, the helper should make that all preparation is complete. This include the physical setting that should make the client comfortable and necessary paperwork completed. Upon the clients arrival and they have adapted to the surrounding the helper should inquire what problems did that client want to share. During this part of this process the helper has to sure not to male client feel as though there is pressure or judgement.
After exploring the problems it time the client and the helper to set goals and determine how those goals will be reached to resolve the problem. Also the helper must explore what the client’s dreams and desires are and if they have resources whether personal or social to accomplish them. This will assist the helper to determine whether additional professionals with different experience and expertise would be beneficial in solving the problems. The helping relationship can end if the helper and the client have achieved the goals they set to resolve the problems. But of course that is the best case scenario, a helping relationship can end because the client or the helper decides it is no longer beneficial, for the client.
When it comes to helping skills, the foundation without a doubt is communication. It is about sending a message to another person with the consciously trying to affect the receiver’s behavior. In the helping relationship the helper and the client must be mindful on the nonverbal cues. In my opinion the helper must appear to be closed off (arms crossed and lack of eye contact) giving the client the feeling of being judge or not being listened too. When interacting with clients the verbal messages are critical to how they see the helper. Before making any response to the client a helper must listen carefully to what the client is expressing, both verbally and nonverbally. Listening before you speak allows you to process everything that, so it can be taken in the right context. When responding to the client a helper response must have a purpose, the helper should reevaluate the characteristics of successful helping relationship.
This relationship is possibly one this most important ones for the client. Has they face life changing decisions and problems. They need helpers that have the ability to set aside their own feelings, attentive enough to listen without judgement and show authority that they will be able use their training and skills. To accomplish the goal set the client and the helper must both contribute to have a successful helping relationship.

References
Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2011). An introduction to human services (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage