The Client
Chapter 5
The Whole Person
• Looking at the person as a whole we have to include
the following: psychological, biological, cultural, social,
financial, educational, vocational, and spiritual
components, along with life experiences such as family,
friends, health, school, work , legal status, residence,
safety and security, finances, play, well-being, and
accomplishments.
• Because a whole person consists of a combination of
the above we must be aware that this person may have
needs in many of these areas of life.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
• Defining the problem:
– Problems in living: 1) the problem is described as a
situation, event or condition that is troublesome to
the client. 2) The problem is identified and discussed,
solutions are formulated and implemented, and the
results are evaluated.
– The client can lack the skills and resources to solve
these problems or the client and helper may disagree
about the client’s situation.
– Just because a client knows there is a problem they do
not always seek help.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
Understanding Client Problems
It is because individuals have unmet needs that they come in
contact with the human service delivery system.
Models to address 4 types of problems
A Developmental Perspective-experts suggest that human
development is a continuous process and that there are certain
phases and stages that individuals experience during the life span.
Erikson and his 8 stages of development. Pg 132 and 133
Developmental theorist view life as a process from birth until death,
from the beginning to the end.
In looking at development we have to take into account the person
as a whole and how their home, family, community, culture, country,
a persons traits, wishes and values, and childhood experiences can
influence the way a person moves through the developmental
stages.
How a person experiences each stage can effect how they
experience the next stage.
Keep in mind that as time changes the traditional stages of
development are changing.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
Situational Perspective
Problems resulting from accidents, violent crimes, natural
disasters, and major changes in life.
These problems usually occur because the individual is in a
particular place at a particular time.
These problems can lead to short term, long term difficulties or
both.
Individuals experiencing situation problems are sometimes
viewed incorrectly as victims. The client needs to move to
taking responsibility for personal actions and thoughts.
Problems also include the unreported violence that occurs
behind closed doors, work places, and institutions and the
nonphysical assaults that go unreported.
Differences in behaviors, customs and traditions that are
cultural often cause situational problems for people.
Another situation that can cause problems is unemployment.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
• Meeting Human Needs
– Another way at looking at human problems is
identifying basic needs and which ones are and
are not being met.
– Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pg 137 and 138
– Primary Consideration in the case of child abuse
and neglect.
– The debate continues as to whether foster care or
family reunification is the best approach to
meeting children’s needs.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
Social Change and its Effects
Human also experience problems due to rapid social
change, the breakdown of many traditional forms of
society, and conflicts between old and new values.
Homeless:
Few people choose to be homeless and may end up
homeless for a variety of reasons including loss of job,
women escaping domestic violence, or alcohol or drug
abusers.
Technological society in which we live has eliminated many
unskilled and semiskilled jobs; downsizing, the closing of
factories and the outsourcing the production of goods to
countries with cheaper labor have been the direct cause of
job loss.
Divorce and the death of a spouse have forced families or
individuals to adapt to a lower level of survival.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
Environmental Issues
Understanding the environment in which an individual
exists is another helpful way to understand them.
One environmental influence could include specific
locations in which a client lives, friends and family that
influence the client, groups to which the client belongs,
and activities to which the client engages.
Primary Influence-Family
Secondary Influence-neighborhood, social organizations,
faith based organizations.
Physical characteristics of the environment also contribute
a direct influence and can include living space and
television, computers, and reading material.
Perceptions of the Client Problems
• Defining Strengths
– Refer to positive characteristics, abilities, and
experiences of the client.
– It asks the client to take a new perspective on
their difficulties.
– Help the client to build on their successes.
Client’s as Individuals, Groups, and Populations
• There are 3 ways in which one can look at the
term client.
– Individual
– Groups (Gangs)
– Larger Groups (neighborhoods, cities or counties)
Getting Help
How Clients Get Help
• Referral
– Self-referral: those individuals who initiate help
themselves and may experience a more
productive helping relationship than individuals
who are forced into a helping situation.
– Referral from another professional to a human
service agency.
Getting Help
How Clients Get Help
• Involuntary Placement in the System
– Involuntary Clients: referred by schools, prisons,
courts, marriage counselors, protective services,
and the juvenile justice system and are potentially
difficult to work with because they have not
chosen to receive services.
– Child Abuse
– Juvenile Offenders
– Individuals incarcerated for crimes
Getting Help
How Clients Get Help
• Inadvertent Services
– Being part of a larger population that is targeted
for services. Receipt of services does not depend
on the individuals need or ability to qualify for the
services, and the client does not have to ask for
them.
– Low-cost housing
– Neighborhood crime watch programs
– Shelters for the homeless
– AIDS victims
Getting Help
How Clients Get Help
• Barriers To Seeking Help
– How the client views the problem. If the client considers the problem too difficult to
solve, too overwhelming to consider, or too embarrassing to admit, then the person is
less likely to seek help.
– If the client is embarrassed at having the problem, seeking help means admitting to
others that there is a problem.
– The individual’s perception of the human service professional. Such helpers are viewed
as strangers and experts- 2 categories that establish immediate barriers for those in
need.
– Cultural factors can prohibit one from seeking help.
– Three barriers are directly related to available client resources: money to pay for the
services, transportation to reach the place of service delivery, and the time and distance
involved in traveling to receive the service.
– Psychological Cost: viewed as a loss of freedom, will make them assume responsibility
for their actions, and may be a signal to others that they can’t solve problems on their
own. May feel they are giving all power to the worker or caregiver.
Getting Help
How Clients Get Help
• The Reluctant Client
– Client reluctance is to be respected.
– Reluctance is often self protective, designed to
maintain personal integrity.
The Client’s Perspective
• Client Expectations
– Many clients imagine that the helper will have an unbiased
attitude towards them and will have experience in working with
the problems they are experiencing.
– Clients might also expect the helper to listen, help them decide
what to do, and help them do whatever needs to be done.
– Clients may also have clear expectations about the helpers
behaviors. Helping professionals should be able to understand
what clients say, provide them with necessary information, and
offer an opinion of their own if it differs from the clients
opinion.
– Clients want to resolve the problem they are facing, and they
may expect quick solutions.
Client Evaluation of Services
• Clients’ views of services after the process are
often consistent with their prior expectations.
• Clients often want workers who will help them
get something, take them somewhere, talk
with someone for them, see someone with
them, and refer them.
• Satisfaction: Refer to page 155
• Dissatisfaction: Refer to page 156