Reference no: EM133234011

Assignment:

1. What unfinished business in your personal life could present difficulties for you in working with clients with a range of problems? What steps can you take to address these issues?

2. As you reflect on the developmental patterns in your life, how well have you dealt with the effects of key transition periods? What events have most influenced your present attitudes and behavior?

3. What has attracted you to the helping professions? Who in your life has influenced your decision to consider becoming a professional helper? What major events in your life have contributed to your desire to enter this field?

4. What personal strengths do you have that will assist you in your work as a helper? What personal limitations might hinder your work? How might you go about working to improve those limitations?

5. To what degree are you aware of your core values and how they could affect the way you work with clients?

6. To what extent can you support clients in making their own decisions, even if you believe they would be better served by following a different path?

Please read the following case study and answer the questions to the best of your ability.

Guiza is a student intern who feels deeply committed to spirituality and claims that her religious faith guides her in finding meaning in life. She does not want to impose her values on her clients, but she does feel it is essential to at least make a general assessment of clients' spiritual/religious beliefs and experiences during the intake session. One of her clients, Alejandro, tells Guiza that he is depressed most of the time and feels a sense of emptiness. He wonders about the meaning of his life. In Guiza's assessment of Alejandro, she finds that he grew up without any kind of spiritual or religious guidance in his home, and he states that he is agnostic.

He has never explored either religion or spirituality; these ideas seem too abstract to help with the practical problems of everyday living. Guiza becomes aware that she is strongly inclined to suggest to Alejandro that he open up to spiritual ways of thinking, especially because of his stated problem with finding meaning in his life. Guiza is tempted to suggest that Alejandro at least go to a few church services to see if he might find any meaning in doing so. She brings her struggle to her supervisor.

1. Consider Guiza's situation as you reflect on how your values and your views on life can influence your approach with clients.

2. Would you recommend that Guiza spend time on her own spiritual identity and journey? Why?

3. If you were Guiza's supervisor, what key issues would you most want to explore and clarify with her?