An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Professionalization of the Helping Relationship  • • • This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law.

Transcript An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Professionalization of the Helping Relationship  • • • This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law.

An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Professionalization of the Helping Relationship

 • • • This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002

The Helping Professions

 Helping began to be professionalized in the 19th century.  Before then, charitable helping was done informally, often by churches or synagogues, when families were unable to help.

Getting Organized

 Some helping organizations became bureaucratized.  Helping professions promoted a more formal and distanced relationship to clients, distinguishing a professional relationship from a friendship, and advising helpers not to get too emotionally involved with clients.

Approaches

 When we talk with a friend, we generally don’t have a fixed agenda about what we discuss.

 The conversation often ambles at a leisurely pace from one topic to another.

 An interview, on the other hand, has a purpose and a goal.

Client Needs

 In a professional relationship, the focus is on the client’s needs rather than on the interviewer’s needs and the interviewer needs to develop the skills of a helping relationship.

 However, an overly bureaucratized approach can alienate clients.  When a helping professional refuses to share anything about herself or himself, clients may find the relationship unpleasant.

Styles of Helping

 Some cultural groups expect a very personalized helping relationship.

 A study of helping relationships in child abuse and neglect found that one important factors in helping parents was a friendly, personalized relationship.

 Another important factor was down-to-earth assistance given by parent aides.

Professional Backgrounds

 Professional helpers have varied backgrounds and job titles.

 Helpers have different agency affiliations and orientations.

 Many valuable social services are offered by citizen groups.

An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Professionalization of the Helping Relationship  • • • This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law.

Transcript An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Professionalization of the Helping Relationship  • • • This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law.