Question

A social worker is seeing a client who sometimes cancels appointments at the last minute, does not show at all for some appointments, and always pays fees late. The client describes frequent fights with friends but doesn't understand why this keeps happening. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A. Point out the client's disrespectful behavior with the social worker
B Talk about the secondary gain from the client's behavior
C. Explain that continuing the behavior will result in termination
D. Relate the client's behavior with the social worker to that with friends

Answer 1

The social worker should first relate the client's problematic behavior with the social worker to the client's conflicts with friends, helping them to see a pattern that may require change. Building trust and showing consistent support are crucial in managing such cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a social worker encounters a client who is frequently canceling appointments, failing to pay on time, and having reported conflicts with friends, the first step should revolve around understanding and addressing the behavior in a supportive manner rather than jumping to punitive measures or conclusions. The social worker should relate the client's behavior with the social worker to that with friends. This approach opens a channel for the client to see a pattern in their own behavior that could be contributing to the conflicts they experience in multiple areas of their life.

The critical first step is to build trust and show consistency in the social worker-client relationship, which has been shown to be highly significant in working with populations that have experienced social exclusion. Building on the principle of consistent presence as highlighted in community psychology, the social worker should demonstrate that they are a reliable figure, invested in the well-being of their client, and willing to engage with them to work through the current issues in their behavior and relationships.