Self-Awareness and the Helping Process

Human service professionals who value a multicultural perspective in their work with individuals, families, and groups require not only the knowledge and skills of the helping process but also the ability for self-awareness. This awareness will provide professionals with the ability to recognize their personal characteristics, values, and beliefs that may interfere or enhance the helping process.

The following questions must be answered for completion:

Please be sure to address all of the following in your assignment:

• Describe the helping process. What do you personally think it means to help?
• For the questions below, be sure to make connections in your writing as to the role your life experiences and beliefs play into the work you will do with diverse clients.
  • How might your cultural roots influence your thinking about the helping process?
  • How might your beliefs influence the suggestions you make to clients?
  • How do your beliefs lay the groundwork for the strategies from which you will draw in working with diverse individuals, families, and groups?
• Focusing on the stages of the helping process as described in the text, what do you consider to be the most important tasks of a human service professional in each of the different stages?
  • Describe some of the challenges that you might experience as a helper in each of the stages.
• Reflect on any biases or prejudices (i.e., hot buttons) that might interfere with your learning to become an effective helper.
  • What types of client and client issues will be the most difficult for you to work with, and why?
  • What type(s) of client(s) will you be most drawn to work with, and why?
  • Describe how you may recognize challenges in your work and what can you do to work on those areas that are limitations.