Engagement Strategy

Assignment #1: Engagement Strategy

Pamla Street

SOWK 543University of Southern California

June 1, 2016

Professor Steven Bush

Assignment #1: Engagement Strategy

        When gaining rapport with a client, you are trying to make the client feel comfortable to talk. Sometimes it is a hard task to do when you seek to find common ground. Good rapport can be established between the client and the social worker it makes for a great session. Engagement with a woman that is depressed and economically challenged has its barriers. Dealing with the client, LaShonda age 32 has this challenge along with many the other biggest obstacles that would propose a challenge. Some of these major obstacles include involuntary client, racism, depression, and suicidal. Also, consider that she is part of the African-American community, which the social worker has to understand the culture and racial context.

Involuntary Client

        She is a client that have been “forced by those around her to seek assistance from helpers” (Rooney 2009 p. 4-5).  She must deal with a social work because she has behaved in ways that harmed herself which was the overdose of pills. The meeting was not due to a voluntary hold. If it were, she would have been comfortable talking about what brought her in. The situation was involuntary which may cause her to withdrawn from seeking advice.

Racism

        Racism is not an easy topic to talk about when it comes to African Americans. Areas of conflict in identity development for the client may arise during the meeting.  She felt that the reason she was let go was that of her skin color. She may be facing overwhelming socioeconomic problems that are causing her to break down. When other factors are in play, the race card is always thrown out.  The Social worker also has to consider that African Americans view therapy as being for crazy people and will find that a problem (Boyd-Franklin, 2003).  

Depression and Suicidal

        She is a woman disadvantaged by poverty, as well as racial or ethnic minority status, which is more likely the reason she suffers from depression.  It will be a significant obstacle that will be the reason on why she may be less liable to seek help or remain in treatment. Also talking about why she decided to try would be a hard topic to touch on.

Pushing My Buttons

        LaShonda is a 32-year-old woman who gave up after losing a job six months ago. I am around her age, and I know that things like this happen, but you cannot blame the color of your skin for the reason.  As the social worker, I will realize that I can relate to her more than she knows.  I can empathize with her more deeply because I suffered from depression, African-American, and a woman. I do understand that depression can occur when certain situations are stressful, or you feel that you cannot fix the situation.  I cannot completely understand shutting down and giving up at such a young age. It shows as an independent woman she does not have strength. I have been dismissed from a job and did not blame the company because of my skin color. Why not ask the reason for the layoff instead of blaming the lost for being black.  My feelings towards her situation and accepting the client will make me feel surprisingly annoyed and even angry with her. Not trying to look for another job does not make sense to me. African American’s already have it hard just like other ethnicities so blaming the reason for her loss of employment is unheard of but ordinary. She put herself down and made it like that was the only job on earth. I do not understand why she hates her skin so much.  It is already hard being a woman, but now I have to deal with the fact that she does not like her skin color also.  She reminds me of people that say they are not African American when they are.